February, 2022

• 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

  Walmart has a cart full of reasons to love inflation

  

    Walmart Inc is defying fears that rising prices will derail the consumer recovery. The world’s biggest retailer announced better-than-expected quarterly profit and delivered an upbeat outlook for US same-store sales this fiscal year. The shares rose as much as 3% in pre-market trading. It’s good news, but it really shouldn’t be a surprise. Although other retailers may be fretting, ...

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• 18 February

  New Covid antivirals pills are needed

  

  Even as omicron infection rates plummet, preparations must be made for whatever Covid-19 throws at us next. The best-case scenario is that we live with an endemic virus that causes only mild infections in most people who are vaccinated. But the possibility remains that new variants will arise. A good way to prepare for any eventuality is to develop new ...

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• 18 February

  The high-yield crypto accounts offer returns

    US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler has repeatedly said the crypto markets are like the “Wild West,” with insufficient protections for investors. A presidential working group has cautioned that some crypto platforms were allowing investors to make risky high-leverage bets. And the Treasury Department has called for legislation requiring some crypto issuers to be insured just ...

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• 18 February

  US Congress risks to defend future elections

    The Electoral Count Act of 1887 is badly written, and its flaws present dangers to the country. The current bipartisan interest in revising the law, which sets forth how Congress handles challenges to electoral votes after a presidential election, is therefore welcome. But there are many ways a reform could go wrong, and legislators will have to be careful ...

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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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