Financial Mail

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1. Starbucks opens sign store

Starbucks has opened its first US café staffed by employees who are partially or fully deaf and communicat­e in American Sign Language. The store in Washington, DC was modelled on the Seattle-based coffee chain’s first signing store, which opened in Malaysia in 2016.

2. Apple’s war chest

Apple now has $237.1bn in cash on hand, the company reported in its fourth-quarter earnings report last week. That’s about $6bn less cash on hand than last quarter, when it reported $243.7bn. Apple’s cash hoarding has led to M&A speculatio­n, though the company has more recently shelled out on content creation, emerging markets and creating US jobs. The company sold 46,889 iphones, 9,699 ipads and 5,299 Macs in the fourth quarter.

3. Istanbul’s $12bn airport

Phase one of Istanbul’s new airport, designed to become the biggest airport in the world, was officially launched last week. The airport is being funded, built and managed by a consortium of investors and constructi­on firms called IGA. It is expected to cost nearly $12bn at completion and will have an initial capacity of 90-million passengers, and will be able to operate up to 2,000 flights a day. It is being designed by London-based Grimshaw Architects.

4. Pepsico’s health push

Pepsico has bought nutritiona­l food company Health Warrior, the latest move in its aim to attract consumers who are ditching processed and sugary foods and beverages for healthier options. Health Warrior makes protein powder, bars and muffins rich in plant-based nutrients and “superfoods” such as chia seeds.

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