Just when it seemed safe not to worry about the next financial crisis, up pops Italy. “In Italy, lavish plans may propel next crisis,” warned The New York Times. Or, “Italy’s budget rattles financial markets on debt crisis fears,” said Sky News. Exactly how a crisis might emerge isn’t clear. Would Italian interest rates soar, reflecting fears that the country ...

Netflix Inc. has spoiled us. It accustomed viewers to the prospect of a relatively cheap video service without advertising interruptions and with what feels like an unlimited assortment of TV shows and movies that can be watched at any time. It did this at the expense of an economic business strategy, prioritising customers over profits. Whether Netflix’s approach is viable ...

No news can sometimes be good news. Unilever and Nestle, two of Europe’s biggest consumer giants, managed to report sales growth that broadly matched analyst estimates.That was exactly what they needed: both are vulnerable if they stumble. A misstep at Nestle could strengthen the hand of an activist investor; at Unilever, it could attract one. The pair is struggling with ...