Google has partnered with with French telecommunications firm Orange through its corporate venture fund to invest in start-ups in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Orange said Thursday that its 350 million euro ($409 million) venture capital fund, called Orange Digital Ventures, would jointly assess investment opportunities in industries like network connectivity, cybersecurity, cloud, artificial […]
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US metal tariffs are ‘99.9%’ done and will impact Mexico, Canada and the EU: Source
The United States is likely to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the EU Thursday, according to a source familiar with the decision. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation, said the tariff decision is coming this morning and is “99.9” percent done. The U.S. […]
Read moreEuro zone inflation jumped by far more than expected in May on higher energy costs, bringing relief to the European Central Bank after market turbulence that has jeopardized its planned exit from a lavish stimulus program. Inflation in the 19 countries sharing the euro rose to 1.9 percent from 1.2 percent in April, EU statistics […]
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Italy's populists launch fresh attempt at forming a government amid political chaos
Italian assets were on the rise Thursday on the back of hopes that the country is close to forming a government. Technocrat politician Carlo Cottarelli, who at one stage was himself prime minister-designate, said in a statement that “new possibilities for the birth of a political government have emerged.” This has been taken as an […]
Read moreDannon has settled its lawsuit against a former senior sales executive it accused of stealing confidential business strategies and employee salary data before jumping to yogurt-making rival Chobani. The confidential settlement between Dannon, a unit of France’s Danone, and Federico Muyshondt, who oversaw sales in the eastern U.S. and to supermarket chain Kroger, was disclosed […]
Read morePresident Donald Trump is preparing to impose a total ban on German luxury carmakers from the U.S. market, according to an exclusive report by German magazine WirtschaftsWoche. Citing several unnamed U.S. and European diplomats, the weekly business magazine reported that Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron last month he would maintain his trade policy with […]
Read moreHERE we go again. Financial markets don’t much like uncertainty. Thanks to Italy’s politicians, in recent days they have had plenty. By May 30th some calm had returned: it seemed possible that a pair of populist parties, the Five Star Movement and the Northern League, would form a government after all (see article). Markets had […]
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Spain could be next for political disarray after Italy roils global markets
Spain is the next country set to test the resilience of southern Europe, after recent political convulsions in Italy battered global financial markets. Unlike Rome’s power struggle, where markets were fearful a fresh election could be framed as a de facto referendum on Italy’s role in Europe, Spain’s political drama hinges on a no-confidence vote […]
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City regulations on Airbnb rentals are 'punitive' to ordinary people, co-founder says
Home-sharing platform Airbnb has been increasingly under fire from city authorities attempting to limit residential rentals through the online marketplace. Arguing in the company’s defense this week, Airbnb co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Nathan Blecharczyk told CNBC in Paris that this is largely a result of “misinformation” and hurts ordinary people. Varying local regulations, […]
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Italy's new crisis will be 'too much' for Europe to handle, Latvia's finance minister warns
Italy’s political turmoil could hit the continent harder than the Greek financial crisis and the Brexit vote, according to the finance minister of Latvia. A week of political turbulence in Italy saw dramatic repricing of the country’s assets and has triggered fears of market contagion across the entirety of Europe. Asked during a panel discussion […]
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