Opinion

Hiroshi Mikitani, founder of Japanese e-commerce empire Rakuten Group Inc, is keeping investors on hold while his own fortune declines. Once ranked the 25th richest person in Asia, Mikitani no longer even features in the top 140, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. It’s not hard to see why: Rakuten shares are trading near levels last seen in 2010 as ...

  By early next year, the US government will likely run out of money to pay for Covid-19 vaccines, tests and treatments. Although President Joe Biden has requested an additional $22 billion from Congress, Republicans are in no mood to continue splurging on the pandemic — not least because so much relief money has already been misspent. Shifting more costs ...

  It’s a deal which until recently was hard to imagine. Buying Albertsons Cos triggers major antitrust risks for any of its obvious industry suitors. But on Friday the US grocery chain agreed to be acquired by larger rival Kroger Co at a $25 billion enterprise value, with the duo outlining a seemingly cunning plan to assuage the competition authorities. ...

Looking southeast from the Acropolis of Athens, the silhouette of the tanker Pskov barely stood up against the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. Inside her navy blue hull, almost 300 meters long, a hidden treasure: a shipment of liquefied natural gas. Europe is thirsty for LNG after Russia shut down most of its pipeline gas sales to the continent, ...

  Social Security is known as the third rail of politics. President Joe Biden has pounced on all who dare even think about curtailing the retirement program. In fact, this week cash-strapped retirees will get the biggest cost-of-living increase in 40 years, an 8.7% boost to protect them from inflation. For many retirees on fixed incomes, that’s a godsend. Some ...

  A takeover bid for one of the UK’s few publicly traded software companies of any size is facing resistance. When stocks are falling everywhere, snubbing a cash offer is brave. But shareholders in Aveva Group Plc are justified in holding out. The situation is emblematic of the opportunistic bids we could see exploiting this year’s collapse in the pound ...

  Florida’s home-insurance business was in trouble even before Hurricane Ian tore across the state. Big insurers were taking their business elsewhere, smaller ones were going broke, costs due to litigation and fraud had soared, and so had premiums. The private market was pulling back as the risk of weather-related damage mounted, leaving homeowners to buy protection from the state-backed ...

  A global economy plagued by high inflation and rising interest rates has tipped the competitive playing field in favor of US industrial companies, and some are taking advantage to make acquisitions. More should join the club — as long as they have a strong appetite for risk. US companies have a few clear tailwinds. The strong dollar helps with ...

With China’s Covid-zero controls in overdrive, it’s hard to see light at the end of the tunnel. But every household has to balance its checkbook, including the Chinese government. Behind closed doors, when and how to reopen the economy must be on top of Beijing’s agenda. The upcoming party congress — a twice-a-decade event during which President Xi Jinping is ...

  You know the auto industry has a giant affordability problem when a manufacturer unveils a concept car whose roof and hood are made from reinforced cardboard. The battery-powered Oli, shown last month by Stellantis NV’s Citroën brand, has a top speed of just 68 miles per hour (110 km) and weighs around 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). For once, the ...