August, 2018

• 25 August

  World’s major central banks are too hawkish

  Global investors are positioned for a coordinated tightening of monetary policy by the world’s major central banks. Although the US Federal Reserve is already far down that path, the others are just getting started. The European Central Bank is set to end its bond purchase program by year-end. The Bank of England is leaning towards hiking interest rates for only ...

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• 25 August

  In Brexit’s endgame, anything’s still possible

  

  As negotiators from the UK and the European Union meet in Brussels, Brexit is said to be entering its endgame. This isn’t an ordinary endgame though: All the major pieces are still on the board and pretty much the full range of potential outcomes — from no deal to no Brexit, and everything in between — remain live possibilities. Mapping ...

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• 25 August

  Qantas cannot count on monopoly money forever

  

  Which are the most lucrative airline routes? The ones that fly tourists and executives between global capitals on sparkling new planes, accompanied by in-flight movies and lie-flat beds? Or the ones that hop around the boondocks on ancient turboprops with the seat stuffing coming out? Of course it’s the latter. Every business knows that you can charge the highest prices ...

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• 25 August

  When and why has the world gone wrong

  

  What exactly has gone wrong, and when and why? The open, democratic world order based on egalitarian rights and the rule of law — liberalism, for lack of a better term — is under increasing pressure. The signs, serious and less so, are everywhere. The trend has now hit so many nations that the explanation has to be global. Social ...

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• 25 August

  Musk ends bid to take Tesla private, cites investor concern

  

  Bloomberg Elon Musk scrapped his plan to take Tesla Inc. private, a remarkable reversal more than two weeks after blindsiding employees and investors with the idea in a bombshell tweet. In a blog post, Tesla’s chairman, CEO and largest shareholder said he had met with the board and “let them know that I believe the better path is for Tesla ...

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• 25 August

  WTO warns Britain faces difficult shift to EU’s rules post-Brexit

  

  Bloomberg The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said the UK risks trade disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit because it is “very unlikely” to have agreed tariffs and quotas with the other WTO members in time. “The moment that other countries begin to sense an opportunity to increase their market share or increase a quota here ...

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• 25 August

  Papa John’s soars after hiring BofA, Lazard

  

  Bloomberg Papa John’s International Inc. jumped after a report the struggling pizza chain has hired Bank of America Corp. and Lazard Ltd. to help find ways to stabilise its operations. The company, which saw sales sink last month after founder John Schnatter resigned as chairman over the use of a racial slur, rose as much as 5.5 percent following the ...

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• 25 August

  Airbnb sues New York City to block user-data bill over privacy

  

  Bloomberg Home-rental providers Airbnb Inc. and HomeAway are suing New York City over a recently passed law that allows the collection of data on the websites’ hosts, claiming the ordinance violates users’ constitutional rights. Airbnb is hoping to avoid millions in losses when the law, designed to police short-term home rentals, takes effect this winter. The New York City legislation, ...

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• 25 August

  Nikon takes on Sony with mirrorless camera

  

  Bloomberg Nikon Corp. unveiled its first full-frame mirrorless cameras, seeking to make up lost ground against Sony Corp. in the professional photography market. The new Nikon Z7 and Z6 devices will feature new lenses and lens mount, and will be lighter than the current pro-grade cameras, the company said. The 440,000 yen ($4,000) Z7, which will have a 45.7 megapixel ...

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• 25 August

  VW gets really serious about tech acquisitions

  

  Bloomberg Volkswagen AG mapped out details of its transformation from a mass manufacturer of cars to a provider of transportation services by unveiling a car-sharing service and promising digital acquisitions as part of a $4 billion push into next-generation automobiles. The plan will kick off in Berlin, where the manufacturer will put 2,000 all-electric vehicles on the road by the ...

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