More than a week after Thailand’s first election in eight years, there’s still little clarity about the nation’s political future. The more frustrating that stalemate becomes, the bigger the incentive for Bangkok businesses to venture overseas. The March 24 polls, it seems, have solved nothing. If holding elections under a new constitution was supposed to lift politics from the streets ...

Where are the unicorns? China’s first batch of candidates for its version of the tech-focused Nasdaq is an uninspiring bunch. Nine companies have been vetted for listing on Shanghai’s Science and Technology Innovation Board, out of 19 that filed applications. They’re also tiny, planning to raise just $1.6 billion combined. That’s a fraction of the $5.4 billion Xiaomi Corp. took ...

Bloomberg US equities extended losses and European shares climbed as investors reassessed the strong rally that started the week. Treasuries resumed their charge higher, while the pound weakened after Britain’s parliament once again failed to reach a consensus on Brexit. The Dow was dragged down by Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc after lower pharmacy reimbrusements hurt earnings at the drugstore chain. ...

Bloomberg An abrupt surge in Bitcoin sent the world’s most popular cryptocurrency to the highest level since November, jolting the $160 billion market for digital assets after three months of calm. Traders struggled to pinpoint reasons for the rally, though some noted a flood fresh interest after Bitcoin breached the $4,200 level. The cryptocurrency briefly topped $5,000 and the value ...

Bloomberg The Bank of England (BOE) has been meeting with direct lenders to gauge the industry’s resilience to slowing growth, according to two people familiar with the matter. At least two of the biggest UK private credit funds met separately with members of the central bank’s financial stability unit in the past month, said the people, who asked not to ...

Bloomberg Britain’s pound presents the biggest opportunity within developed-market currencies with a probable break-the-Brexit logjam moment coming soon, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. “We’re coming to a big finish here,” Zach Pandl, Goldman’s co-head of global foreign exchange and emerging market strategy, said on Bloomberg Television after the UK Parliament again rejected all alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May’s ...

Bloomberg Denmark’s financial watchdog is warning that smaller banks need to be on high alert for signs of money laundering as larger lenders tighten their surveillance systems. Jesper Berg, director general of the Financial Supervisory Authority in Copenhagen, said Denmark is concentrating on “building the lines of defense and having them stronger,” in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Denmark’s biggest ...

Bloomberg The Hermitage Capital Management co-founder who’s become an activist in the fight against money laundering says Sweden’s decision not to pursue his case against Swedbank AB because of a statute of limitations won’t stop him seeking other avenues. Bill Browder, whose criminal complaints against Danske Bank A/S were followed by investigations in multiple jurisdictions, says the Swedish decision was ...

Bloomberg Geneva prosecutors are investigating a former back-office employee of Banque Pictet over allegations the person stole millions of dollars from Switzerland’s biggest privately-owned bank. An investigation was opened on March 19 into suspicions of fraud and breach of trust, according to a spokeswoman for the Geneva prosecutor’s office. She declined to give further details and the person’s name has ...

Bloomberg Former Wall Street trader Edgar Fernandez used some of his Bitcoin as collateral to borrow nearly $100,000, a move that let him keep his cryptocurrency and avert a tax bill on the newly acquired cash. The tax perk stems from a longstanding principle that assets aren’t taxed until sold, much like borrowing against stock holdings. Yet digital currency carries ...