February, 2019

• 9 February

  ECB sees no urgent need to offer new long-term loans to lenders

  

  Bloomberg European Central Bank officials see no urgent need to offer new long-term loans to banks and aren’t certain to do so at their next policy meeting in March, according to people familiar with the matter. Officials aren’t yet convinced about the necessity for more liquidity and are nervous that an offering could fuel perceptions that they’re helping out particular …

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• 9 February

  US economy is in good place, says Fed’s Powell

  

  Bloomberg Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell gave a brief but positive assessment of the economy at an event organized for educators. “The US economy is now in a good place,” Powell said evening in response to audience questions during a meeting with teachers at the central bank’s headquarters in Washington. “At the moment, unemployment is low, prices are near two …

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• 9 February

  Deutsche Bank CEO Sewing promises discipline in quest to boost revenue

  

  Bloomberg Deutsche Bank AG Chief Executive Officer Christian Sewing said the bank will seek to increase revenue without sacrificing discipline as he attempts to reboot the troubled German lender. “We have our costs under control and built a solid foundation with a strong capital base and a very low risk profile,” Sewing said, according to prepared remarks that he was …

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• 9 February

  Brazil’s central bank keeps rate unchanged

  Bloomberg Brazil held its benchmark interest rate unchanged and signalled that Congress needed to approve cost-cutting measures before borrowing costs can fall. The bank board, led by its President Ilan Goldfajn, kept the Selic rate at 6.50 percent for a seventh straight meeting in a decision expected by all 42 economists in a Bloomberg survey. It was likely the last …

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• 9 February

  The flops are piling up for video-game titans

  

  Bloomberg In recent years, the video-game industry looked like it had found the antidote to the boom-bust cycles that had long plagued the business. Publishers focused on a few well-known titles and extended their lives through in-game purchases, expansion packs and online tournaments. Electronic Arts Inc., one of the largest players, doubled its market value to almost $45 billion last …

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• 9 February

  Waymo nearing robocar deal with Renault-Nissan alliance

  

  Bloomberg Waymo is in advanced talks to develop autonomous cars with Renault SA, Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that would join a leading self-driving force with the world’s largest automotive alliance. A deal between the three carmakers and Alphabet Inc.’s self-driving unit could include making driverless taxis, said …

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• 9 February

  Facebook acquires visual shopping startup GrokStyle

  

  Bloomberg Facebook Inc. said it acquired visual shopping and artificial intelligence startup GrokStyle Inc. in a move to bolster the social-media company’s own AI work. GrokStyle’s technology, which was integrated into Ikea’s mobile app, was simple in practice. A user takes a picture of a piece of furniture and the technology would match it to similar products that could be …

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• 9 February

  Mike Lynch-backed legal AI startup valued at $100 million

  

  Bloomberg Luminance Technologies Ltd., a UK company that sells artificial intelligence (AI) software that helps lawyers review documents and conduct due diligence, has been valued at $100 million in its latest funding round. The company said it got $10 million from existing investors, including venture capital firms Invoke Capital and Talis Capital, as well as the law firm Slaughter and …

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• 9 February

  Boeing’s Max 7 jet faces new doubts as key buyer wavers

  

  Bloomberg WestJet Airlines Ltd. is outgrowing its crush on Boeing Co.’s Max 7 jet, adding to concerns about the future of the smallest member of the 737 Max family. The Canadian carrier is switching its focus — and some of its orders — to larger, more fuel-efficient versions of the plane that fit better with its cost-cutting goals, Chief Executive …

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• 9 February

  Ocado could lose entire automated warehouse in fire

  

  Bloomberg One of Ocado Group Plc’s largest UK warehouses is expected to be completely destroyed by a fire, constraining the online grocer’s ability to meet customer demand and cutting sales growth. The blaze hit the 45-million pound ($58 million) automated facility in Andover, England, that manages as many as 70,000 orders a week. Although under control, it caused a collapsed …

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