Here are the big questions set to frame a new trading week for markets. How frothy are equity and junk bond valuations looking?Another record-breaking week for equities and a red hot reception for the Snap initial public offering is not the only sign of investor optimism running wild. Junk bond spreads — the premium investors demand to hold the bonds over Treasury yields — are heading towards […]
Sources tell us that Google is acquiring Kaggle, a platform that hosts data science and machine learning competitions. Details about the transaction remain somewhat vague, but given that Google is hosting its Cloud Next conference in San Francisco this week, the official announcement could come as early as tomorrow. Reached by phone, Kaggle co-founder CEO Anthony Goldbloom declined to deny that the acquisition is happening. Google itself declined “to comment on rumors.” […]
Security is still the most important aspect of network digitisation, Cisco has said, with the networking giant now focused on embedding its security technology into its “next generation” of products. “The best digital offence starts with the best security defence,” Chris Dedicoat, executive VP for Worldwide Sales and Field Operations at Cisco, said during his keynote speech at Cisco Live Melbourne on Wednesday. “We’re focused on two […]
Hey, it’s boss week here at Local Edition. This week, we’re going to spend a little time with a Florida editor who doesn’t fit many molds (started as a designer, doesn’t care for sandy beaches, etc.) As a reminder, this is week three in our four-week conversation about why we’re still in journalism. (You can subscribe here.) Hang around after the boss talk for a peek at […]
By Saikat Chatterjee | HONG KONG HONG KONG Asian stocks edged lower on Wednesday after a strong start to the week due to profit-taking as investors lacked conviction to buy risky assets before a U.S. policy meeting next week that may see interest rates rising for the second time in three months. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.1 percent in early trade, a […]
Photo A banner calling for the boycott, divestment and sanctioning of Israel hanging from the Manhattan Bridge in New York during a protest against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in 2014. Credit Michael Appleton for The New York Times Israel’s Parliament has struck back at the international boycott movement against the country and its settlements in the West Bank by passing a law barring entry to foreigners […]
A buoyant stock market and improving US economic growth have given the Federal Reserve cover to lift interest rates three times this year, including when it meets in less than a fortnight, a Financial Times survey of top economists has found. About three-quarters of the 43 economists surveyed in March said the Fed would increase interest rates by 75 basis points in 2017, a capitulation from months […]
Saudi Arabia has promised to launch major development projects towards the end of 2017 to re-energise an economy which has been hit by austerity measures, industry sources told Reuters. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s top economic official, made the commitment at a recent meeting with a delegation representing the Saudi private sector, the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. While they pledged […]
Shanghai is regarded as the leading hub outside of Silicon Valley for technology innovations for the next four years, according to a KPMG report released on Monday. The report, claiming to reflect the viewpoints of over 800 global technology business leaders, placed Shanghai, New York, Tokyo, Beijing, and London in the first five places. The report explained that Shanghai became the top pick outside of Silicon Valley […]
By Jennifer Ablan | NEW YORK NEW YORK Jeffrey Gundlach, chief executive officer at DoubleLine Capital, said on Tuesday he expects the Federal Reserve to begin a campaign this month of “old school” sequential interest rate hikes until “something breaks,” such as a U.S. recession. Gundlach, who oversees more than $101 billion at Los Angeles-based DoubleLine, said U.S. economic data support a rate increase as soon as […]
Now fitness lovers can further tap into the power of having a personal trainer in their pockets that provides customized workouts thanks the latest update to Sworkit. The popular fitness app announced a new feature on Tuesday that provides flexible workout plans that are tailored to each its users. Called the Sworkit Workout Builder, this first-of-its-kind feature allows users to build the ideal workout plan that best […]
Banks have structured some unusual and complex deals for European companies to raise capital through a combination of debt and equity derivatives in recent weeks, reflecting investor enthusiasm for convertible securities. Last week BASF launched a $600m bond bundled with warrants, in a so-called neutral structure which effectively makes the chemicals group a middleman between its investors and its banks. The deal, put together by Deutsche Bank, […]
Canadian financial services group Canaccord Genuity’s aims to double the contributions to its investment banking business from the Middle East and India in the next five years, its regional head told Reuters. It recently helped broker a C$5 billion ($3.7 billion) investment partnership between Dubai ports operator DP World and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, Canada’s second-largest public pension fund. “We think this could be […]
As Abdelmonem Alserkal tours his latest architectural commission, his pristine white kandura stands in contrast to the monochrome building that broods in Alserkal Avenue – the warehouse creative community he has brought to life in Dubai’s industrial neighbourhood of Al Quoz. A muted study in steel, small mirrors, translucent polycarbonate and sprayed, shot-blast and polished concrete, the new venue is the latest milestone in Alserkal Avenue’s decade-long […]
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Bahrain’s justice ministry has filed a lawsuit intended to dissolve a major opposition group that it accuses of supporting terrorism, the state-run Bahrain News Agency reported on Monday. The group, the National Democratic Action Society, or Waad, was accused by the ministry of “serious violations targeting the principle of respecting the rule of law, supporting terrorism and sanctioning violence.” The secular organization […]
One week ago, we pointed out a curious bifurcation: the Fed was telegraphing an imminent rate hike – one which following Yellen’s Friday conference is now virtually assured – even though it appears the FOMC would be hiking in a quarter in which GDP comes in in the mid 1%-range, or lower. The reason: while “soft data” – which is important to animal spirits if not actual […]
Alzheimer Association released an annual report on March 7, which suggests that number of Americans diagnosed with the disease is likely to increase with around 10 percent people being affected every 33 seconds. The study suggests that by 2050 more than half the Americans aged 65 years and over will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. This data is also applicable globally. Reports estimate that around 47 million people suffered […]
Brazil’s economy shrank 3.6 per cent last year as high inflation, a runaway budget deficit and political turmoil drove the country to its worst recession on record. The contraction, which was felt across almost all economic sectors from industry to services, was slightly worse than economists’ estimates and only marginally better than 2015, when gross domestic product contracted 3.8 per cent. GDP in the final three months […]
Photo Iraqis fleeing their homes on Tuesday as government forces fought Islamic State militants in western Mosul. Credit Suhaib Salem/Reuters BAGHDAD — Iraqi forces trying to reclaim Mosul penetrated the western part of the city on Tuesday, retaking a bridge and several public buildings during heavy clashes with the Islamic State, officials said. Civilians reported that the bombardment and gunfire were the heaviest since Feb. 19, the […]
How do you solve a problem like China’s excess corn stocks? Use it to make translucent film for greenhouses is one answer, its most influential agricultural expert said on Monday, as Beijing casts about for ways to rid itself of unwanted stores of corn and other agricultural commodities built up in recent years. The end of China’s failed minimum price policy for corn has forced a restructuring of […]
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to file the six reports of various agencies in a sealed cover within four weeks in connection with the Panama papers leak case. Lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma had filed a plea in the apex court seeking a thorough investigation into the case. The apex court said after going through the reports it would see whether […]
GoldenEye ransomware targets human resources departments because they’re used to opening emails and attachments from unknown sources. Image: Ali Donzanti What is a ransomware attack? Cybercriminals didn’t use to be so obvious. If hackers infiltrated your corporate network, they would do everything possible to avoid detection. It was in their best interests not to alert a victim that they’d fallen victim to cybercrime. But now, if you […]
BEIJING China’s civil code pre-amble, expected to be passed next Wednesday by the National People’s Congress, promises to address a number of legal questions: – The pre-amble draft requires companies rights and obligations are determined in a “fair” and “reasonable” way. The previous principles only required “fairness”. Some lawyers say this could mean companies and individuals are compensated at market rates if they are forced to move […]
Fund managers and institutional investors expect oil giant Saudi Aramco to have a market capitalisation of $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion when it sells shares to the public next year, a survey by regional investment bank EFG Hermes showed on Monday. The valuation of Aramco. the world’s biggest oil firm, has been the focus of intense speculation since the Saudi government last year announced plans to sell […]
