April, 2019

• 6 April

  Iceland sees space for rate cut after wage pact

  

  Bloomberg Iceland’s central bank now has more scope to cut interest rates as a result of this week’s agreement between workers and employers, despite an “unfortunate” clause in the deal that ties planned pay hikes to monetary policy, Governor Mar Gudmundsson said. “The break-even inflation rate in the market has now slumped, the exchange rate has been strengthening and our ...

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• 6 April

  Boeing cuts 737 jet output 19% as global groundings drain cash

  

  Bloomberg Boeing Co is cutting production of its 737 jetliner for the first time since the September 11 attacks as the planemaker works to limit financial damage from the global grounding of its newest and best-selling aircraft model. By slashing output 19 percent — to 42 airplanes a month by mid-April — Boeing will be able to reduce its spending ...

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• 6 April

  Chinese airlines soar on Beijing’s plan to cut levies

  

  Bloomberg Chinese airline shares surged after the government announced plans to slash infrastructure levies charged to the companies, a welcome relief for carriers battling oil-price volatility and currency fluctuations in one of the world’s biggest aviation markets. Beijing-based Air China Ltd rose as much as 12 percent in Hong Kong, while Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines Corp jumped 20 percent and ...

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• 6 April

  ‘Walmart’s bench should ease worry on tech exits’

  

  Bloomberg Investors shouldn’t fret over the growing list of departing Walmart Inc executives who were involved in tech and innovation, according to Bernstein. Recent departures do not imperil Walmart’s future because “the people Walmart needs to be innovators were never the ones coming from outside,” analyst Brandon Fletcher wrote in a note. Outsiders with their “worldview” aren’t helpful to Walmart ...

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• 6 April

  United Air tweaks its ‘travel award’ policy

  Bloomberg United Continental Holdings Inc will stop publishing charts showing the miles needed to obtain tickets through its frequent flyer program, allowing for a wider — and more expensive — range of prices. The move follows a similar decision by rival Delta Air Lines Inc in 2014 to scrap fixed tables in favour of dynamically pricing award tickets. The change ...

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• 6 April

  Target boosts minimum starting wage as war for workers rages

  

  Bloomberg Target Corp is boosting its minimum starting wage for the third time in as many years, distancing itself from rival Walmart Inc in a tight labour market. The cheap-chic retailer will move to $13 an hour in June, providing tens of thousands of workers a raise, the company said, without specifying exactly how many staffers would benefit. This follows ...

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• 3 April

  Smart cities to drive $20tr in economic growth by 2026

  

  DUBAI / WAM The smart city concept has the potential to boost the economic development of global cities by over five percent and deliver at least $20 trillion in additional economic benefits by 2026, reveals a a report titled “Role of Smart Cities for Economic Development.” The numbers were released as discussions on the economic impact of smart cities have ...

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• 3 April

  Dubai explores business potential in East Africa

  DUBAI / WAM Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s representative office in Kenya organised a study mission to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which explored business potential within country’s healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, tourism, and hospitality sectors. The study mission coincided with the 7th East African Health and Scientific Conference where Chamber officials examined new investment opportunities emerging across region. Dubai ...

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• 3 April

  Growing corporate clout may cost world economy

  

  Bloomberg The market power of corporations is rising across rich economies and could eat into economic growth if the trend intensifies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said. Corporate market power increased moderately between 2000 and 2015, with price markups increasing by 8 percent, the IMF said in an analysis accompanying its latest World Economic Outlook. The increase was concentrated outside ...

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• 3 April

  Oil nears $70 as Opec tightens supply, hopes for trade deal grow

  

  Bloomberg Oil rose near $70 a barrel in London, a level last breached in November, as global crude supplies tightened while hopes for an end to the US-China trade impasse lifted financial markets. Brent crude’s rapid recovery this year — with the biggest quarterly gain in almost a decade — is a victory for the production cuts made by Opec ...

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