One of the world’s most pivotal economies is reeling from a self-induced policy mistake. Japan is now paying the price for last quarter’s consumption-tax hike, just as it begins to wrestle with the impact of the coronavirus. Japan’s gross domestic product tanked 6.3% in the final three months of 2019, the Cabinet Office said, almost twice the drop economists anticipated ...

Before a scandal dashed Benjamin Griveaux’s hopes of becoming the next mayor of Paris, the preferred candidate of French President Emmanuel Macron could be found promoting his answer to the capital city’s increasingly dysfunctional housing market. What the average priced-out Parisian needed, according to Griveaux, was a handout of 100,000 euros ($108,380) to use as down-payment in return for a ...

Bullion prices are at their highest in seven years, closing in on $1,600 an ounce. Gold held by exchange-traded funds is at all-time records and rising, thanks to worries over the economic damage inflicted by the coronavirus outbreak. Reserves, meanwhile, are depleting. It’s a heady mixture for miners, but perhaps not yet an intoxicating one. Take Polyus PJSC, Russia’s largest ...

Tech stocks have surged to start 2020, lifting the entire market to record highs. But one place you won’t find much enthusiasm for the rally is on Twitter. There, you’re more likely to read accounts spreading fake news about the coronavirus outbreak or mocking the valuation of Tesla Inc.’s meteoric stock. I have a theory about this: Many of Twitter’s ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM Etisalat Group announced Tuesday its consolidated financial statements for the 12 months ending December 31 2019, reporting consolidated net profit of AED8.7 billion. According to a company press statement, the aggregate subscriber base reached 149 million, representing a year-on-year (YOY) increase of 6%. Twelve months’ consolidated revenues reached to AED52.2 billion, while consolidated net profit after ...

Bloomberg Reliance Industries Ltd.’s talks to sell a minority stake in its oil-to-chemical division to Saudi Aramco have been gathering pace in recent weeks, according to reports. Aramco officials and bankers on the deal have been working at Reliance’s offices in Mumbai for due diligence this month, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the information ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), announced on Tuesday it has awarded two contracts for the construction of offshore facilities for the Dalma Gas Development Project located about 190 kilometres northwest of Abu Dhabi city. The Dalma project is a key part of the Ghasha ultra-sour gas concession which is central to Adnoc’s strategic objective ...

Bloomberg Oil fell, snapping a five-day rally, amid renewed fears over the impact on the global economy and fuel demand from Asia’s deadly coronavirus. Brent futures fell 2.3% to trade near $56 a barrel in London, slipping with equity markets as Apple Inc. warned it will fail to meet sales targets this quarter because of disruption from the virus. Chinese ...

DUBAI / WAM His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the Hope Probe is a testament to the capabilities of the youth of the UAE. “The project, which represents a historic achievement for the nation, also sends a message of hope to youth in the Arab ...

Sharjah / WAM The Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), operating under the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, in collaboration with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), organised a Sharjah-Korea Business Roundtable at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), to explore greater economic ties and synergies between Sharjah and Korea. The meeting also introduced emerging prospects and ...