Bloomberg Here’s another reason banks should fear the likes of Amazon.com Inc.: A new survey shows consumers are eager to see technology titans take on finance. Nearly 60 percent of US bank customers are willing to try a financial product from tech firms they already use, according to a survey conducted by consult-ant Bain & Co. For younger respondents, the …

Bloomberg Alibaba Group’s $2.9 billion deal to buy a slice of China’s largest hypermart chain pits it against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in the world’s largest retail arena. China’s biggest e-commerce company agreed to acquire 36 percent of Sun Art Retail Group Ltd., which operates about 400 hypermarkets under the Auchan and RT-Mart banners. As part of the deal, France’s Auchan …

Bloomberg Britain’s exit from the European Union could cost the UK aerospace industry 1.5 billion pounds ($2 billion) in extra customs expenses, the sector’s national lobby group said in a submission to lawmakers. The sum would come from “increased checks at the border” if British and EU processes do not remain harmonised, ADS Group said in evidence to Parliament’s Business, …

Bloomberg Inflation might be the Grinch that steals Christmas in Britain this year. UK household expenditure is set to fall 0.1 percent from a year earlier during the holidays, according to a report by Visa and IHS Markit published on Monday. The slump will likely emerge as a result of faster price growth and the resulting pinch on incomes. The …

Bloomberg The market is buzzing with speculation that Amazon.com Inc. will enter the pharmacy business. Some drugmakers are just fine with changes the tech retail giant might bring to the complex market. Drug companies say getting medicine into patients’ hands is complicated and costly. Some have pointed to the multiple layers of middlemen including insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, distributors and …

Bloomberg The Air Force’s classified next-generation bomber programme began with a solid plan for meeting cost goals and warfighting requirements, which include an option to fly unmanned missions, according to a newly declassified audit from the Pentagon’s inspector general. The challenge will be sticking to that plan. The early praise for the $80 billion B-21 programme came about a month …

Ajman / Emirates Business With the UAE’s Internet of Things (IoT) market tripling over the next two years, 2018 will be the vital year for organisations to undergo digital transformation, industry experts said on the sidelines of the Smart Life exhibition, sponsored by Ajman Bank. The UAE’s IoT market is set to more than triple to $35 billion by 2019, …

ABU DHABI / Reuters The distribution unit of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) could command a valuation of between $11 billion and $14 billion, according to fund managers who have seen research reports on the firm before an initial public offer of its shares. The research notes were prepared by analysts at banks which are advising ADNOC on the …

RAS AL KHAIMAH / WAM Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries announced on Sunday revenues of as much as AED992 million for the first three quarters of the year 2017. The company posted an AED86 million net profit for the period. “Overall, the MENA markets remained challenging for the pharmaceutical industry. Julphar’s management has undertaken cost-saving initiatives and new projects to optimise …

DUBAI / WAM Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates NBD, on Sunday rang the market-opening bell to celebrate the listing of a $750 million conventional bond on Nasdaq Dubai. The issuance underlines Emirates NBD’s commitment to growth and expansion, building on recent developments that include increasing its international branch presence, enhancing its digital strategy and …