Rise of the machines! Attack of the clones! This is a common outcry from the financial industry and investors alike in reaction to the rapid rise of ‘passive’ index funds and exchange-traded funds, which now have about $5 trillion in assets in the United States. Investors have an understandable tendency to see passive investing as a bunch of robotic ...

  This must be “copy your competitor” week for corporations. McDonald’s Corp., at its annual investor day, unveiled plans to roll out mobile ordering and delivery to all its US locations. In a bid to win over lapsed customers, it’s embracing the same digital tools Starbucks Corp. and Domino’s Pizza Inc. have used to grow sales. Recently I warned Target ...

  On March 29, Samsung Electronics Co. will unveil its new Galaxy S8 phone. When you release a new product, you want to show off its cool new features. But Samsung’s launch stands to be overshadowed by not one but two reputational fires the company is fighting simultaneously. And “fire” isn’t just a metaphor: One of the company’s problems is ...

  Emirates Business Mall of Egypt is Majid Al Futtaim’s flagship project in North Africa and a pillar of the company’s AED 5.1 billion investment strategy in Egypt. With the unveiling of the country’s first super-regional mall, Majid Al Futtaim is bringing its world-renowned leisure and entertainment brand portfolio that includes Ski Egypt, which brings snow for the first time ...

  AP Air India says it has set a world record by flying around the world with an all-female crew. Press Trust of India reported that the flight flew over the Pacific Ocean from New Delhi to San Francisco on Monday, and then flew back to New Delhi over the Atlantic on Friday. Apart from the all-female cockpit and cabin ...

  Emirates Business Celebrating the steadfast love of mothers everywhere, Pure Gold Jewellers has launched stylish special edition diamond pendants for Mother’s Day. One of the designs is an open heart shaped gold and diamond pendant with the word ‘Mom’ inscribed in the centre of the heart. This 18 karat pendant has an array of diamonds around the outer layer ...

  Bloomberg A former close political ally of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie urged a judge to spare him prison for pleading guilty to pressuring United Airlines to fly a money-losing route convenient to his family’s weekend home. David Samson, once chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, faces as many as two years in prison ...

  Bloomberg PVH Corp.’s Tommy Hilfiger division is looking to technology to bring buzz to a three-decade-old brand that’s been walloped by the department-store industry’s decline. Though Tommy Hilfiger’s same-store sales plunged 11 percent in North America during the most recently reported quarter, e-commerce has emerged as its biggest source of growth. The business is increasingly relying on social media ...

  Bloomberg Libya halted exports from its two of biggest oil ports and reduced production from some fields after clashes threatened to reverse the North African country’s progress in reviving crude output and sales. Shipments from Es Sider, the country’s largest oil port, and Ras Lanuf, its third-biggest, have been suspended until the security situation improves and workers return to ...

  Bloomberg Nigeria has filed criminal charges of corruption against oil multinationals Royal Dutch Shell and Eni over the $1.1 billion sale of one of Africa’s richest oil blocks. Both companies have denied any wrongdoing. Charges filed at the High Court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, allege the companies paid $801 million to former Oil Minister Dan Etete, former Justice Minister ...