Many politicians and commentators are calling for a big burst of spending on infrastructure. On his blog, my esteemed Bloomberg View colleague Tyler Cowen raises an interesting question: What is the opportunity cost of government spending — that is, what is the value of the other uses to which the money and resources could be put? To answer this ...

  Bloomberg World stock markets largely retreated on Wednesday, with all eyes on the Federal Reserve as it prepares to offer further clues as to the timing of the next US rate rise. European indices fell back after opening higher, although London’s losses were capped by brighter-than-expected unemployment figures that calmed fears surrounding Brexit’s economic fallout. Tokyo was the only ...

  Reuters Qatar’s main stock index moved little in early trade on Wednesday but other bourses in the Gulf edged lower as oil and global equities retreated. Doha’s index was flat after it rose 2.2 percent on Tuesday on expectations of fund inflows when index compiler FTSE promotes it to emerging market status next month. Qatar Insurance gained a further ...