Arbitrary round numbers matter, even though they shouldn’t. The definition of a “bear market” as any peak-to-trough drawdown of 20% or more is unhelpful. The difference between losses of 19.95% and 20.05% is minimal. But the definition is often cited, and it has an impact on how people behave. Which brings us to Friday’s trading, when the proximity of the ...

  It’s beyond disappointing that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson chose to escalate his quarrel with the European Union at this moment, with war raging in Ukraine and unity in the face of Russian aggression of surpassing importance. Unfortunately, it’s not surprising. At issue is the Northern Ireland Protocol, a part of the exit deal Britain struck with the EU ...

Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc is testing a service that uses the company’s sprawling network of gig drivers to fetch packages from mall-based retailers and deliver them to customers. The program, should it become a permanent part of the e-commerce giant’s delivery options, could help Amazon expand the variety of goods it has available for fast shipment. Shoppers who want same-day or ...