Bloomberg The Energy Department, in a long-anticipated report on the security of the US electric grid, makes the case for rescuing the nation’s coal industry from widespread plant shutdowns, but stops short of an assault on renewable power that environmentalists had feared. The study, commissioned by Energy Secretary Rick Perry who has warned that policies favoring solar and wind may ...
Read More »Admin
Shell joins solar push in Australian coal hub
Bloomberg Royal Dutch Shell Plc is investigating a solar power project in an Australian region better known for its fossil fuels, particularly coal. The company is studying the feasibility of a solar development on its land in the Western Downs area of Queensland, which is subject to a final investment decision, a spokeswoman said by email. Though Shell’s statement didn’t ...
Read More »Comcast deal prompts Sunrun to soar
Bloomberg Sunrun Inc., the residential solar company that’s boosting market-share, rose to a 52-week high last week after saying it will tap a partnership with the biggest US cable-TV company to add new customers. Comcast Corp. and Sunrun agreed to a 40-month partnership after a trial showed that cable customers had interest in solar products, according to a statement. San ...
Read More »Duke asked to cancel planned South Carolina N-reactors
Bloomberg Duke Energy Corp. asked to cancel its planned nuclear plant in South Carolina, citing the bankruptcy of reactor manufacturer Westinghouse Electric Co. North Carolina utility regulators should require customers of the company’s Duke Energy Carolinas unit to pay $353 million of pre-construction costs spent on the Lee Nuclear Station over the next dozen years, the Charlotte-based company said in ...
Read More »India’s crackdown on Chinese tech companies gathering pace
Bloomberg India is intensifying a crackdown on Chinese technology companies with a government official saying security testing of China’s UC Browser is being done to see if it’s leaking data. Testing on the popular browser made by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s UCWeb is under way and the government is awaiting a report before deciding on any action, Ajay Prakash Sawhney, ...
Read More »Naspers’ chief Bekker defends keeping $132bn Tencent stake
Bloomberg Chairman Koos Bekker countered criticism Naspers Ltd. relies too heavily on its $132 billion stake in Chinese media company Tencent Holdings Ltd. by reminding investors that they would have been a lot poorer if he’d given in to similar pressure to sell the holding years ago. “Five years ago there was also a lot of unhappiness,†Bekker told shareholders ...
Read More »Baidu sells food delivery unit to startup ‘Ele.me’
Bloomberg Baidu Inc. sold control of its unprofitable food delivery business to a startup backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. as the search engine cuts back on cash-burning ventures to focus on artificial intelligence Baidu will become a shareholder in Ele.me after the Alibaba-backed firm completes its purchase of the Waimai business, the companies said. No price was released and ...
Read More »Smartphone maker HTC explores strategic options
Bloomberg HTC Corp., the beleaguered manufacturer that once ranked among the world’s top smartphone makers, is exploring options that could range from separating its virtual-reality business to a full sale of the company, according to people familiar with the matter. The Taiwanese firm is working with an adviser as it considers bringing in a strategic investor, selling its Vive virtual ...
Read More »China industrial profits keep pace as factory inflation holds up
Bloomberg Chinese industrial firms maintained a profit surge, underscoring the economy’s resilience even amid slowing factory output and investment. Industrial profits increased 16.5 percent in July from a year earlier, versus the 19.1 percent pace a month earlier, the nation’s statistics bureau said on Sunday. The robust earnings are giving policy makers room to combat excessive industrial capacity and curb ...
Read More »Changes to proposed sanctions on Hezbollah allay Lebanon’s fears
BEIRUT / Reuters Proposed tighter US sanctions on Hezbollah have been altered enough to allay fears of major damage to Lebanon’s economy, a sign Washington is taking concerns about Lebanese stability seriously, banking and political sources said. But banking figures told Reuters Lebanese authorities should not be complacent as US President Donald Trump’s future stance on Iran and its allies ...
Read More »