February, 2019

• 20 February

  China’s stock rally nearing $1 trillion

  

  Bloomberg As suddenly as it rolled in, the crisis of confidence that shook Chinese stocks last year may be ending. The rally since January has added more than $893 billion to the value of the country’s equities, lifting Shenzhen’s risky startups and state-backed giants alike. The rebound has been so quick and widespread that it’s already triggered signs of overheating ...

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• 20 February

  For tech bulls, Samsung puts Korea back on the map

  

  Bloomberg As Samsung Electronics Co. unveils the next generation of its smartphones on Wednesday, investors will no doubt be looking for a better showing from the mobile giant after a difficult 2018. Based on the hot start from Samsung shares, they already seem to be counting on South Korea’s biggest stock to succeed. It has surged 21 percent so far ...

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• 20 February

  Elusive $15bn India arms deal frustrates Boeing to Lockheed

  

  Bloomberg In the world of multibillion dollar defense contracts, India stands out. Home to one of the biggest armed forces on the planet, the country has an uneasy co-existence with neighbours Pakistan and China. Its rapidly aging fighter jets make it a lucrative potential prize for the likes of Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. While India wants to upgrade ...

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• 20 February

  Britain to ban drones within 5kms of airports

  

  Bloomberg Britain will impose a 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) drone exclusion zone around its runways as the government responds to illegal incursions that closed London Gatwick airport for 36 hours in December, disrupting travel for more than 120,000 people. The measures, taking effect March 13, extend the current 1-kilometer no-fly zone for unmanned and model aircraft, the Department for Transport ...

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• 20 February

  Air France-KLM’s French pilots approve pay deal

  

  Bloomberg Air France-KLM Group’s French pilots approved a pay deal, putting an end to last year’s labour conflict and handing Chief Executive Officer Ben Smith more freedom to define his new strategy. The accord, hammered out during months of talks between management and unions, was approved by 85 percent of pilots, the SNPL union said in a phone message. It ...

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• 20 February

  Walmart surges after reporting best holiday quarter in years

  

  Bloomberg Walmart Inc. finally gave the US retail sector some good news. The company brushed off the industry’s disappointing December sales with its best holiday quarter in at least a decade, soothing concerns about the sector’s outlook for 2019. Comparable sales for Walmart stores in the US — a key performance barometer — rose 4.2 percent in the quarter that ...

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• 20 February

  Southwest to probe aircraft groundings

  

  Bloomberg Southwest Airlines Co. said it would investigate the cause of an operational emergency that’s seen an “unprecedented number” of aircraft taken out of service for mechanical issues, and indicated the groundings may be related to ongoing contract talks with a labour union. The disruptions started February 12, days after the airline’s last contract talks with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal ...

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• 20 February

  Flybe gets counter-bid from American Air-backed Mesa

  

  Bloomberg Flybe Group Plc said American Airlines-backed Mesa Air Group Inc. has launched a counter-bid for its business, leading the stock to more than double in price. The approach from Phoenix, Arizona-based Mesa and New York private-equity firm Bateleur Capital LLC is “preliminary and highly conditional,” Exeter, England-based short-haul carrier Flybe said in a statement on Wednesday, without revealing how ...

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• 19 February

  China relaxes solar subsidy policy

  

  Bloomberg Chinese regulators have proposed easing a major solar power subsidy policy announced last year, according to the nation’s main industry group, a move which would partially reverse rules that undercut demand in the world’s biggest user and shook the global market. Policy makers are starting approvals again for utility-scale, ground-mounted projects that receive subsidies, which were halted in June ...

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• 19 February

  Tesla batteries in short supply for solar installers

  Bloomberg There’s plenty of demand for Tesla Inc.’s Powerwall home-battery systems. The trick is finding installers that have them. Only 12 percent of US companies that install solar panels and residential batteries carry the Powerwall, a study on Tuesday from Boston-based EnergySage and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners found. Meanwhile, about 55 percent of customers shopping for ...

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