February, 2022

• 20 February

  New chip crisis means Japan’s auto giants aren’t in clear yet

  

    Bloomberg Japan’s top automakers emerged from a tough 2021 punctuated by a global semiconductor shortage and are forecasting profit will increase on the back of higher vehicle prices. However, a looming shortage of analog chips threatens to cloud the outlook. While tight supplies of semiconductors are set to ease later this year, the next bottleneck is likely to come …

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• 20 February

  Ford’s CEO explores ways to separate its EV business

  

    Bloomberg Ford Motor Co is looking at ways to separate its electric-vehicle operation from its century-old legacy business, hoping to earn the sort of investor respect enjoyed by Tesla Inc. and other pure-play EV makers. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley wants to wall off Ford’s electric operations from its internal combustion engine business and has even considered spinning off …

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• 20 February

  Hon Hai says parts shortages easing

    Bloomberg The biggest assembler of iPhones said component shortages that plagued electronics production for more than a year are showing signs of easing, a potentially encouraging signal for manufacturers across industries. There will be a major improvement in parts shortages in the first quarter, with “overall supply constraints” set to ease in the second half, James Wu, a spokesman …

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• 18 February

  Oil heads for weekly loss as bumper rally starts to ease off

  

    Bloomberg Oil headed for the first weekly loss in two months as investors weighed the crisis over Ukraine and the potential return of Iranian barrels to the market. West Texas Intermediate slipped, trading near $91 a barrel after losing as much as 3% on Friday. Oil’s recent rally has shown signs of cooling, albeit from an exceptionally high level. …

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• 18 February

  Japan steel giant wants $17b in state aid for carbon cuts

  

    Bloomberg Japan’s biggest steelmaker is calling on Tokyo to provide at least 2 trillion yen ($17.3 billion) in subsidies over almost three decades to meet net-zero carbon targets, as it seeks to stay competitive against China and other global rivals. Nippon Steel needs the money to vie on an “equal footing,” according to Hideo Suzuki, the managing executive officer …

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• 18 February

  UK needs much more power storage as part of its green future

  

    Bloomberg The UK needs to substantially expand its capacity for storing electricity for longer in order to maintain energy security as it shifts to greener power, according to Aurora Energy Research. As much as 24 gigawatts of long duration electricity storage — about eight times the current installed capacity — may be needed to help integrate intermittent renewable sources …

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• 18 February

  Thailand cuts excise tax on diesel to counter inflation

    Bloomberg Thailand will slash the excise tax on diesel for three months to lessen the impact of soaring global crude prices as inflation emerges as the latest threat to the economic recovery. The cabinet agreed to cut the levy by 3 baht ($0.09) per liter until May 20, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a government spokesman, said in a statement. The lower …

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• 18 February

  Boeing banks on sustainable aviation fuel to run aircraft

  

    Bloomberg As flying electric taxis and hydrogen fuel take center stage at the Singapore Airshow, Boeing Co’s plan to clean up aviation is far less revolutionary. Rather than banking on new technology and different propulsion systems, the Chicago-based company is pushing a solution that will limit disruption to its mainstay plane-making business: Run the aircraft on sustainable aviation fuel. …

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• 18 February

  Ocado, Casino to extend French e-retail alliance

  

    Bloomberg Online grocery services provider Ocado Group Plc and Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA in France have created a logistics joint venture to help other retailers in France sell their goods online. In a significant expansion of their existing partnership, the two companies signed a preliminary agreement where the duo will provide logistics services, including project management and operations support in …

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• 18 February

  UK retail sales bounces back in Jan as Omicron impact eased

  

    Bloomberg UK retail sales bounced back in January as the impact of the Omicron variant on consumers ebbed. The volume of goods sold in stores and online added 1.9%, reclaiming some of the 4% plunge in December, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It was the biggest monthly increase since April when non-essential stores reopened. Economists had expected …

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