Amazon.com Inc.’s recent announcement that its operations will be carbon neutral by 2040 stands out for its sheer size. But Amazon is only one among dozens of companies that announced new carbon-intensity benchmarks at United Nations General Assembly. It’s hardly a new phenomenon. Eighty-one percent of S&P 500 companies had set emissions-reduction or energy-use targets by at least four years ...
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Japan’s consumption tax hike is a risk for economy
Japan’s consumption-tax hike doesn’t look like it’s going to sink the economy, as a similar increase did five years ago. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the bump, to 10% from 8%, is still happening at an inauspicious time. While a recession isn’t in the cards for Japan, the last thing any major economy needs is a ...
Read More »SoftBank’s investment in WeWork makes sense
WeWork just lost its CEO, its IPO is delayed indefinitely, prospectus details finally reveal massive losses, it’s burning cash like kerosene, and it needs to raise funds imminently. So, of course key backer SoftBank Group Corp. would throw in more money. Already a 29% shareholder of The We Co. – WeWork’s official name – SoftBank is discussing whether to increase ...
Read More »Amazon realises its customers care about privacy
Amazon.com Inc. did something odd. It acknowledged that it is a huge and mighty company that must tackle head-on the uncomfortable questions about its power. At an event to roll out new or updated company devices, including limited-quantity eyeglass frames, a ring and wireless headphones all powered by its Alexa digital-voice assistant, a top Amazon executive said personal data privacy ...
Read More »US futures surge as stocks mixed; dollar edges higher
Bloomberg US equity-index futures rose while stocks drifted in Europe and declined in Asia as investors struggled to interpret the latest developments in the trade rivalry between the world’s two largest economies. Treasuries and European bonds slipped. Contracts on the three main equity indexes all signalled a firm open in New York, and a dollar gauge inched higher after the ...
Read More »Trade woes outweigh festive cues for India
Bloomberg India stocks declined as concerns over fresh US-China tensions over investment flows outweighed the festival season tailwind. The S&P BSE Sensex fell 0.4 percent to 3,8667.33 at the 3:30 pm close in Mumbai. The NSE Nifty 50 Index dropped 0.3 percent. Global risks ranging from trade friction to the recent oil shock have the potential to mitigate positive local ...
Read More »Time to switch from US to Euro-area stocks: JPMorgan
Bloomberg There’s been a significant change of heart from JPMorgan equity strategists: US stocks are no longer preferred to Euro-area equities. “There is a tactical opportunity opening up for Euro zone to catch up,†strategists led by Mislav Matejka wrote in a note. The 20 percent underperformance of the region’s stocks in dollar terms over the past 18 months, combined ...
Read More »UAE approves raising general federal budget by 2% for 2020
ABU DHABI / WAM The Financial and Economic Committee held its 40th meeting on Sunday at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was chaired by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, and was attended by HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential ...
Read More »China vows two-way financial opening
Bloomberg China said it would continue to open up its financial markets and encourage foreign investment amid reports the Trump administration is considering restrictions on fund flows to China. “We will take further steps to promote high quality two-way financial opening, encourage foreign financial institutions and funds to invest in domestic financial market, to boost competitiveness and dynamism of the ...
Read More »ERC offers 80 tonnes of food aid to Yemenis
MUKALLA / WAM The UAE, through its humanitarian arm, the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), provided 80 tonnes of food and relief assistance to needy Yemeni families in eastern Mukalla, Hadramaut Governorate, as part of the UAE’s efforts to ease their suffering and improve their living conditions. ERC teams distributed 1,000 food baskets that benefitted 5,000 members of local families. The beneficiaries ...
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