Japan’s consumption-tax hike doesn’t look like it’s going to sink the economy, as a similar increase did five years ago. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the bump, to 10% from 8%, is still happening at an inauspicious time. While a recession isn’t in the cards for Japan, the last thing any major economy needs is a ...

WeWork just lost its CEO, its IPO is delayed indefinitely, prospectus details finally reveal massive losses, it’s burning cash like kerosene, and it needs to raise funds imminently. So, of course key backer SoftBank Group Corp. would throw in more money. Already a 29% shareholder of The We Co. – WeWork’s official name – SoftBank is discussing whether to increase ...

Amazon.com Inc. did something odd. It acknowledged that it is a huge and mighty company that must tackle head-on the uncomfortable questions about its power. At an event to roll out new or updated company devices, including limited-quantity eyeglass frames, a ring and wireless headphones all powered by its Alexa digital-voice assistant, a top Amazon executive said personal data privacy ...

Bloomberg US equity-index futures rose while stocks drifted in Europe and declined in Asia as investors struggled to interpret the latest developments in the trade rivalry between the world’s two largest economies. Treasuries and European bonds slipped. Contracts on the three main equity indexes all signalled a firm open in New York, and a dollar gauge inched higher after the ...

Bloomberg India stocks declined as concerns over fresh US-China tensions over investment flows outweighed the festival season tailwind. The S&P BSE Sensex fell 0.4 percent to 3,8667.33 at the 3:30 pm close in Mumbai. The NSE Nifty 50 Index dropped 0.3 percent. Global risks ranging from trade friction to the recent oil shock have the potential to mitigate positive local ...

Bloomberg There’s been a significant change of heart from JPMorgan equity strategists: US stocks are no longer preferred to Euro-area equities. “There is a tactical opportunity opening up for Euro zone to catch up,” strategists led by Mislav Matejka wrote in a note. The 20 percent underperformance of the region’s stocks in dollar terms over the past 18 months, combined ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The Financial and Economic Committee held its 40th meeting on Sunday at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was chaired by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, and was attended by HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential ...

Bloomberg China said it would continue to open up its financial markets and encourage foreign investment amid reports the Trump administration is considering restrictions on fund flows to China. “We will take further steps to promote high quality two-way financial opening, encourage foreign financial institutions and funds to invest in domestic financial market, to boost competitiveness and dynamism of the ...

MUKALLA / WAM The UAE, through its humanitarian arm, the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), provided 80 tonnes of food and relief assistance to needy Yemeni families in eastern Mukalla, Hadramaut Governorate, as part of the UAE’s efforts to ease their suffering and improve their living conditions. ERC teams distributed 1,000 food baskets that benefitted 5,000 members of local families. The beneficiaries ...

DUBAI / WAM The Emirate of Dubai has witnessed exceptional growth during the first half of 2019, with foreign direct investments (FDIs), reaching a record-breaking AED46.6 billion, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, announced on Sunday. This new record represents a growth of 135 percent compared to ...