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NexTech AR Solutions looks to spin-out 3D Design Studio Toggle3D

Nextech AR Solutions Corp.

Contact Details Proactive Canada Proactive Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

December 15, 2022 03:20 AM Pacific Standard Time

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Empowering a Better Future with New Technologies and Virtuous Innovation at OPPO INNO DAY 2022

OPPO

OPPO has unveiled the first product under its OHealth brand, the OHealth H1 family health monitor, alongside its second self-developed chip, the MariSilicon Y Bluetooth audio SoC, and OPPO Air Glass 2, empowering users with truly intelligent living experiences. Through its belief in Virtuous Innovation, OPPO will open up more possibilities to empower a better future together with more partners. SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach - 15 December 2022 - OPPO today held its annual technology event, OPPO INNO DAY 2022, in an online format streamed live. Themed ‘Empowering a Better Future’, the event showcased OPPO’s determination to enrich its four Smart Initiatives in smart entertainment, smart productivity, smart health, and smart learning to deliver more innovation for good and build an inclusive and more positive future for all. Enjoy a smarter life with OHealth H1, MariSilicon Y and Air Glass 2 As part of its four Smart Initiatives, OPPO has invested a significant amount of resources in developing its smart health technology. Not only did OPPO establish the OPPO Health Lab in 2021 to develop proactive approaches to help users build healthy lifestyles, this year OPPO also created a new smart healthcare sub-brand, OHealth. During INNO DAY 2022, OPPO unveiled the first product under its OHealth brand, the OHealth H1 family health monitor. The OHealth H1 combines six health data monitoring functions intended for family use into a single device, including measurement of blood oxygen, ECG, heart and lung auscultation, heart rate, body temperature and sleep tracking. Through high-precision sensors and industry-leading health algorithms, the OHealth H1 will help users take better care of the health of the entire family. Unlike the industrial designs of traditional medical equipment, the OHealth H1 is a super-light device that weighs just 95g and features aesthetic rounded edges and a concentric oval design. This makes it easy for users to take the OHealth H1 with them anywhere, helping them to integrate regular health measurements into their daily routines. The OHealth H1 sets the stage for OPPO’s ambition to build a bridge to better healthcare, offering smart, professional, and convenient healthcare solutions to users, hospitals, and clinics. The OHealth H1 Following the first self-developed dedicated imaging NPU, MariSilicon X, OPPO unveiled the second member of the MariSilicon family — the all-new MariSilicon Y Bluetooth audio SoC at the event. One of the first SoC to use the most advanced N6RF process technology, MariSilicon Y introduces a brand-new, self-developed Pro Bluetooth Pack that increases the Bluetooth bandwidth by a massive 50% compared with the highest spec Bluetooth SoCs on the market. Equipped with the exclusive URLC codec technology and a dedicated NPU with up to 590 GOPS of on-device computing power, MariSilicon Y can transmit an unprecedented 24-bit/192kHz ultra-clear lossless audio through Bluetooth for the first time ever, providing users with all the benefits of wireless connectivity with the same audio quality as a wired connection while opening up new possibilities in spatial audio experiences. Empowered by MariSilicon Y, users can enjoy top digital audio quality through wireless Bluetooth earbuds and headphones. OPPO's second self-developed MariSilicon Y Bluetooth audio SoC During the event, OPPO also demoed its latest Assisted Reality glass — OPPO Air Glass 2. Weighing only approximately 38g, OPPO Air Glass 2 features a super-lightweight, robust design that includes the world's first resin SRG-diffractive waveguide lens developed by OPPO. These lenses will support vision correction and further customization, making them almost indistinguishable from regular glasses. OPPO Air Glass 2 will be able to make phone calls, conduct real-time translation, provide location-based navigation, convert voice into text for people with hearing impairments, and provide many more smart experiences. The new glasses are intended to demonstrate all-new possibilities in human-machine interaction and showcase OPPO's technological exploration of its four Smart Initiatives. OPPO Air Glass 2 Empowering a better future through Virtuous Innovation “When facing the type of challenges that the technology industry is currently coming up against, we believe that the only way forward is to continue innovating and breaking new boundaries,” said Pete Lau, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer at OPPO. “Under our brand proposition of ‘Inspiration Ahead’, OPPO will continue to bring users superior products and technology that build smarter lives for all. We will also work with more partners to empower a better future through Virtuous Innovation, creating more possibilities in smart connected experiences.” Over the years, OPPO has continued to build up its own technology ecosystem by joining hands with global partners to create an open, inclusive, and thriving community. More than 300,000 developers and 700,000 creators have distributed their products and services through OPPO’s Open Platforms. OPPO has also strengthened communication and supported global developers and programmers through the OPPO ColorOS Hackathon. In May this year, OPPO launched the OPPO Research Institute Innovation Accelerator to seek more solutions in accessible technology and digital health together with technology professionals and entrepreneurs. In late August, OPPO announced the top 10 proposals selected from among 536 entries from 39 countries and regions. The ten teams were each awarded a grant of approximately USD $46,000 along with opportunities for investment, technological support, commercial partnerships, and global promotion. OPPO shares a common belief with all teams in using the power of technology to improve lives and will continue to drive innovation for good. By pushing the boundaries of technology through its belief in Virtuous Innovation, OPPO continues to open up new possibilities in smart connected experiences through technologies like the OHealth H1, Marisilicon Y, and Air Glass 2. OPPO is committed to openness and inclusiveness, inspiring greater collaboration, innovation, and possibilities to empower a better life. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find X and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world. Please visit: https://www.oppo.com/en/ Contact Details OPPO Media Contact press@oppo.com Company Website https://www.oppo.com/en/

December 15, 2022 03:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Bumble Shares What to Expect from Dating in 2023

YourUpdateTV

Bumble, the women-first dating and social networking app, has released its top trends that will define dating in the new year, based on its global survey conducted amongst more than 14,000 Bumble members. Recently, Shan Boodram, Bumble’s Sex and Relationship Expert, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the rising trends that will shape dating in the new year. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/2fXJC2SaVpc When it comes to dating in 2023, Bumble suggests we should expect… 1. Open casting: It's time to do away with the tall, dark and handsome requirements. Unlike ‘typecasting,’ which narrows the search for our physical "type," more than 1 in 3 (38%) respondents worldwide are now ‘open casting’ - i.e., dating beyond their type. 2. Love-life Balance: There’s been a significant shift in how we think about and value work. Gone are the days when job titles and demanding workdays are seen as status symbols. More than half of respondents worldwide (52%) are actively creating more space for breaks and rest, and more than 1 in 10 (13%) will no longer date someone with a very demanding job. 3. Wanderlove: With many people now working remotely, this flexibility in location has also broadened who and where people date, with 1 in 3 (33%) global respondents saying that they are now more open to travel and relationships with people who are not in their current city. 4. Cash-candid dating: The rising cost of living has led to more honest and open conversations about money and dating, with 1 in 4 (28%) global respondents setting financial boundaries for their dating lives. This doesn't mean that people are dating any less, but rather that they’re changing how they date, with a majority (57%) sharing that they are more interested in casual dates than something fancy or expensive. 5. New Year, New Me(n)/Modern Masculinity: Conversations about gender norms and expectations have been front and center. Over the last year, 3 in 4 (74%) men worldwide on Bumble say they have examined their behavior more than ever and have a clearer understanding of ‘toxic masculinity’ and what is unacceptable. Additionally, half (49%) of men agree that breaking gender roles in dating and relationships benefit them, too. 6. Ethical Sex-ploration: How we talk, think about, and have sex is changing. Globally, more of us are approaching sex, intimacy, and dating in an open and exploratory way (42%), and sex is no longer taboo. However, this doesn’t mean we’re all having more sex. 34% of respondents worldwide are not having sex, and they are fine with this. Below are some tried and true tips as you’re preparing to date ahead of the new year and into Dating Sunday, which is typically known as the busiest day for the online dating industry and is expected to occur on January 8, 2023. "Whether you're new to online dating or a seasoned veteran and your profile just needs a refresh, these tips can help enhance your profile, all while representing your authentic self," says Boodram. ● Make your first photo stand out: The best images are recent and also show a slice of your life; if your dog is the center of your world, include a cute snap of you and the pup. Eye contact can also foster the feeling of connection and establish a sense of trust, so show off your smile, your eyes (without sunglasses), and your whole face (without a filter). ● Get specific about yourself. In your bio, try highlighting aspects of your life that make you stand out. If you like to cook, what’s your favorite dish to make? Give specific examples or anecdotes to set yourself apart from other daters, and use these details to create a more colorful narrative of what you’re like. ● When connecting with others, “positivity” and “empathy” go a long way when dating. In fact, data shows that these two are the most important traits for Bumble members worldwide according to those who adopted the “Values and Traits” Interest Badge on the app in 2022.2 For more information, visit Bumble.com or download the app. About Shan Boodram: Shan Boodram is a certified sex educator, dating coach and intimacy expert. Boodram is host of the top podcast, "Lovers and Friends" and the best-selling author of “The Game of Desire.” She was previously a resident expert on Netflix's “Too Hot to Handle” in addition to starring in Peacock’s show “Ex-Rated with Andy Cohen". She is an ambassador for AIDS Healthcare Foundation and WomensHealth.gov, and a member of the American Sexual Health Association. About Bumble app: Bumble, the women-first dating and social networking app, was founded by CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014. Bumble connects people across dating (Bumble Date), friendship (Bumble BFF) and professional networking (Bumble Bizz). Bumble is built on the importance of equitable relationships and how crucial they are to a healthy, happy life. They've built their platform around kindness, respect, and equality – and their community plays an important part in that. Bumble holds its users accountable for their actions and strives to provide them with an experience free from hate, aggression, or bullying. Bumble is free and widely available in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and the web. Unless otherwise noted, research was conducted by Bumble using internal polling between 12th October - 1st November 2022 with a sample of 14,300 Bumble users around the world, including the United States. 2 Based on proprietary insights from the Bumble app Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 14, 2022 01:27 PM Eastern Standard Time

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COMCAST IS LAUNCHING NEW MULTI-GIG INTERNET SPEEDS TO DENVER AREA HOMES AND BUSINESSES

Comcast Colorado

On the heels of increasing internet speeds for the majority of customers in Colorado, today Comcast launched an additional multi-gig internet speed tier for Xfinity and Comcast Business customers throughout the Denver Metro Area. Comcast is now delivering download speeds up to 2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) and up to 5x to 10x faster upload speeds to customers throughout the Denver metro area. “Our network is made for anything, so you can do anything,” said J.D. Keller, Senior Vice President Comcast Mountain West Region. “Comcast continues to be ahead of customer demand, which enables our network to meet our customers’ needs for fast, reliable internet connections. My own kids and family are working, learning, chatting, watching movies or playing games online whenever we are in the house. I know others have the same experience. Comcast’s investments in our network will provide peace of mind to Coloradans that they can stay reliably connected through the technology they have today and be able to meet their needs tomorrow.” The new multi-gig tier and faster upload speeds are part of the largest- and fastest multi-gig network and WiFi deployment in the United States, which Comcast launched earlier in 2022. As an additional component of this initiative, the company plans to introduce multi-gig symmetrical services in the second half of 2023. As markets launch, Xfinity Internet customers who subscribe to xFi Complete will have their upload speeds increased between 5 and 10 times faster. xFi Complete includes an xFi gateway, advanced cybersecurity protection at home and on the go, tech auto-upgrades for a new gateway after three years, and wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with an xFi Pod included if recommended. “By investing in infrastructure upgrades that ensure secure, reliable connectivity for all our residents and businesses, installing free Community WiFi Lift Zones in neighborhoods with the most connectivity needs, and supporting area families with their Internet Essentials Program, Comcast has shown a commitment to the Denver metro area to ensuring Colorado is prepared for tomorrow – today,” said J. J. Ament, President and CEO, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. Speeds Supported by an Unbeatable WiFi Experience While fast speeds are table stakes, Comcast is regularly introducing new capabilities to help our customers manage their increasingly connected homes: Next-Level Cybersecurity: Advanced cybersecurity that blocks threats at the gateway, before they reach devices, to keep everyone safe and secure online. WiFi Controls: A dashboard for all the devices connected to the home network with built-in capabilities to pause access, set up parental controls or automate screen-time rules. Wall-to-Wall Coverage: A reliable connection for all connected devices and coverage throughout the home with Xfinity xFi Pod WiFi extenders. Most Recommended Mobile: A top-ranked mobile service according to the ACSI, Xfinity Mobile combines the most reliable 5G with more than 20 million WiFi hotspots to deliver the fastest mobile speeds in Comcast service areas and save people hundreds of dollars per year. Unbeatable Entertainment: 4K streaming to enjoy content in one place and an award-winning voice remote to navigate between them seamlessly. Plus, thousands of hours of free entertainment. More information about the industry’s efforts toward a 10G future can be found here. Visit Xfinity to learn more and sign up for these exciting new products. Facts about Comcast in Colorado: • Comcast has more than 1,200 miles of fiber in the City of Denver – nearly 9,000 miles throughout the state of Colorado. • More than 2.3 million homes and businesses have access to Xfinity and Comcast Business products and services statewide. • Comcast has invested more than $1.2 billion in its network in Colorado alone in the last three years. • We make continuous strategic investments in building broadband network capacity to stay ahead of demand — effectively doubling our capacity every 2.5 years. • Since 2011, Comcast has connected nearly 600,000 income-constrained Coloradans to the Internet through its Internet Essentials Program – the nation’s largest and most successful private-sector low-income broadband adoption program. The program provides income-eligible people the ability to connect to the Internet for $9.95 per month. Additionally, Comcast participates in the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program which provides those who are eligible a $30 per month credit for the Internet service. • As part of Comcast’s ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the internet, Comcast also worked with our network of nonprofit, community, and city partners to equip nearly 100 locations across Colorado with WiFi connected Lift Zones where students and adults can get online, participate in learning and workforce development trainings, and access critical resources. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Leslie Oliver +1 303-810-6326 leslie_oliver@comcast.com Company Website https://colorado.comcast.com/

December 14, 2022 11:00 AM Mountain Standard Time

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ARway announces company has launched a pilot project spatially mapping a 400,000 square foot mall

ARway

Contact Details Proactive Investors Canada Proactive Investors Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

December 14, 2022 07:13 AM Pacific Standard Time

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ICode Foundation Concludes the 6th Edition of ICode Global Hackathon - the World’s Largest Coding Competition for Kids

ICode Foundation

The 6th Edition of the ICode Global Hackathon was concluded on 10th December with 800 finalists from 16+ countries participating in it. The Hackathon 2022 started with over 2 million students from 72+ countries participating in the competition, the ICode Global Hackathon has again emerged as the world’s largest coding competition for school students aged 6-16 years. Designed as a gamified, multi-level event, the 2022 edition of the hackathon started with local-level competitions across 72+ countries. The top 10% of participants at each level moved on to their respective national and then regional finals. This year's final saw 800 of the world’s best young coding minds compete for the coveted prize of ICode Global Hackathon champions. The list of countries included a wide spectrum; from developed nations like the USA, Canada, the UAE, South Korea and Singapore to emerging economies like India, South Africa, Thailand, Philippines, Egypt, Myanmar and others. We also saw strong representation from the African Continent with 14 students participating from Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria. Ami Dror, the Chairman of ICode Foundation said, “We are very proud of the efforts of all the participants including the 2 million+ students who participated at the local level of competition in their respective countries. As a platform, ICode Global Hackathon is probably the only global platform that helps students test their algorithmic intelligence and computational thinking skills on a gamified platform and benchmark themselves against their global peers.” “Our students from Australia had a blast while competing in the ICode Hackathon. Kids learned all the basics with the helpful tutorials before taking some truly mind-bending coding challenges. Parents can relax knowing that their children are learning a life skill, and children get the chance to see how they stack up against thousands of their peers around the world. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the ICode Hackathon in 2023,” said Garry Law, Director of Creator Academy. Amit Yadav, the Global Head of Partnerships at ICode Foundation said, “The ICode Global Hackathon is a truly global competition with children representing diverse learning cultures and education systems and the ICode platform acting as a strong tool for learning equity in coding education. We are proud of the fact that a large number of students from developing economies featured in the Global top 100 this year.” The ICode Foundation will launch the 7th Edition of the ICode Global hackathon on 1st March 2023 and will start accepting applications for institutional partnerships from 1st Jan 2023. About ICode Foundation It is a leading global organisation that creates and provides assessment, benchmarking, and certification platforms to students, education systems, school systems, and governments around the world; using cutting-edge gamification and AI tools. It organises the World’s Largest Coding Competition for kids - the ICode Global Hackathon. Contact Details ICode Foundation Amit Yadav - Business Head ICode Foundation +91 99107 35297 info@icode.education Company Website https://icode.org/

December 14, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Tradeweb 2022 Annual Client Letter: Markets Put to the Test… Again

Tradeweb

Dear Client, If 2020 and 2021 were tests of our resilience and resolve, this past year was a masterclass in macroeconomic and geopolitical one-upmanship. Financial markets weathered the storm of an ongoing global pandemic, supply chain disruption and massive geopolitical unrest, while rising inflation and rapid-fire interest rate increases and a persistent threat of recession tested the resilience of our markets. With global consumer prices up 10.7%[1] so far this year and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield nearly 200 basis points (bps) higher than it was in January – not to mention the historic moves we saw in UK Gilts during September and October – 2022 has not disappointed when it comes to keeping market participants on their toes. We’ve had a unique vantage point throughout this journey at Tradeweb. Across virtually every asset class we cover, from government bonds to munis to corporates to mortgage-backed securities to equities, we’ve seen historic milestones and fascinating responses from the markets to maintain efficient access to liquidity in challenging environments. Following are some of the most important developments we’ve tracked over the past year, which we think are critical turning points that will help shape the future of how markets respond to tests down the road. Inflation Rears its Head The biggest macro story of the year, of course, was inflation. What started on used car lots quickly bled into housing and commodities markets and virtually everything else. By June, U.S. mortgage rates were rising at a historic pace, the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) was at a 40-year high, the Eurozone was hitting its highest inflation rate since the creation of the euro in 1999, and the UK inflation rate was the highest since 1997, when the National Statistics series began tracking CPI in its current format. Accordingly, central banks around the world responded with swift changes in monetary policy, moving quickly from the record low interest rates of the pandemic era to a steady march of rate increases at the most rapid pace since the 1980s. The far-reaching impact of these moves has been impossible to miss in our rates markets, where yields on the 10-year U.S. Treasury and German Bund each climbed more than 250bps between January and October of this year. On the longer end of the curve, the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond issued in November of 2021 saw its price fall 30% over the last 12 months, all against a backdrop of continued strong supply. In the UK, we saw some of the wildest moves of all, with Gilt yields rising more than 350bps between January and October, only to swing sharply lower throughout the period of upheaval surrounding Prime Minister Liz Truss’ election and abrupt resignation. By the summer, yield curves had inverted in the U.S., with shorter-dated 2-year and 3-year U.S. Treasuries rising higher than the benchmark 10-year yield, sending the clearest signal yet that the markets were starting to grow increasingly concerned about inflation and the growing threat of a possible recession. By November, the 2-year/10-year curve had inverted in at least eight countries, including Germany, Russia, Brazil, the UK, Mexico, South Korea, Canada and the U.S. Markets Adapt to Fast-Moving Fundamentals with Inflation-Linked Securities Of course, wherever there is volatility, there is evolutionary change. At Tradeweb, one of the first ways we saw market participants adapt to this new reality was a dramatic rise in activity in inflation-linked securities, such as Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and inflation swaps. In Q3, TIPS trading by institutional clients on the Tradeweb platform increased 19% as compared to the same period last year, and, in Q3 alone, we saw roughly $136.5 million of delta in inflation swaps trade on our platform. Through the first three quarters of 2022, average daily volume in inflation swaps was up 63.6% over the same period last year as a broad mix of clients, including liability-driven investors, asset managers, bank desks and hedge funds, embraced the asset class as an efficient way to hedge inflation risk. Perhaps even more interesting than the institutional market’s embrace of inflation-linked securities is the manner in which market participants have been trading these instruments as volatility continued to rise. Historically, periods of market stress have been accompanied by a relative slow-down in response times between dealers and customers as some may have disabled auto-quote tools and started manually sweating the details of every trade. The opposite happened this time around. In fact, dealer response times of under one-second increased to around 70% across all TIPS activity on the Tradeweb platform in the summer of 2022, up from roughly 50% in mid-2021, suggesting that even more dealers than normal may have been auto-quoting inflation-linked securities trades. Likewise, on the customer side, the percentage of TIPS trades executed via Tradeweb’s Automated Intelligent Execution (AiEX) tool topped 20%, which is roughly double the level of automated TIPS trading we saw in 2020. The trend offered a clear signal that institutions are increasingly leveraging electronic trading, and that they are relying on the latest automation tools to stay as nimble as possible when markets get volatile. The Rise of Retail Fixed Income This blurring of lines between traditional, legacy processes and behaviors was a recurring theme throughout the year. Across several asset classes, investors of all types, who had developed a stronger embrace of electronic markets and a stomach for persistent uncertainty, continued to find creative ways to access liquidity. One of the most interesting flash points for this trend was the big moves by retail fixed income investors, who continued to grab a bigger piece of the municipal bond market pie this year versus their institutional counterparts. With municipal bond prices down roughly 9% through the first half of 2022, institutional asset managers were standing face-to-face with a liquidity crunch. That is until retirees and their wealth managers showed up to take advantage of the rising yields that accompanied these plummeting prices. Through the summer of 2022, financial advisors accessing Tradeweb’s municipal bond platform on behalf of their retail clients were buying up munis at a rate of roughly 4-to-1 versus institutional investors, illustrating just how significant the trend toward retail fixed income has become across the broader municipal bond market. An influx of new innovations and advanced data science methods further spurred this trend, as retail participants in the muni bond market increasingly turned to electronic trading innovations such as Tradeweb Municipal Ai-Price to optimize their trading experience through enhanced price discovery and transparency. Historically, those two classes of investors would never cross paths, but – thanks, in part, to advances in electronic trading that have given retail wealth managers a direct conduit to institutional liquidity through Tradeweb Direct – retiree investors have come to wield big buying power in the institutional municipal bond markets. Toward a Portfolio-Centric View of Risk A similar set of evolutionary adaptations is continuing to reveal itself in our corporate credit and ETF markets, where investors have begun to change the way they think about moving risk. With the ICE Bank of America Index of investment grade corporate bonds down roughly 20% so far this year, the bond market is having one of its most challenging years in recent history. Despite this macro trend, we continued to see strong engagement on our global credit platform and our fixed income ETF platforms throughout the year. Digging deeper into the behavior of market participants in both asset classes, we see that these trends are being driven by a fundamental reframing of risk transfer. Driven in large part by the soaring popularity of ETFs—a market that has now crossed over $10 trillion (tn) in assets under management—and the availability of portfolio trading tools that make it possible to move large baskets of bonds in a single trade, market participants have started to think less about trading specific bonds and more about packaged trades that fit a specific risk profile. In a continuation of a trend that’s been building for several years, we’re finding that the liquidity of the ETF, combined with workflow enhancements and electronic trading solutions, are helping institutional market participants move larger volumes of risk more efficiently. As a result, ETF trading volumes on electronic RFQ platforms have continued to climb and clients have begun to apply the advantages electronic trading provided in linking different markets together. In fact, global institutional ETF volumes on Tradeweb surpassed a record $1tn year-to-date (YTD) and by late November Tradeweb had surpassed $250bn in notional trades in U.S. institutional fixed income ETFs compared to $110bn for the full year 2021. Through November of this year, the number of portfolio trades executed on the Tradeweb global credit platform had grown 20% year-over-year. This capability, combined with features like Tradeweb AiEX and all-to-all trading, which allow buy- and sell-side firms to connect more efficiently, are making it possible to keep markets moving in any market condition. Looking Ahead to 2023 If we’ve learned one thing over the last few years of once-in-a-lifetime events occurring with some regularity, it’s that bold pronouncements about what the future will look like are almost certain to be upended by something no one saw coming. Right now, as longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields have inverted further below those on shorter-dated bonds than at any point in recent history, half of investors and analysts think it’s a sure signal of recession, while the other half think it means we’re headed for a soft landing. We’ll leave it to our clients to pick which side of that bet they’re going to take. What we can accurately forecast, however, is that continued advances in electronic trading, increased transparency into real-time pricing and market sentiment, and the breaking down of silos between markets and asset classes will give market participants more flexibility than ever when it comes to accessing liquidity in tough market environments. In addition to the big trends we’ve seen this year in rates, credit, ETF and retail markets, we’re also seeing some very interesting activity in markets that have been slower to embrace electronic trading, like emerging markets and repo. In emerging markets, for example, over $1.5tn in interest rate swaps volume was executed on the Tradeweb platform YTD through the third quarter. That’s up from just $470bn for all of 2020, as investors continue to hunt for new sources of liquidity and wider availability of real-time electronic trading data makes it easier to access these markets. In repo, a sizeable market which we believe demonstrates an opportunity for increased electronification, we are experiencing a steady rise in activity on the Tradeweb platform, with average daily repo volume for the first three quarters up 13% as compared to the prior year period. Likewise, systematic workflow enhancements, such as electronic request-for-quote (RFQ), Tradeweb’s AiEX tool, portfolio trading and other innovations, will continue to improve the speed and efficiency with which investors can transfer risk, regardless of what the markets throw at them. Ultimately, what we see when we peer into the next chapter is a convergence of several trends that have been taking shape for decades finally reaching a tipping point. As the world has shifted to a digital-first mindset for virtually every interaction, electronic trading – and the automation, analytics and execution tools that come with it – have become more widely used. Accordingly, market participants are now able to take advantage of connectivity between markets that never existed, surface liquidity in instruments that were once difficult to move and venture into markets that were once out-of-reach. That evolution is not only a noteworthy turning point for market structure, it is also a fitting milestone in the history of Tradeweb. As we look back on some of the most important developments that shaped our markets in 2022, we can confidently say that regardless of where you see macro markets going over the next year, we’re sure to see more surprises that come out of left field, head-scratching market moves and unanticipated events in the foreseeable future. While no one can realistically prepare for all of them, with the right tools and mindset we can be ready for any of them. Having overseen Tradeweb’s growth together for so many years, we are very proud of what we’ve accomplished with our clients, employees and partners. As we each head into new roles on January 1 (CEO for Billy, Chairman for Lee), we reflect back on just how far Tradeweb has come as an organization. One persistent theme has been that challenging periods in markets often yield our strongest dialogue with clients, and certainly that has been the case in 2022. We will continue to collaborate with you every step of the way to deliver solutions that help your business and move our industry forward. Thank you for your continued partnership and trust, and best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year! Sincerely, Lee Olesky Billy Hult [1] OECD Consumer Price Index, December 6, 2022 About Tradeweb Markets Tradeweb Markets Inc. (Nasdaq: TW) is a leading, global operator of electronic marketplaces for rates, credit, equities and money markets. Founded in 1996, Tradeweb provides access to markets, data and analytics, electronic trading, straight-through-processing and reporting for more than 40 products to clients in the institutional, wholesale and retail markets. Advanced technologies developed by Tradeweb enhance price discovery, order execution and trade workflows while allowing for greater scale and helping to reduce risks in client trading operations. Tradeweb serves approximately 2,500 clients in more than 65 countries. On average, Tradeweb facilitated more than $1.0 trillion in notional value traded per day over the past four quarters. For more information, please go to https://www.tradeweb.com Market and Industry Data This content includes estimates regarding market and industry data that we prepared based on our management’s knowledge and experience in the markets in which we operate, together with information obtained from various sources, including publicly available information, industry reports and publications, surveys, our clients, trade and business organizations and other contacts in the markets in which we operate. In presenting this information, we have made certain assumptions that we believe to be reasonable based on such data and other similar sources and on our knowledge of, and our experience to date in, the markets in which we operate. While such information is believed to be reliable for the purposes used herein, no representations are made as to the accuracy or completeness thereof and we take no responsibility for such information. Forward-Looking Statements This content contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements related to, among other things, our outlook and future performance, the industry and markets in which we operate, our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects and assumptions and future events are forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in documents of Tradeweb Markets Inc. on file with or furnished to the SEC, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this content are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, and the development of the industry and markets in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this content. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, and events in the industry and markets in which we operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this content, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods. Any forward-looking statement that we make in this content speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this content. Contact Details Tradeweb Media Contact Daniel Noonan +1 646-767-4677 daniel.noonan@tradeweb.com Company Website https://www.tradeweb.com

December 14, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Holiday Season Retail Sales Forecasts Are Down – Yoshitsu Could Be Well Placed To Make The Most Of Potentially More Robust Wholesale Trends As Demand Is Pulled Forward

Benzinga

Consumer behavior has changed in many ways since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020. One of the key changes was in the way people did their shopping. Most people had to work from home at the time and due to the stay-at-home orders and multiple lockdowns, consumers looked for avenues to shop online and avoid indoor venues like shopping malls and restaurants. E-commerce witnessed an all-time peak in 2020 increasing by $244.2 billion or 43%, rising from $571.2 billion in 2019 to $815.4 billion in 2020. Two years on, these consumer behavior changes continue to be evidenced and e-commerce seems to be here to stay with many brands pivoting their business strategies to include e-commerce in a more significant way to remain competitive. Even with e-commerce, the holiday season is usually the perfect time for a boost in sales, when holiday discounts, gift-giving, festivities, parties and social pressures create a massive influx of consumer spending. Holiday Ecommerce Sales Growth In 2022 Could Likely Drop Below Pre-Pandemic Levels Although the fabulously high levels of e-commerce sales reached during the pandemic and its corresponding holiday season may have been something of an exception, typically the U.S. has always seen a double-digit increase in e-commerce growth during the holiday season. During 2021 the increase in retail e-commerce sales dipped to below pre-pandemic levels to 8.6%, seemingly on account of the post-pandemic economic slowdown –- with cash-strapped consumers being hesitant to open their wallets. The downward trend may continue this year, with reports estimating that U.S. consumers will spend even less in the 2022 holiday season. E-commerce sales seem set to grow by an underwhelming 2.5% according to Insider Intelligence. One of the factors affecting this number could be the sales events that e-commerce giants like Amazon and Walmart initiated in October, ahead of the holiday season which have likely pulled demand forward. While the retail e-commerce scenario seems not so encouraging, wholesale e-commerce could continue to thrive regardless of seasonal trends, as the key drivers of the business are quite different for wholesale e-commerce as compared to retail. Wholesale Businesses Might Benefit Greatly From Using Ecommerce Wholesale e-commerce is a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce model where businesses sell products in bulk at a discounted price to other businesses, instead of selling products individually to consumers – essentially acting as the intermediary between the manufacturer and the distributor or retailer. A significant advantage of e-commerce for wholesale businesses is that they aren't bound by physical location and can reach customers all around the globe via their website, social media and various marketplaces. Moreover, e-commerce makes life much more convenient for wholesalers by enabling them to research options and make their purchases right from their mobile phones while on the move, without having to involve sales. In addition, by using e-commerce platforms, wholesalers can lower or even eliminate unnecessary costs even as they expand their online presence, resulting in improved profitability. Yoshitsu’s Wholesale Businesses Could Help It Sail Through The Holiday Season Tokyo-based Yoshitsu Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: TKLF), a Japanese retailer and wholesaler of beauty and health products, home goods and food has seemingly benefitted from its mixed model approach of straddling both the wholesale and retail business worlds and selling its products through the use of e-commerce as well as via brick and mortar stores. Yoshitsu has an extensive business network both in Japan and abroad, including over 200 wholesale clients, numerous online stores in China, Korea and Japan, several franchise stores in the United States, Canada, China (Hong Kong) and the United Kingdom, apart from company-operated stores in Japan. The company’s online stores, franchised stores and wholesale operations account for up to 95% of its revenue, which hit $221.51 million in 2021, up from $139.57 million in 2020. The company has been expanding its warehouse operations to support its wholesale businesses and as part of its proposed global expansion in Europe, recently leased its first 2,362-square-foot warehouse in London. Yoshitsu also recently opened a new retail store in China (Hong Kong) as part of the company's long-term plan to expand its presence in China. China reportedly contributed 75% of the company's annual revenue in 2021 and the company was also featured as one of the top five stocks to buy to invest in China in a recently published article on WealthyVC. The health and beauty products market in Japan is expected to grow from $24.6 billion in 2022 to $29.7 billion in 2025. In North America, it is projected to do even better and reach $455.1 billion, and in China it's expected to grow to $137.7 billion during the same time frame. With its growing footprint in all the right markets, and a strong wholesale and retail presence straddling both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar approaches, Yoshitsu could be positioned for growth in the coming years. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

December 14, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Vertical Insure, the Embedded Insurance Platform for Platforms, Secures $4M in Seed Funding to Simplify Insurance

Rally Ventures

Vertical Insure, the embedded insurance platform for vertical SaaS platforms, today announced its $4 million seed round co-led by Rally Ventures and Dundee VC. Vertical Insure provides vertical SaaS platforms with embedded, white label insurance products that can be deployed to their current customer base. The U.S. insurance market was valued at over $1.3 trillion in 2021. There is an enormous demand for the safety net that good insurance provides, but outdated technology and legacy practices have resulted in complex processes and expensive, cookie-cutter coverage. Companies and individuals end up with basic offerings that leave many needs unmet. Vertical SaaS platforms have become the trusted operating and financial partners for the industries they serve. Customers run their entire businesses on these platforms and typically will first look to them for expanded products and services. Now, with Vertical Insure, SaaS companies can offer customized insurance options at the click of a button — resulting in added value and new revenue without any extra overhead or IT bandwidth. Vertical SaaS leaders are experts in their vertical, but they aren’t experts in insurance. Vertical Insure is 100% built around each business and its customers, with tailored recommendations and guided integration. Companies can bundle the range of products their customers need, like event cancellation insurance and shipping protection, and make insurance part of any purchase in any vertical. “Embedded insurance is a huge opportunity. In numerous industries the addition of embedded insurance has been shown to double the revenue of a vertical SaaS company. These platforms know the needs of their customers, and Vertical Insure leverages their existing data to recommend, underwrite and price customized coverage to ultimately create a more valuable product,” said Greg Beaufait, Partner at Dundee Venture Capital. “Vertical SaaS platforms are ideally positioned to offer right-sized coverage. Leveraging their relationships, they can collapse applications down to a single checkbox at checkout and earn revenue for enabling ease of purchase. Platform businesses should get the full benefit of dramatically simplifying insurance for their customers,” said Brock Noland, Co-Founder and CEO of Vertical Insure and Founder and former CEO of Cloudera, Streamsets and phData. “Insurance is a data business and vertical SaaS platforms have an immense amount of data from customers in their vertical to design customized insurance coverage and novel new products. The Vertical Insure founding team has decades of experience in data management and the insurance industry. This is the right team to reimagine insurance, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with them on that mission,” said Justin Kaufenberg, Managing Director at Rally Ventures and Co-Founder and former CEO of SportsEngine, a vertical SaaS platform that sold tens of millions of dollars in embedded insurance. About Vertical Insure Vertical Insure is the embedded insurance platform built for vertical SaaS platforms. The company offers customized insurance options that are 100% built around each business and its customers, resulting in added value and new revenue without any extra overhead. Make insurance part of any purchase in any vertical with Vertical Insure. For more information, visit www.verticalinsure.com. About Dundee Venture Capital Dundee Venture Capital was formed in 2010 to lead seed rounds in regions and entrepreneurs historically underserved by venture capital. Dundee has more than $90M under management across three funds and has invested in more than 50 world-class founding teams in 20 different cities. For more information visit dundeevc.com. About Rally Ventures Rally Ventures invests exclusively in early-stage business technology companies, focusing on entrepreneurs creating major new markets or bringing transformative approaches to existing ones. Since 1997, Rally Ventures' partners and venture capital industry veterans have invested in or run early stage enterprise business-to-business technology companies with a proven ability to deliver superior returns regardless of the overall market environment. For more information visit www.rallyventures.com. Contact Details Rally Ventures Rachel Subasic rachel@rallyventures.com Company Website https://www.verticalinsure.com/

December 14, 2022 07:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

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