The British government is making a twofold gamble on finance and Brexit. First, ministers seem to believe that London’s financial firms are crying wolf when they warn about the potential domestic cost of a so-called hard Brexit. Second, British officials seem convinced that the European Union is so reliant on the City that threats to raise the drawbridge are …

  lf Mark Schneider, the new chief executive of Nestle SA, is wasting no time in hunting out acquisitions.The Swiss consumer group is considering a takeover of Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., the US baby-formula producer, according to a report yesterday from StreetInsider. But right now, Nestle’s sprawling portfolio needs pruning, not fresh additions. This looks like a deal it should …

  It is no exaggeration to say that a bizarre new phase in human history began on January 20 as Donald J. Trump becomes the world’s most powerful man. All bets, to put it mildly, are off. Those entrusted to report on and analyze the contemporary world are especially befuddled. One can condemn Trump’s open loathing for the mainstream media. …