Saudi has Trump-shaped reason to reverse OPEC cut 15 Nov 2016 The new U.S. president may boost oil drilling, snub climate change accords and cancel a sanctions deal with Iran. That would give Saudi Arabia an excuse to back out of the cartel’s shaky pledge to cut output. Though prices would fall, Riyadh would hang on to its market share.
Russia cracks down on economy minister at a cost 15 Nov 2016 Alexei Ulyukayev may or may not be guilty of accepting a $2 mln bribe. But the detaining of the economy minister means Russia loses one of its more rational government voices. It also raises the risk of reduced fiscal caution that the domestic economy can ill afford.
Chinese copper firm goes off-script in Hollywood 15 Nov 2016 Loss-making Anhui Xinke is buying the studio behind "The Hurt Locker" for $350 mln. It is not the first Chinese acquirer of a U.S. film producer but it might be the most out of place. Betting on pictures for profits to cure the hurt in the bloated metals sector is pure fantasy.
China’s zealous cleantech firms risk burning cash 15 Nov 2016 Chasing $1 billion-plus prizes like Dutch waste-management company Attero might please officials in Beijing. But acquisitions are not the best way to take advantage of green policies at home. Getting the know-how to scale up doesn't require such large, distant investments.
Draining the swamp starts with Trump’s own team 14 Nov 2016 The property mogul faces big-league conflicts as the U.S. president-elect. The same goes for his potential Cabinet of vulture investors and CEOs. Trump wants to put his business into a family-run blind trust. It's an inauspicious way to fulfill his pledge to clean up Washington.
Cox: Good case for working in Trump’s White House 14 Nov 2016 The least-experienced man to occupy the Oval Office will need competent leaders to help run the government and sweat policy details, with lots of leeway. Jamie Dimon et al may blanch at working for him. The alternative - a Cabinet of D-list campaign cronies - is unthinkable.
ChemChina-Syngenta deal suffering Chinese blight 14 Nov 2016 The Swiss agribusiness group's share price has tumbled, implying a plunge in confidence the $43 bln purchase will happen. The rot seems to be in the PRC, where corporate and political jockeying could prevent needed approval. China Inc will pay a high price if the deal fails.
Cash bet could make or break Modi 14 Nov 2016 The Indian prime minister's huge banknote recall is causing confusion and a backlash. It may slow the economy, too. Beyond the pain of implementation, though, demonetisation could help cut the fiscal deficit and give Narendra Modi funds for big-ticket policies. It's a big gamble.
Mexico’s greatest defense against Trump is time 11 Nov 2016 The U.S. president-elect's victory sent the peso plunging. His trade and immigration policies could, if enacted, turn Mexico into the poor, unfriendly country Trump's overheated rhetoric decried. But economic and political reality suggest patience could pay off.
Review: Hubris opens door to white-collar crime 11 Nov 2016 In "Why They Do It," Harvard professor Eugene Soltes seeks to find out what propels executives like Bernie Madoff to do wrong. Each culprit has their own particular story. The clubby and entitled atmosphere of executive culture, however, is a common catalyst for bad behavior.
Economists: try fewer forecasts, more planning 11 Nov 2016 The great recession exposed many shortcomings in the dismal science. Economists are exploring new strands of thinking - and reviving old, discarded ones. One good outcome would be to worry less about predicting the future, and spend more time preparing for what might go wrong.
Bowie taste for art and money on fantastic voyage 11 Nov 2016 The first part of the late rock star's collection sold for 24 mln pounds, more than expected for the entire portfolio. A record 3.8 mln pounds paid for a stunning Auerbach epitomizes Bowie's eye and investment nous. The legacy of the music-securitization pioneer won't slip away.
Alibaba digs itself deeper into a data hole 11 Nov 2016 The Chinese group wants the market to focus less on the sales handled by its websites and more on actual revenue. But it also boasts about doing $5 bln of business in the first hour of Singles' Day, the Chinese answer to Black Friday. The mixed message is confusing for investors.
Ratan Tata lowers the tone for fights to come 11 Nov 2016 A rambling press release from India's top conglomerate attempts to justify Tata Sons' recent sacking of its chairman. The personal and defensive style raises questions about the role of the firm's star-studded board and foreshadows messy struggles over the group's listed units.
Viewsroom: The President Trump effect 10 Nov 2016 The incoming commander-in-chief's $1 trln infrastructure pledge has buoyed builders and could even help the Fed. The bank stock rally, though, may lack a solid foundation – and Obamacare could be the election's Brexit analogy. Meanwhile, European political iconoclasts rejoice.
Oil industry just fine without U.S. help 10 Nov 2016 President-elect Donald Trump thinks he can create 500,000 jobs by cutting drilling red tape. That may resonate with a Republican-led Congress. But the plan looks out of date. Opening up new supplies and encouraging more production would exacerbate problems caused by cheap oil.
Trump and the demise of the American global order 10 Nov 2016 The United States has been the central pillar of the liberal, capitalist system for decades. Now it has elected a president who has threatened to remove every aspect of that support, with profound consequences for the world. It's far from clear that others can fill the void.
Silicon Valley could use a stronger D.C. firewall 10 Nov 2016 The tech industry mostly fared well under Obama - he even used it to modernize antiquated government systems. But the relationship with President-elect Trump, who criticized Apple, Amazon and IBM while campaigning, is almost non-existent. Fixing that may avoid disruption by fiat.
London visa idea is clever but quixotic 10 Nov 2016 A business lobby wants a post-Brexit visa valid only in the capital for roles that can't easily be filled by UK workers. That would be good for the economy, but politically tricky. It would worsen divisions and jeopardise Prime Minister Theresa May's pledge to slash immigration.
China can become a better hedge against U.S. risk 10 Nov 2016 The election of Donald Trump hands Beijing an unprecedented opportunity to boost its influence in Asia at the expense of America's. But China won't reap the full benefit unless it shares its wealth more widely and treats neighbours less like client states and more like partners.