April, 2018

• 1 April

  Rebels, Russia strike a deal to evacuate wounded from Douma

  

  AMMAN /Reuters Negotiators in the last rebel-held bastion in Syria’s eastern Ghouta reached a deal with the Russian side to evacuate the wounded from Douma to rebel-held northern Syria, local sources familiar with the deal said. The agreement was reached by the negotiating committee that comprises both civic leaders and representatives of Jaish al Islam, the rebel faction in control ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  Kremlin sees cracks in West’s unity as France, Germany keep ties

  

  Bloomberg The Kremlin is sensing a crack in European unity as France and Germany seek to maintain ties, even after the West’s unprecedented expulsion of Russian diplomats over the nerve-agent attack in the UK. French President Emmanuel Macron still plans to visit a showcase economic forum in Russia in late May, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said, two days after ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  Europe’s ‘safe bonds’ are not so secure after all

  

  Call it the Holy Grail of the euro zone. Ever since the financial crisis, economists have been seeking ways to create a safe financial instrument, which banks in the single currency area can buy without having to load up on domestic sovereign bonds. Many placed their hopes in the proposal of a bundle of sovereign bonds called “European Safe Bonds” ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  Inflation fears bypass bond market

  

  The recent surge in stock volatility has captivated the financial community. Throughout the swings, however, bonds have remained unusually calm. The markets are so disconnected that when the Dow Jones Industrial Average tanked more than 400 points amid concern China would sell its hoard of more than $1.1 trillion in US Treasuries in retaliation for the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs, ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  In trade war, Chinese consumers’ time is now

  

  Trade war? Then that should make Chinese consumer stocks a good buy. To be specific — domestically focused brands. Many are resilient because Chinese consumers remain their most important market. Some appliance makers are even more popular at home after buying foreign firms. Take baijiu distillers Kweichow Moutai Co., a company more valuable than McDonald’s Corp., and Wuliangye Yibin Co. ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  Private equity’s job is made doubly hard by tech in Asia

  Private equity firms have a bone to pick with technology companies: Stop competing with us for deals. From Singapore to India, rivalry is mounting for coveted assets. It’s little wonder. The likes of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., SoftBank Group Corp. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. have deep pockets and plenty of patience. They invest in firms such as Paytm Mobile Solutions ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  India’s flag carrier has a chance to lose the baggage

  

  Privatisation of India’s state-run economy has been hobbled by an extreme reluctance to cede control over companies that ultimately are vehicles of power and patronage. Except for a brief period in the early 2000s, when a minister dedicated to such disposals tried to drop “the baggage of 50 years of socialist discourse”, the preferred strategy has been to sell a ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  Apple’s iPad needs schools more than they need it

  

  Here’s what Apple won’t say when it talks about its technology in schools: The company lost, and it will be tough to turn around its fortunes. Apple Inc. last week pitched a refreshed version of Apple’s basic iPad and software tailored for schools. (The price of the device remains $329 for most buyers and $299 for schools.) Apple has a ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  Fast-fashion fades as second-hand market grows

  

  There are two textile-obsessed columnists at Bloomberg View. One, based in Kuala Lumpur, is writing a book about used goods, including the global trade in secondhand clothes. The other, based in Los Angeles, is also writing a book – about textiles, technology and trade. So we asked them if they’d want to discuss how they see global trends playing out ...

  Read More »
• 1 April

  Boeing, Airbus gird for new duel in small jet market

  

  Bloomberg Embraer SA’s first new narrow-body jet is set to fly into commercial service this week to take on Bombardier Inc. But that’s just a prelude to the bigger battle emerging between heavyweights Boeing Co. and Airbus SE. At stake: possible orders from Air France-KLM, United Continental Holdings Inc., and JetBlue Airways Corp. The sales campaigns are a key test ...

  Read More »