International Business

“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future," as Nils Bohr, the Nobel laureate physicist put it. But as the end of 2016 approaches, it’s useful to look forward and try to anticipate the cybersecurity trends that lie ahead, and to reflect on what’s happened over the past year, to see how accurate previous predictions were.    For 2016, our predicted cybersecurity threats included:  

Starbucks Corp. is feeling its oats.   The coffee giant topped estimates for its fourth quarter and gave a positive view for its current fiscal year.   Starbucks’ consolidated net revenue grew 16% to $5.8 billion in its fourth quarter, which was better than expected.   

The watch and fashion accessories brand Fossil Group is planning to reorganize its business.   The company, which operates 610 stores across the globe (including 284 U.S. locations) will close some stores, although it did not say how many, the Dallas News reported, as part of a multi-year business overhaul that also includes a focus on fewer products.    

China’s sluggish economy didn’t stop Alibaba from increasing revenue by 55% for the September quarter.  

The CFO of Gap Inc. is leaving the company after serving in the role for nearly a decade.   The retailer announced that executive VP and CFO Sabrina Simmons is leaving. She will remain through the end of the company’s 2016 fiscal year, "ensuring a seamless transition over the coming months."  

Party City has nabbed a 22-year retail veteran to head up its retail operations.   Party City Holdco Inc. announced that Ryan Vero has joined the company as executive VP of PCHI and president of Party City retail group. Vero, who will have full responsibility for all of Party City’s North American retail operations, including some 900 brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce, recently served as president, grocery and drugstore at Sears Holdings.     

Office Depot saw its profit rise in the third quarter as cost-cuts and a $240 million tax benefit helped to offset the impact of lower revenue.   Profit in the quarter totaled $44 million, topping analysts’ forecasts. Sales fell 7% to $2.84 billion.  

Singles' Day, a festival that started in China some 20 years ago to celebrate being single, is fast approaching. And the country’s e-commerce giant is pulling out all the stops this year.