Tech backlash catches up to Apple 8 Jan 2018 Jana Partners and pension giant CalSTRS want the company to give parents better controls over their kids’ iPhones. It’s an unusual issue for an activist, and apps from Facebook and Snap would make better targets. But focusing on Apple shows how much technology has lost its halo.
Mobike veers cautiously into Didi’s taxi lane 8 Jan 2018 The Chinese bike-sharing unicorn has secured an investment from carmaker FAW as part of a wider push to expand into shared automobiles. It's an effort to rattle rival Ofo's alliance with $56 bln ride-hailing giant Didi. Catching up will be a slog, but may be worth the effort.
Electric cars will catch up with gas guzzlers 5 Jan 2018 Plans to ban dirty vehicles are stoking investment in clean transport, driving down costs. Consumers could find battery power as cheap as combustion engines for the first time in 2018. But it will be harder to drive up profitability. Automakers will struggle as margins tighten.
Elon Musk plays chicken with his own investors 4 Jan 2018 Tesla is missing output targets for its mass-market Model 3 yet again. Repeated delays risk denting the electric-vehicle brand and guzzling cash faster than expected. The combination could test shareholders’ loyalty just when Musk needs more capital for trucks and other projects.
Viewsroom: Debt markets set for wild ride 4 Jan 2018 More government borrowing and less central bank buying will force bondholders to fend for themselves, Breakingviews predicts. Plus, passive funds will force out a CEO, electric vehicles give gasoline cars a run for their money and soccer clubs’ spending splurge will intensify.
Intel flaws hint at tech “too big to fail” risk 4 Jan 2018 Researchers revealed bugs in the firm’s processors, as well as those of AMD and ARM, potentially making most computing devices vulnerable to hacks. Chipmakers need massive scale to justify huge investments, but a concentrated market means problems can become systemic.
Didi provides glimpse into its global playbook 4 Jan 2018 In its first big step abroad, the Chinese ride-hailing powerhouse is paying $600 mln for control of Brazilian peer 99. The buddy-up first and buy later approach could mean Grab, Lyft or Ola will be next. It also suggests Didi-backer SoftBank may have a master plan, after all.
Hong Kong will start atoning for missing Alibaba 4 Jan 2018 The city lost many Chinese tech listings to New York. But it is building a critical mass of stocks, analysts and investors, and is poised to weaken governance rules in favour of founders. That sets the stage for the IPOs of rising stars Didi, Toutiao and Meituan-Dianping.
Voice-tech shouting match could end with a whisper 3 Jan 2018 The market for voice-controlled assistants and smart speakers is getting more competitive as Apple and others prepare to roll out gadgets or cut prices on those already available. Each is chasing a different kind of promised land. The reality may disappoint.
M&A frenzy sets scene for epic tug-of-war 3 Jan 2018 The $3.6 trln of mergers announced in 2017, including huge deals from Disney and Broadcom, sets up some chunky targets for cost cuts. That means job losses, even if buyers say not. Yet given the political climate, shareholders can’t count on the extra profit being theirs to keep.
Tech salad will come with a side of SLAW in 2018 3 Jan 2018 Spotify, Lyft, Airbnb and WeWork are all potentially going public in the coming year. None of them may ever match the scale of a FAANG or BAT. But each is disruptive in its own way, and offers investors a unique play on the future of cities, mobility, work and play. Bon appetit!
Ant’s U.S. march may require China-like steps 3 Jan 2018 Jack Ma's payments business will have to rethink its global strategy after its MoneyGram deal was vetoed. Even an alliance is at risk if rival Euronet bids anew. Instead, just as U.S. companies have bought small stakes in China, Ant could do the same with Western Union or PayPal.
Predictions 2018 2 Jan 2018 From elections to electric cars, we offer a series of insights into what 2018 has in store for companies and economies. Read our predictions online or download the book
TV content wars will have grisly season finale 2 Jan 2018 Netflix plans to hike its spending on programming by 33 pct this year. Add in Apple, Amazon and Hulu, and a fightback by traditional media, and budgets are rising faster than video-streaming revenue. It’s a golden age for viewers, and a nail-biter for the companies themselves.
Our 2018 predictions on Reuters TV 31 Dec 2017 From the CEOs who should run for U.S. president, to the banks that ought to be sizing up mergers, our writers give their take on the coming year in a series of Reuters video reports.
Viewsroom: Investors target sexual misconduct 29 Dec 2017 Companies that sweep settlements for bad behavior under the carpet will feel shareholder ire in 2018, Breakingviews predicts. Plus, Apple will float past the EU’s roving eye, splintering political parties are a ticking U.S. time bomb and bank bosses may hang up their hats.
European soccer’s spending splurge will intensify 29 Dec 2017 Transfer fees like the $263 mln Paris St Germain paid Barcelona for Neymar have stoked talk of a bubble. But increased spending is mostly justified by the soaring value of broadcasting rights. If U.S. tech giants join the action in 2018, players will reap the benefits.
Best of Breakingviews 2017: Our readers’ top picks 28 Dec 2017 From Snap's IPO to Saudi's economic transformation, readers’ taste for agenda-setting insight was diverse and voracious. Donald Trump's first year as U.S. president jostled for attention with bitcoin's coming wipeout, Chinese tech and, naturally, anything on Wall Street bonuses.
Apple and Saudi test out their comfort zones 28 Dec 2017 Saudi Arabia’s large population and income make it logical that the smartphone giant is in talks to open a shop. Enticing a cutting-edge global tech firm would also gloss the crown prince’s rule and modernizing campaign. There are risks for both; Saudi’s gamble may be bigger.
Ambani’s debt cure is no elixir for shareholders 28 Dec 2017 Anil Ambani says he has rescued his Reliance Communications with a $6 bln firesale. That’s a relief for lenders, assuming buyers turn up as promised. But it’s not the moral victory the tycoon claims. Even if creditors play ball, investors are left with a much diminished company.