Omnicom to buy Brazil advertising group ABC, source says

By Tatiana Bautzer and Guillermo Parra-Bernal SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Omnicom Group Inc, the world’s second largest advertising company, has agreed to pay 1 billion reais ($270 million) for Brazil’s Grupo ABC, growing Omnicom’s publicity, branding services and content in Latin America’s largest economy, a source with direct knowledge of the transaction said on Friday.

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Snapchat’s lackluster ad business threatens $16 billion valuation

By Heather Somerville SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Snapchat, maker of a free mobile app that lets users send videos and messages that disappear in seconds, is struggling to gain traction with advertisers, fuelling investor concern that its $16 billion valuation isn't justified by a business that hasn't yet shown it has a steady source of income.

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EU steps up controls on bitcoin, pre-paid cards to curb terrorist funds

The European Union will increase controls on pre-paid cards, money remittances and bitcoin in a bid to curb terrorism funding after the attacks in Paris that killed 129 people. EU interior and justice ministers agreed on Friday in Brussels to tighten checks on payment methods that may be conducted anonymously and might be used by terrorist organizations to finance attacks

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