For OPEC, Russia and others that have lived off oil (and little else) for decades, the worst-case scenario is about to become the present-tense scenario. America has discovered the magic beanstalk, and it is named “shale oil production.†The US now has the ability to not only be energy self-dependent but to become a major exporter of oil and natural ...
Read More »In RBI’s spat with the govt, reform is the victim
During the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) press conference last week, one exchange stood out. Asked about a meeting scheduled by the finance ministry in New Delhi to discuss the RBI’s policy, the governor of India’s central bank, Urjit Patel, replied: “The meeting did not take place. All the MPC members declined the request of the finance ministry for that ...
Read More »Mommy, Ambani broke my business
India’s billionaires believe in rugged, muscular capitalism—so at the first hint of trouble, they go running to mommy. Sunil Mittal, who controls India’s biggest wireless service, and Kumar Mangalam Birla, who’s in the process of merging his number 3 operator with the second-ranked local unit of Vodafone Plc, are seeking the Indian government’s intervention. The big three claim the entry ...
Read More »Political correctness won’t fix Uber’s problems
There’s a disconnect between the way Uber, the ride-hailing company, is trying to transform itself and what it really needs to fix to become a sustainable business. Instead of reconsidering its business model and protecting itself against a regulatory backlash, it has decided to go politically correct. As a result of much highly public soul-searching, caused by accusations of mistreating ...
Read More »FB enlists AI, human experts in new push against terror
Bloomberg Facebook Inc. has hired more than 150 counterterrorism experts and is increasingly using artificial intelligence that can understand language and analyze images to try to keep terrorists from using the social network for recruiting and propaganda. Monika Bickert, director of global policy management, and Brian Fishman, counterterrorism policy manager, outlined aspects of Facebook’s latest efforts in a post to ...
Read More »Apple hires Sony’s ‘Breaking Bad’ team as TV push gains pace
Bloomberg Apple Inc. hired two former Sony Corp. television executives who oversaw the development of acclaimed shows like “Breaking Bad†and “The Crown,†further evidence that the technology giant is getting serious about producing its own video programming. Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, who had been presidents of Sony Pictures Television since 2005, will report to Eddy Cue, Apple’s ...
Read More »Message startup Slack draws interest from Amazon.com
Bloomberg Corporate chatroom startup Slack Technologies Inc. has received recent inquiries about a potential takeover from technology companies including Amazon.com Inc., people with knowledge of the situation said, a deal that would be the internet-commerce giant’s biggest ever. San Francisco-based Slack could be valued at at least $9 billion in a sale, the people said. An agreement isn’t assured and ...
Read More »LG’s new appliance seeks to make cooking smart
Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business LG’s latest appliance wants to partially replace the chef in your house and give you and your family precious time back. Family, food, culture, heritage and traditions are of central focus during the holy month of Ramadan and now with smart appliances, homemakers are able to take advantage of new technology to prepare meals that ...
Read More »China’s smaller banks endure record costs to raise funds
Bloomberg China’s smaller banks, caught between a seasonal cash squeeze and an official deleveraging drive, are stomaching record high borrowing costs to raise funds. Issuance of negotiable certificates of deposit jumped to 758 billion yuan ($111.5 billion) this week, the most since the securities were introduced in 2013 as a lifeline for smaller banks. The yield on one-month AAA rated ...
Read More »Banco do Brasil stalls on Banco Patagonia share sale
Bloomberg A potential share sale of Banco Patagonia SA was delayed after majority holder Banco do Brasil SA prevented a shareholder meeting of the Argentine lender. Banco do Brasil hasn’t decided whether it will sell its 59 percent stake in Patagonia or offer new shares, according to two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because ...
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