Virgin Galactic shares take off; Spotify hits all the right notes, and more top news

The news professionals in Europe are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments. 

Virgin Galactic has liftoff on Wall Street, launching its public debut on Monday and becoming the first human space flight company to trade on public markets. Shares soared as the company entered the New York Stock Exchange, CNBC reports, following its merger with “blank check” company Social Capital Hedosophia. The listing allows public markets to weigh in on the potential for space tourism for the first time, and Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said the company “is making history again today”. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Spotify has returned to profit thanks to the introduction of budget-friendly plans and a significant round of cost cutting. The Swedish pioneering streaming site is midway through transitioning from a music company to a media and cultural brand through podcasts and original content. It logged a $60 million third quarter operating profit, reaching 248 million monthly active users — including 113 million premium paying subscribers. Promotion and artist marketing has been slashed as the company attempts to get musicians to invest in “sponsored recommendations”. ? Here’s what people are saying.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s bid for an early election was defeated overwhelmingly in Parliament after opposition Labour Party members boycotted the vote. But two other parties offered to join the PM in proposing a law — requiring a smaller majority for passage — that would still allow for an election this year. The developments follow the European Union’s agreement to extend the deadline for taking Britain out of the bloc until the end of January. ? Here’s what people are saying.

HSBC has announced fresh plans to “remodel” its businesses due to a steep slump in its American and European units. Protests in Hong Kong and the trade spat between the US and China have taken a toll on the global banking giant, it said, prompting the need for “significant” restructuring efforts that go beyond previous plans. Europe’s largest lender is now likely getting ready to make cuts in headcount, says Bloomberg. HSBC could cut up to 10,000 jobs, the Financial Times said earlier this month. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Both male and female employees are more likely to respond negatively to critical professional feedback when it comes from a woman, according to Middlebury College’s Martin Abel. After studying 2,700 online transcription workers, Abel found employees of both genders were more likely to come away dissatisfied and less likely to accept future assignments after receiving critical feedback from a female boss. Simply being aware of this bias may help matters. And Abel found that these differing expectations are less prevalent among younger workers. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Great readers make great leaders, writes Julia Hartz, CEO and C-founder at Eventbrite.

“One of the key attributes I’ve identified consistently in the leaders I look up to from the past and present is the commitment to life-long learning.”

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