Idomeni / AFP Hundreds of hopeful refugees flooded back to Greece’s overwhelmed Idomeni camp on the border with Macedonia on Sunday following rumours that the closed frontier would be forced open. The renewed influx came as Greek authorities were trying to evacuate an estimated 11,500 people who were stranded at the squalid camp after Balkan states slammed shut their borders, ...
Read More »We’re not a poor country, Donald
We are a very wealthy society, and we shouldn’t forget it. Donald Trump apparently has — along with many other people. Visiting recently with The Washington Post editorial board, here’s how Trump explained his suggestion that the United States limit its overseas military commitments, including support for NATO, founded in 1949: “I think that we are not in the position ...
Read More »Need to nurture SMEs for robust economy
Global economy is facing uncertainties as never before. It’s challenges galore out there. The business ecosystem is changing in the flicker of an eyelid. And the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not untouched by these swift changes. No wonder then the UAE government has a tough task ahead: not just to support the segment but also to ensure that ...
Read More »Philippines creates new South China Sea task force
On Wednesday, the Philippine government said that it had created a new task force to coordinate its policy on the South China Sea – which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea – amid rising tensions with China and ahead of a verdict on a case which it has filed against Beijing. According to a document issued by the presidential office ...
Read More »Virgin America’s happy vision just can’t compete
Travellers love Virgin America, the hip, mood-lit airline backed by Richard Branson. And why not? The self-described “low-fare, upscale†carrier promises passengers that they don’t need to accept the dismal nickel-and-dime, fee- for-everything flying experience offered by the competition. Instead, fly Virgin and you can have it all — legroom and the cheap ticket. Unfortunately, telling customers they can have ...
Read More »Belgium, my country, has been living in denial
Jean-Michel Paul There was a time when Belgium was at Europe’s vanguard. It was the second country in the world to industrialize, the founder of art deco and surrealism, and a producer of Nobel scientists who discovered — among other things — the God particle. I was born and bred in this country, but I fear we are now trailblazing ...
Read More »Inflating asset bubbles spread like a zombie virus
The leading academic theory of asset bubbles is that they don’t really exist. When asset prices skyrocket, say mainstream theorists, it might mean that some piece of news makes rational investors realize that fundamental values like corporate earnings are going to be a lot higher than anyone had expected. Or perhaps some condition in the economy might make investors suddenly ...
Read More »Saudi stocks lead ME declines as Easter weighs on trading
BLOOMBERG Saudi stocks led Middle Eastern markets lower as oil languished near $40 a barrel and the Easter weekend holiday in Europe sapped volumes. Equities in Dubai extended the longest losing streak in more than two months. The Tadawul All Share Index sank for a fourth day, losing 1.7 percent to 6,244.60 as of 3:17 p.m. in Riyadh. Jabal Omar ...
Read More »Emirates Securities Market down by -0.73 percent
ABU DHABI / EMIRATES BUSINESS The Emirates Securities Market Index has decreased by -0.73% to close at 4418.03 points. Accordingly the Market Capitalization has lost AED 5.29 billion attaining AED 716.66 billion. A total of 313 Million Shares were traded with a total value of AED 356.37 million during the trading session of 26-04-2016 through 4475 transactions. The number of companies which ...
Read More »Woes descend on Japanese IPOs as stocks tank at start of trading
BLOOMBERG As starts go for Japan’s initial public offering market, this year’s has been pretty bad. When Willplus Holdings Co., a car dealer, opened below its offer price on its debut last week, it became the sixth of 21 IPOs to do so this year. In the rush of initial share sales in 2015 that saw 98 companies go public, ...
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