Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 8/24/2015

Dow plummets 1,000 points at open as global selloff deepens

U.S stocks plunged Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeting more than 1,000 points following a global stock sell-off across European and Asian markets as fears escalated about China’s slowing economy. All three major indexes saw their worst opens since the financial crisis of 2008. More at the International Business Times, CNN Money and the Wall Street Journal.

Bad credit in Florida won't drive homeowner insurance rates higher

Florida homeowners, although beset with the highest average homeowner insurance rates in the nation, can take solace in a new study's conclusion that their credit histories aren't being used to drive those rates even higher. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

What Miami startups can learn from Israel

Israel also is the globe’s No. 1 nation in research-and-development per capita spending, thanks in large part to its top-ranked science and technology universities. It’s consistently ranked as one of the top five entrepreneurship hubs in the world. More at the Miami Herald.

Jockey Club to build cross-country course

A longtime thoroughbred center in Ocala hopes to become home to one of the top-level eventing competitions in the country. The Ocala Jockey Club in northwest Marion County will partner with EquiVentures to build a cross-country course on part of the 950-acre thoroughbred breeding and training center. More from the Ocala Star-Banner. and Horsetalk.

Small Business Advice
Try to look at problems from different perspectives

Too often decision makers come to decisions after looking at the problem from only one vantage point. If you do not change your vantage point, you will never see the other side of the problem, and viewing the issue from the other side usually reveals additional valuable information. More from Jerry Osteryoung.

Banking Trends
Community Banks Lag in Social Media

Looks like Florida banks have some catching up to do on social media. Only one Florida-based bank was named among the top 50 community bank leaders in social media by the Independent Community Bankers of America trade group.

» More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Profile
Best Ball

Samuel Hollander and Joseph Signorile created the Best Ball, which they say is a big improvement on the 50-year-old stability ball you see in gyms all the time, and they hope to go to market with the product early next year.