Rules of the road crystallizing for Chinese M&A 9 Jul 2018 Trade tensions and nationalism have tripped up transactions involving chipmakers Broadcom, Qualcomm and NXP, among others. Even as Beijing and Washington spar, though, dealmakers are adapting by scanning different regions or accepting smaller stakes and tougher conditions.
Softer U.S. China plan is no comfort for investors 27 Jun 2018 President Donald Trump rationally chose to use national-security deal reviews to restrict Chinese investment. It’s a win for his Treasury secretary over trade hardliners. But the review body is opaque, mixed messages have confused markets, and Trump still wants auto tariffs.
Viewsroom: Facebook’s multiplying problems 29 Mar 2018 The social network founded by Mark Zuckerberg is reeling from a data harvest on some 50 million users. It will take time for the $440 billion firm to feel the impact but people are starting to slowly unplug. Plus, the world’s largest consumer-drone maker may go public.
Facebook’s size is its other looming problem 28 Mar 2018 The social network – like Google – collects massive amounts of intel on users to sell advertising. The more Google knows, the better its search results get. But adding ever more data risks making Facebook less entertaining – and its users more wary of compromising their privacy.
Holding: Courts may toss investors a crypto-curve 16 Mar 2018 To hear U.S. regulators tell it, initial offerings of many crypto-currencies are actually securities, and subject to strict rules. That’s far from clear, though, judging from cases moving through the legal system. With the jury still out, Congress needs to step in.
China techie’s $47 bln trade leaves arbs in shade 2 Mar 2018 Zhou Hongyi led a $9 bln buyout of his U.S.-listed antivirus firm in 2016. Now its successor is trading in China at $56 bln. That far outstrips what most hedge funds or commodity traders achieve in years of arbitraging price gaps. Alas for copycats, this is not easy to follow.
Amazon rings up answer to last-foot problem 28 Feb 2018 Tech giants are racing to own the “smart home,” but opaque consumer benefits and long product cycles mean most residences are dumb. Amazon’s need to master fast shipping and thwart package thieves make it different - and explain why its smart-doorbell deal may ring up success.
A 400 pct Chinese broker premium begs explanation 4 Jan 2018 Fog is thickening around a missing tycoon’s embattled empire. One holding of Xiao Jianhua’s Tomorrow Holdings, Hengtou Securities, said nine owners will sell a stake to CITIC Guoan for $1.4 bln, or five times the market price. Such mysteries undermine Hong Kong's investor appeal.
Qatar jet deal a win for BAE but a loss for London 18 Sep 2017 A deal to buy Typhoon fighter jets will secure thousands of UK manufacturing jobs. But building stronger defence ties with the sheikhdom is a risk when its squabble with Saudi Arabia is unresolved. That could backfire if the kingdom reacts by vetoing a London listing for Aramco.
Barcelona attack targets Spain’s strongest spot 18 Aug 2017 Tourism is a pillar of the recovering Spanish economy, making the deadly assault on Las Ramblas a strike on prosperity as well as people. But previous attacks elsewhere in Europe show confidence bounces back, and the domestic economy is more resilient than it has been for years.
Tencent is biggest target in China cyber crackdown 16 Aug 2017 As Beijing's campaign to control content gathers pace, gaming giant Tencent, which delivered another set of strong quarterly results, is an easy target for censors. Its soaring market value, however, suggests investors have yet to factor in the risk to earnings.
Viewsroom: Diplomatically challenged Trump 10 Aug 2017 The U.S. president needs Beijing’s help with North Korea even more after his recent warmongering outburst. Yet his administration just slapped petty import tariffs on Chinese aluminum. Also: what a Google engineer’s sexist memo says about the firm, Silicon Valley and society.
Wall Street’s resolve overcomes even Pyongyang 9 Aug 2017 U.S. investors shrugged off possible Armageddon just as easily as protectionism and D.C. dysfunction. President Trump’s blunt nuclear warning might have been a fresh reason to rush into gold or gunsmiths. Mr. Market, however, rarely foretells geopolitical or economic threats.
U.S.-China trade spat imperils N. Korea diplomacy 9 Aug 2017 The White House needs Beijing’s help more than ever as Trump and Kim Jong Un swap warmongering threats. Yet the administration just imposed import duties on Chinese aluminum-foil makers. That’s petty at the best of times. Right now, any trade dispute is a dangerous distraction.
Dubai is weakest link in anti-Qatar stand-off 11 Jul 2017 Keeping its doors open while neighbours kept theirs closed has been a winning strategy for the Middle Eastern trading enclave. The blockade of Qatar will leave a mark on Dubai’s vital real estate sector and trade flows – and could leave its investor-friendly reputation dented.
Qatar standoff spells end of Gulf cooperation 3 Jul 2017 Saudi Arabia has granted the sheikhdom two more days to comply with its demands. Failure to reach a deal could escalate the dispute, hitting regional economies and investors in equal measure. But even if both sides back down, plans for greater economic collaboration are on hold.
Oil markets too calm over Qatar ultimatum 23 Jun 2017 Doha’s Gulf neighbours have imposed a 10-day deadline to comply with demands including reparations, closing Al Jazeera and regular inspections. Markets have assumed the standoff won’t turn violent and impact oil supply from the region. That assumption is looking less secure.
As Saudi’s new crown prince rises, so could oil 21 Jun 2017 Mohammed bin Salman has replaced his cousin as heir. That gives him a firmer hand to push through economic reform, but maybe less incentive to do so. Where he is likely to make a bigger mark is in squabbles with Gulf neighbours and taking firmer action over a low oil price.
Qatar’s weak link in Saudi stand-off: people 9 Jun 2017 The sheikhdom has the money and resources required to withstand a cold war with its neighbours. Its economy depends on foreign expatriates, though, who account for more than three-quarters of the population. Preventing a demographic drain is the best reason to agree to a truce.
Qatar crisis points to quick but uncomfortable fix 6 Jun 2017 As Arab states and U.S. President Trump align against the emirate, the chance of leadership change is rising. Another reshuffle within the ruling family might unblock trade and diplomatic links without affecting Qatar’s economic prospects. But the precedent would be alarming.