December, 2018

• 5 December

  Caterpillar drops over trade truce concerns

  

  Bloomberg Caterpillar Inc fell the most in six weeks as skepticism over claims of a US-China trade truce reignited demand concerns that have put the stock on course for its worst year since 2015. Shares fell as much as 6.6 percent, the biggest intraday decline since October 23, when the mining- and construction-equipment maker repeated its warning about rising costs ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  Trump set to scrap carbon-capture mandate for new coal-fired plants

  

  Bloomberg The Trump administration will propose scrapping an Obama-era mandate that new coal-fired power plants use carbon-capture technology, removing a major barrier to constructing the facilities, according to a person familiar with the plans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is slated to unveil the measure on Thursday, during an event at its headquarters in Washington, said the person, who was ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  Italy recession looms large over Euro-area economy

  

  Bloomberg The euro area is showing no signs of a meaningful economic rebound, with Italy on the verge of recession after the populist government picked a fight with European authorities over spending plans. IHS Markit’s Purchasing Manager’s Index for manufacturing and services in the 19-nation bloc fell to 52.7 in November from 53.1 in October. While the reading exceeded an ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  UK services sector growth slumps

  Bloomberg Growth in the UK’s dominant services industry unexpectedly slowed to the weakest since the aftermath of the Brexit vote and came perilously close to contraction. IHS Markit’s Purchasing Managers Index for the industry fell to 50.4 last month, well below economists’ forecasts for a reading of 52.5 and just above the key 50 level that indicates expansion. The surveys ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  Qualcomm unveils new chips to fire up race to 5G services

  

  Bloomberg Qualcomm Inc unveiled new chips that it said will run many of the first phones capable of connecting to new 5G services next year. The Snapdragon 855 includes a processor and modem to connect to wireless networks. It’s the latest version of Qualcomm’s flagship product that’s been the heart of most smartphones sold in the past decade. “In the ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  Ukrainian leader renews plea for Western action on Russia

  

  Bloomberg Ukraine’s leader renewed appeals to his nation’s allies in Europe and the US to punish Russia for a naval clash that’s reignited tensions between the two ex-Soviet neighbours. With initial talk of tighter sanctions now fading and Russia so far paying little cost for firing on Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait last month, President Petro Poroshenko reiterated calls ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  Macron has no good answer for angry voters

  

  Bloomberg Donald Trump has put his finger on the challenge facing Emmanuel Macron. As small town protesters in yellow vests wreak havoc in Paris, Macron is trying to work out how to take the heat out of the situation without compromising his long-term plans for the economy and the environment. Trump suggested a different approach: ditch your green strategy and ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  Merkel allies fear ‘succession’ to tear CDU apart

  

  Bloomberg As Angela Merkel battled Europe’s multiple crises in 2014, Friedrich Merz was meeting with conservative critics to gripe about her leadership. Merz’s own political aspirations had long since been sidelined by the chancellor and his allies could tell it still rankled. On one occasion, his wife Charlotte vented their frustrations. “Friedrich, you would have done a much better job,” ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  Czech leader defies fraud probe scandal

  Bloomberg The Czech Republic’s billionaire prime minister fortified his support among potential voters, defying escalating tensions over a police investigation into whether he committed fraud. The ANO party led by Andrej Babis widened its lead in a survey conducted by pollster STEM last month when new allegations related to the fraud probe led to a failed no-confidence motion in parliament. ...

  Read More »
• 5 December

  May loses control over Brexit in UK parliament war

  

  Bloomberg UK Prime Minister Theresa May is locked in a power struggle with the British Parliament that looks set to determine the final shape of Brexit. May lost three key votes on a day of drama in the House of Commons, highlighting the weakness of her position as she tries to ratify the deal she’s struck with the European Union. ...

  Read More »