April, 2019

• 17 April

  Sunlight, mirrors still seen in Aussie future power mix

  Bloomberg An Australian energy startup says it has found a solution to the problem that has dogged some thermal solar technology projects, removing instability in the process of storing the generated electricity. Vast Solar’s technology differs from rivals because it uses liquid sodium as a heat transfer agent, improving control of the sunlight bouncing off specialised mirrors, according to Chief ...

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• 17 April

  China considers stimulus to bolster consumption

  

  Bloomberg China is drafting a series of stimulus measures to bolster sales of cars and electronics, according to people familiar with the matter. The draft includes subsidies for new-energy vehicles, smartphones and home appliances, said the people, who asked not to be named because they aren’t authorised to discuss the plan. The proposals are at a consultation stage with other ...

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• 17 April

  Singapore exports slump on worst electronics drop

  

  Bloomberg Singapore’s electronics exports slumped in March by the most since 2013, an ominous sign that it will take longer for the city state to shake off a regional demand slowdown from earlier this year. Electronics shipments in the city-state dropped 26.7 percent from a year ago, weighing down overall non-oil domestic exports, which fell 11.7 percent. That was far ...

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• 17 April

  Japan, US to accelerate ‘trade’ talks

  

  Bloomberg After a long wait for the first round of trade talks between the US and Japan, discussions will now take place at an accelerated pace to reach a deal quickly, according to Japan’s chief negotiator. The first talks focussed on agriculture and cars, with digital trade set to be discussed at a later date, Japan’s economy minister Toshimitsu Motegi ...

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• 17 April

  China builders eyeing smaller cities win race

  

  Bloomberg Property developers that focus on smaller cities in China are set to be the beneficiaries of a reform that could encourage 100 million rural citizens to move to urban areas. Policy makers said cities with an urban population of 1 million to 3 million should scrap the residency registration system this year, a move that is seen boosting housing ...

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• 17 April

  Google, Apple block TikTok download in India

  

  Bloomberg Google and Apple Inc complied with an Indian court order to block downloads of the popular app TikTok over government concerns with illicit content, according to people familiar with the decision. The move could handicap the app’s owner, China’s Bytedance Ltd, the world’s most highly valued startup, in one of its most promising markets. An Indian state court had ...

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• 17 April

  India jobless rate doubles since 2011

  Bloomberg India’s unemployment rate has doubled in the eight years to 2018 with the higher educated and younger population accounting for the most without jobs, a new research by a privately run university shows. After remaining at about 2 to 3 percent during the decade to 2011, the unemployment rate in India has increased to more than 6 percent in ...

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• 17 April

  Apple, Qualcomm settle billions of dollars of licensing dispute

  

  Bloomberg Apple Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. agreed to end a two-year legal battle over billions of dollars of technology licensing fees that threatened the chipmaker’s most profitable line of business. Apple will make a one-time payment to Qualcomm, and the two reached a multiyear agreement whereby Qualcomm will supply chips and license its technology to the iPhone maker in exchange ...

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• 17 April

  IBM sees slowing pace in cloud unit pinned for growth

  

  Bloomberg International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) reported a decline in revenue from the cloud-computing, artificial intelligence and cognitive software unit that the company is hanging its future on. IBM reported a 2 percent drop, to $5.0 billion, in sales from cloud and cognitive software, in the three months ended March 31. Cloud revenue alone grew 10 percent over the last ...

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• 17 April

  Trump receives trade setback as WTO ruling may foil US strategy

  

  Bloomberg The debate over whether the World Trade Organization (WTO) has the authority to rule on disputes involving countries’ national security was put to rest, setting up a battle with the US, which has asserted the Geneva-based body doesn’t have the standing to make such decisions. Russia and Ukraine said they won’t appeal a landmark trade decision in which the ...

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