Global bond markets trade on variables such as currency valuations, global fund flows, inflation expectations and monetary policy that can determine the level of interest-rate differentials. Recently these differentials have widened dramatically, specifically in developed markets such as Japan, the UK and Germany, relative to the US. There are multiple theories about why these differentials exist and how they ...
Read More »Where flying cars might take us!
I’ve always thought that the fastest way to get flying cars would be to spread rumors that China built one first. Well, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority just announced that they have a Chinese-made flying car, and intend to put flying taxis in service this summer. Meanwhile, we’re still anticipating the flying cars promised by Uber Inc., Airbus Group ...
Read More »How to solve riddle of Venezuela’s economy
Forget Donald Trump. Long before the White House began trafficking in alternative facts, Venezuela’s government had cornered the market in magical thinking. You say gross economic mismanagement is wrecking the economy? Nonsense, volleyed President Nicolas Maduro, the disappearance of goods like food and medicine is the work of unscrupulous profiteers. The continent’s largest oil producer can’t keep the lights ...
Read More »Alibaba deepens retail foray with new supermarket tie-up
Bloomberg Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is teaming up with Shanghai Bailian Group Co., one of China’s largest supermarket and department store chains, as Jack Ma accelerates an effort to employ technology to shake up old-fashioned retail. Alibaba’s planning to help upgrade some of Bailian’s 4,700 stores across the country, integrating everything from customer relations to payment and logistics in ...
Read More »Expedia, Amazon bet on UK by hiring, adding office space
Bloomberg As politicians and businesses wrestle with potential changes to UK border controls, one of the world’s largest online travel booking companies has decided to double its headcount in London, and it’s not alone in looking to expand. Expedia will expand its UK office by 138,000 square feet, or to roughly twice the size of its existing space, and ...
Read More »Steinhoff’s Shoprite talks collapse
Bloomberg Steinhoff International Holdings NV and Shoprite Holdings Ltd. ended talks to create Africa’s biggest retailer after negotiations with shareholders including billionaire Christo Wiese broke down over terms. Wiese, who is the biggest investor in both companies, South Africa’s Public Investment Corp. and Steinhoff were unable to reach agreement on the share-exchange ratio that would have been applied to ...
Read More »SpaceX launches supply rocket from historic Apollo pad
Bloomberg Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. successfully launched its second rocket in as many months, bringing it a 10th of the way to its goal of deploying 20 to 24 rockets this year. The Falcon 9 rocket that launched SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft separated minutes after liftoff and landed upright on Earth in its designated area. SpaceX expects to ...
Read More »Bank of Singapore to attract Middle East, Africa wealth
DUBAI / Reuters The private banking arm of Singapore’s second-biggest lender OCBC is targeting annual growth of assets of more than 20 percent from its new office in Dubai, which it aims to use to attract wealthy clients from the Middle East and Africa, its chief executive said. Bank of Singapore launched the office in the Dubai International Financial ...
Read More »HSBC poised for more share buybacks after stock rallies
Bloomberg HSBC Holdings Plc investors will be looking for indications that the bank will follow through on its plan to return more capital when it announces fourth-quarter results this week, after a $2.5 billion stock buyback and a slumping pound lifted shares in 2016. The stock has surged 56 percent since the Brexit vote on June 23, the most ...
Read More »IMF to help Somalia print first banknotes
Bloomberg The International Monetary Fund is backing Somalia’s plans to replace tattered currency notes that were printed before the Horn of Africa nation plunged into civil war almost three decades ago. The new Somali shilling notes may come into circulation this year, alongside the US dollar that’s been the main means of payment, and will replace fake or old ...
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