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☆ Merck’s cancer rush may spawn lower returns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The American drug company said on Thursday it signed a giant deal with Daiichi Sankyo (4568.T) for the rights to sell three potential drugs outside Japan. Merck will pay $4 billion upfront, up to another $1.5 billion over the next two years, and as much as $16.5 billion if the drugs pass certain sales milestones. Merck’s Keytruda accounts for about 40% of the company’s revenue, and that cancer drug might face cut-price competition before the end of the decade. The potential is giant, as these targeted therapies might eventually account for a quarter of the current oncology market. With over 100 of these drugs in clinical trials, the stampede might lead to lower-than-expected returns.

Persons: Jeff Zelevansky, Robert Cyran, Jean, Pierre Mustier, Atos, Jennifer Saba, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Merck & Co, REUTERS, Reuters, Merck, Pfizer, X, News Corp, Thomson Locations: Linden , New Jersey, American, Japan

☆ China’s leaders speed towards Japanisation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Edward Chancellor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - China’s real estate market is in decline. The trouble is that China’s economic imbalances are far worse than Japan’s in 1990. Yet China’s GDP per capita has reached only half of Japan’s level in 1990. China’s economic misdirection is catalogued in Yasheng Huang’s “The Rise and Fall of the East”. After 1978 the authorities gave provincial governments substantial freedom to promote economic growth and rewarded them for meeting a growth target.

Persons: Xi, Xi Jinping, Huang, –, Xi’s, Beijing’s, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Monetary Fund, South, Asian, IMF, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Bank for International, MIT Sloan School of Management, HK, Communist, Huawei, Washington, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, People’s Republic, China, South Korea, Japan, deflate, Tokyo, California, Beijing, Taiwan, Communist

☆ Gaza turmoil’s repercussions extend far and wide: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli war cabinet, as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the possible scenarios for the region, but also its implications for the US government. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on XSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Oliver TaslicOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Evelyn Hockstein, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia

☆ India and Japan will be Asia's next power couple
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Pranav Kiran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida upon his arrival at Bharat Mandapam convention center for the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Oct 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - India and Japan are edging closer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's governments form part of the so-called Quad security grouping with the United States and Australia to counter Chinese expansionism in Asia. Now the two countries are setting up an investment fund together. That’s delivering on a pledge by Kishida to invest 5 trillion yen, or some $42 billion, into India over the next five years.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Fumio Kishida, Evan Vucci, Fumio, Kishida, Wood Mackenzie, Sajjan Jindal, India’s, Lakshmi Mittal, JBIC, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Indian, Japan, Bharat, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Reuters, National Investment, Infrastructure Fund, Japan Bank, International Cooperation, Japan External Trade Organization, Nippon Telegraph, Telephone, Reuters Graphics, Teck Resources, Nippon Steel, ArcelorMittal, Japan Fund, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Japan, United States, Australia, Asia, Reuters Graphics India, China, Russia, South, Teck, Indian

☆ Israel’s fossil fuel boon becomes less clear-cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Yawen Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Israel’s growing gas sector has a significance that extends east and west. Analysts at Israel’s Bank Leumi had estimated that exports would jump to at least 11 bcm this year. Israel’s 1,087 bcm of gas reserves in 2022 yielded 21 bcm of production, of which 9 bcm was exported, with a doubling of exports to Israel’s main market, Egypt. Still, Israel’s gas sector has gone from a helping hand to a potential headache. Follow @ywchen1 on XCONTEXT NEWSDutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, Europe’s benchmark gas index, were trading at 48 euros per megawatt hour as of 0823 GMT on Oct. 19.

Persons: –, Yair Lapid, Israel’s Bank Leumi, It’s, NewMed, Abraham, Gaza’s, Isabel Dotzenrath, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, United, United Arab Emirates, Israel’s Bank, LNG, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, NewMed Energy, Abraham Accords, BP, Natural Gas Futures, Intercontinental Exchange, Chevron, Mediterranean Gas, Oil, Energy, Thomson Locations: United Arab, Israel, Europe, Russia, Egypt, Brussels, Abu Dhabi, Ahli, ’, Jihad, Gaza, Jordan, Denver

☆ Rentokil may be next to nibble at US listing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Blake Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Rentokil (RTO.L) is an obvious contender to ditch its London listing in favour of the U.S. CEO Andy Ransom said that it is getting harder to win new business due to “the macroeconomic backdrop”. Rollins is valued on nearly 38 times its forward earnings, versus Rentokil which was trading on just 23 times before Thursday’s fall, according to LSEG data. With Rentokil shareholders a little ratty, Ransom may come under more pressure to consider ways of pepping up the stock, like ditching London in favour of the more highly valued U.S. market. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mike Blake, Andy Ransom, Ransom, Rollins, Aimee Donnellan, Jean, Pierre Mustier, Atos, Larry Fink, Uncle Sam, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, U.S, X, News Corp, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S

☆ Risky biotech M&A therapy will heal more fractures
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

NEW YORK, Oct 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - How can a suitor offering $1 billion see eye-to-eye with a seller asking for $2 billion? Such contingent value rights, or CVRs, are a way to get around the inherent uncertainty of an unproven drug. Its $74 billion takeover of Celgene in 2019 included a $6.4 billion payout dependent on a trio of drug approvals. There have been only 27 biotech market debuts this year, raising $2.2 billion, according to LSEG data. Given the nagging fissures in valuation perspectives, however, more dealmakers are apt to try this risky M&A therapy.

Persons: Schulman, Sidley, Bristol Myers, Myers, CVRs, Andrew Weisenfeld, IPOs, ”, Dan Lepanto, biopharma, Eli Lilly’s, Bristol Myers Squibb, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Dow, Marion Laboratories, LyondellBasell Industries, Mirati Therapeutics, JPMorgan, Sanofi, Health Partners, Nasdaq Biotechnology, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Leerink Partners, Therapeutics, Public, Bristol Myers, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Celgene, Genzyme, U.S

☆ Tesla downshifts out of ludicrous mode
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Model Y maker’s gross and operating profit margins were once the envy of the entire American automotive industry. As Tesla began rolling more vehicles off the production line than it could sell, however, Musk repeatedly offered discounts to rev demand. Even setting aside tough financial comparisons because of the factory shutdowns needed to retool its best-selling vehicles, progress has been sluggish. Tesla’s gross margin at its core automotive business, adjusting for regulatory credits, has fallen nearly in half, to 16.3%, according to the latest quarterly results released on Wednesday. Tesla sold just a hair under half of all U.S. battery-powered rides in the third quarter, according to Cox Automotive, down from 75% in early 2022.

Persons: BYD, Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk, they’re, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, U.S, HK, General Motors, Ford, Cox Automotive, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Detroit, United States, China, Shanghai

☆ Saudi is wild card in Middle East’s new turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( George Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the 18th consultative meeting of the leaders of the GCC & the Gulf summit with the central Asian countries C5, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 19, 2023. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Mohammed bin Salman is the wild card in the Middle East’s new conflict. Saudi Arabia also needs prices above $85 a barrel in order to balance its budget. Saudi Arabia also needs to consider the views of international investors, though. For now, Saudi Arabia can count on the support of global bankers and fund managers.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, Biden, Netanyahu, International Energy Agency reckons, Jamal Khashoggi, nix, Larry Fink, JPMorgan’s, Jamie Dimon, Israel, Antony Blinken, Jordan, ” Blinken, ”, “, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Al Jazeera, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic Organizations: GCC, Saudi Press Agency, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Hamas, Israel . U.S, MbS, United, Gaza, International Energy Agency, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Saudi, kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, U.S, PGA, Foreign Investment, Telefonica, STC, BlackRock’s, Future Investment, United States, Diplomats, don’t, Palestinian, Israeli, United Arab, Iran’s, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Palestinian, Israel ., United States, Gaza, OPEC, Russia, Saudi Aramco, Riyadh, Palestine, United, Amman, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Lebanon, America

☆ China’s GDP allows room for stimulus waiting game
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Chan Ka Sing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Oct 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - For any major economy, 5% growth ought to be respectable. Yet anxiety over the attainability of that official target this year is one reason China's policymakers have faced growing calls from global stakeholders for more stimulus. The country’s GDP has grown 5.2% in the first nine months of this year. The world’s second-biggest economy grew 5.2% in the first nine months of 2023. The Chinese government has set a 5% growth target for this year.

Persons: Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Services, National Bureau, Statistics, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Beijing, China

☆ Banks’ wealth-management heyday may have passed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

For wealth managers, that will make revenue growth much harder to come by, shifting the focus to controlling expenses. LOSING ITS SPARKLEIn Wall Street parlance, wealth management is a capital-light business. Little wonder Morgan Stanley boss James Gorman focused on wealth management after taking charge in 2010. The good news for UBS and Morgan Stanley is that they are better placed than most to handle these pressures. The bank’s wealth-management business generated a 35% ROTE, while the division that houses investment banking and trading managed just 8%.

Persons: UBS –, Morgan Stanley’s, Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, Sergio Ermotti, Goldman Sachs, Italy’s, Iqbal Khan, Morgan Stanley’s Andy Saperstein, Peter Thal Larsen, Sharon Lam, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Wealth, UBS, Credit Suisse, HSBC, HK, Lloyds Banking Group, Revenue, Treasury, Big, Thomson Locations: Swiss, United States, Americas, Switzerland, Britain’s St, James’s

☆ P&G price hikes have no-tears effect on US wallets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pampers, a brand owned by Procter & Gamble, is seen for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 29, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly Acquire Licensing RightsWashington/NEW YORK, Oct 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - If Americans are fed up with inflation, their checking accounts aren’t showing it. Procter & Gamble (PG.N) topped earnings expectations on Wednesday after raising prices 7% year-over-year in the third quarter. Imagine all producers of such goods raised prices by 7% in the past year, as P&G did. P&G credits innovation, and if it can squeeze where others can’t, it may even be able to raise prices more.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Forrester, Ben Winck, John Foley, Jean, Pierre Mustier, Atos, Larry Fink, Uncle Sam, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Procter & Gamble, REUTERS, Washington, Reuters, of America, PepsiCo, X, News Corp, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S

☆ The financial ramifications of US-China tensions: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Peter Thal Larsen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Oct 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The rivalry between the world’s two largest powers is having an impact on almost every aspect of global business and finance. In this episode of The Exchange podcast, Jared Cohen from Goldman Sachs discusses how investors should approach geopolitics, and the limits of decoupling. Listen to the podcastFollow @peter_tl on XSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Oliver TaslicOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Jared Cohen, Goldman Sachs, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Thomson

☆ Breakingviews: Globalization woes create new winners and losers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Francesco Guerrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Over the past seven decades, the world economy has grown 14-fold, powered by a 45-fold expansion in global trade, according to the World Trade Organization. World trade as a percentage of GDP peaked at 61% in 2008. The first is rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. The retrenchment is probably going to be gradual: global trade was still worth 57% of world GDP last year. For 2024, the WTO said growth in goods trade would pick up to 3.3%, virtually unchanged from its April estimate of 3.2%.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping “, ”, Caroline Freund, Aaditya Mattoo, Alen Mulabdic, Michele Ruta, Ursula von der Leyen, it’s, Laura Alfaro, Davin Chor, Dario Perkins, GlobalData’s Perkins, Peter Thal Larsen, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Warehouse Union, REUTERS, Reuters, World Trade Organization, Economic, Reuters Graphics Reuters, HK, Amperex Technology, European Central Bank, GlobalData, Lombard, Companies, Bureau of Labor Statistics, ECB, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Netherlands, United States, China, Beijing, Washington, U.S, Taiwan, Mexico, Vietnam, People’s Republic, Latin America, Chile, Brazil, Ukraine, Geneva

☆ Globalisation woes create new winners and losers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Francesco Guerrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

☆ Putin and Xi’s strengthening bond has a weakness
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The $190 billion two-way trade relationship is up 29% since 2021, and has roughly doubled since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. A warm meeting between Putin and Xi will reaffirm China’s intention to carry on this robust business. Yet Russia’s lack of viable trade avenues makes its leader look more like a vassal than a peer to the Chinese president. Follow @LJucca on XCONTEXT NEWSRussian President Vladimir Putin is attending the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Oct. 17-18 where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022 during a previous Putin visit to Beijing, just days before Moscow troops launched an invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Xi Jinping, Brent, Putin, Xi, Vladimir Putin, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, People’s, Reuters Graphics, Bank of France, Centre for Research, Energy, Clean, HK, Forum, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Beijing, Ukraine, People’s Republic, Crimea, Reuters Graphics Moscow, Russia, Europe, U.S, Republic, China, Hague, Moscow

☆ David Solomon’s Goldman remix is audibly off-key
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, Oct 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Having given up a side-gig in DJ-ing, Goldman Sachs (GS.N) boss David Solomon has one less distraction. Goldman reported a one-third year-on-year drop in earnings on Tuesday, in a quarter riddled with one-off charges. Those included a hit related to buy-now-pay-later lender GreenSky, which Goldman bought only two years ago, and is selling. Absent all that, Goldman would have made a return on equity of just over 10%. Goldman made a 7.1% return on equity in the quarter, on an annualized basis, which would have been 10.2% without one-off charges.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Goldman, GreenSky, Morgan Stanley, Solomon, Marc Nachmann, Nachmann, Jonathan Guilford, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: tomorrow’s, Basel, GreenSky

☆ Rainmakers find political hedge in Chris Christie
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks at the New Hampshire Republican Party’s First in the Nation Leadership Summit in Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S., October 13, 2023. Several hedge fund rainmakers poured cash into Chris Christie’s campaign over the summer, according to filings released on Monday. But with legal woes hanging over Trump’s campaign, contributions to the most anti-Trump conservative could become a valuable call option for the group that knows something about hedging. It’s notable that Christie has been vocal about attacking Trump, whom he advised during the prior president’s first term. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie raised $3.8 million over the quarter, aided by donations from wealthy investors including Stanley Druckenmiller, David Tepper and Paul Tudor Jones.

Persons: Chris Christie, Brian Snyder, Donald Trump, hasn’t, Wall, Chris Christie’s, Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott, That’s, Stanley Druckenmiller, David Tepper, Tudor Investment’s Paul Tudor Jones maxed, Seth Klarman, Bruce Kovner, Trump, ” Christie, Ramaswamy, Tyler Winklevoss, Paul Tudor Jones, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Republican, New, New Hampshire Republican Party’s, Nation Leadership Summit, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Republican Party, Trump, Duquesne Capital, Management, CAM, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Federal, Former New Jersey, Thomson Locations: New Jersey, Nashua , New Hampshire, U.S

☆ US grand strategy can prop up the global order
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But the United States can prevent the rules-based order from collapsing if it keeps steering a steady course with regards to Russia and China. If the United States holds firm on its grand strategy, any new geopolitical risks should be similarly contained. One explanation for the current outbreak of crises is that the United States is weaker and more internally divided than it was during the so-called “Pax Americana” era. It could easily drop down the United States’ list of priorities, says Michel Duclos, a former French diplomat who is a fellow at the Paris-based Institut Montaigne. He will struggle to unite the U.S.’s allies as he is not a champion of either the NATO military alliance or the rules-based global order.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Mike Segar, Vladimir Putin, –, Biden, David Hannay, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Jake Sullivan, Michel Duclos, Putin, ’, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic, Thomas Shum Organizations: Democratic, Belmont University, REUTERS, Reuters, U.S, Reuters Graphics Reuters, United Nations Charter, –, Montaigne, Kyiv, Trump, NATO, Thomson Locations: coronavirus, Nashville , Tennessee, U.S, Israel, Gaza, United States, Russia, China, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Korea, Vietnam, Soviet, Soviet Union, Iraq, Washington, China’s, Taiwan, Africa, Azerbaijan, Europe, Asia, India, Saudi Arabia, French, Paris, Beijing, Japan, South Korea

☆ Tycoon’s lithium grab leaves investors hanging
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australia’s richest person has stifled Albemarle’s (ALB.N) A$6.6 billion ($4.2 billion) pursuit of lithium producer Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) with deft use of the country’s takeover rules. At A$3 a share, the offer represented a near-100% premium to Liontown’s undisturbed price. And because she never paid more than the A$3 a share Albemarle put on the table, her share purchases did not count as a superior offer. CONTEXT NEWSU.S.-based lithium producer Albemarle on Oct. 16 said it has abandoned its A$6.6 billion ($4.2 billion) offer for smaller Australian rival Liontown Resources, citing “growing complexities associated with the proposed transaction” as a reason. The firm said that in building its stake it never paid more than A$3 per share, the same price as Albemarle’s takeover offer.

Persons: Gina Rinehart, Kent Masters, Rinehart, Albemarle, Masters, Liontown, Kathleen, It’s, Hancock, Lisa Jucca, Katrina Hamlin, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Liontown, Kent, Liontown Resources, Thomson Locations: Western Australia, Hancock, Liontown

☆ Jean-Pierre Mustier enters Atos last chance saloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Atos (ATOS.PA) is ending its long-running governance farce by starting at the top. Former UniCredit (CRDI.MI) CEO Jean-Pierre Mustier is taking over as chairman of the 540 million euro French IT group. Mustier, who led a recapitalisation for UniCredit in 2017, has his work cut out. On Monday, Atos also delayed the split until the second quarter of 2024, sending its shares down as much as 4%. Atos’s growing cybersecurity unit Evidian, which accounts for two-thirds of its current operating profit, will remain listed after the split.

Persons: Jean, Pierre Mustier, Mustier, Atos, Daniel Kretinsky, Pierre Briancon, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, HSBC, UBS, X, Infosys, Thomson Locations: UniCredit, Czech, Europe

☆ Starboard dusts off old plan at News Corp
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view of the signage outside the News Corporation building in New York, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Bing Guan Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Maybe it takes a pile on to move the Murdoch family’s thinking. Reuters reported on Friday that Jeff Smith’s Starboard is the latest activist to try and unlock value at News Corp (NWSA.O), the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, owner of book conglomerate HarperCollins and Realtor.com. Starboard, which took a position in the $13 billion company, is pushing for a spinoff of the real estate assets, according to the Wall Street Journal. Last year Irenic Capital Management agitated for the same transaction in reaction to the Murdochs’ desire to reunite News Corp with broadcasting company Fox (FOXA.O).

Persons: Bing Guan, Murdoch, Jeff Smith’s, pushback, Jennifer Saba, Jean, Pierre Mustier, Atos, Larry Fink, Uncle Sam, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: News Corporation, REUTERS, Reuters, News Corp, Wall Street Journal, HarperCollins, Wall Street, Capital Management, Fox, X, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Europe

☆ Singapore policy review shift is sign of times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is pictured at its building in Singapore in this February 21, 2013 file photo. The city-state’s central bank unexpectedly announced on Friday that it would shift to quarterly meetings to assess monetary settings from 2024, switching from biannual reviews. Even though it took local economists by surprise, Singapore’s decision to introduce more frequent monetary policy reviews looked inevitable. Singapore’s unique monetary policy arrangements, and its trade-based economy, made it increasingly hard to use a too-rigid setup. The announcement came after the MAS kept its monetary policy settings unchanged, as expected, and pointed to both upside and downside risks to inflation.

Persons: Edgar Su, Chia Der, it’s, Chia, Lisa Jucca, Thomas Shum Organizations: Monetary Authority of Singapore, Rights, Reuters, Monetary Authority of, Swiss National Bank, People’s Bank of, Singapore, MAS, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Rights SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore, People’s Bank of China, China, United States, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Why an economic soft landing may prove elusive
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Edward Chancellor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

His latest book, “You Always Hurt the One You Love: Central Banks and the Murder of Capitalism”, won’t make him any friends in monetary policymaking circles. The Fed responded by reducing interest rates to zero and employing various tools to lower bond yields. These economic imbalances prevented central banks from returning interest rates to normal levels. Unless, that is, liberalising economic reforms are enacted that boost productivity and allow interest rates to rise. Bernard Conolly’s book, “You Always Hurt the One You Love: Central Banks and the Murder of Capitalism” was published in hardback in September.

Persons: Bernard Connolly, Connolly, won’t, they’ve, Michael Woodford, ”, Alan Greenspan, staved, Lehman, Edward Chancellor’s “, Bernard Conolly’s, Peter Thal Larsen, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, European Monetary Union, European Commission, Banks, U.S . Federal, stoke, Lehman Brothers, Fed, Reuters Graphics, Treasury, Securities, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, British, Europe, American, “, ”, disequilibrium, intertemporal, Central

☆ Jamie Dimon makes anxiety a feature not a bug
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The mega-bank Jamie Dimon runs is performing strongly, and yet he openly frets and rants about what’s coming: higher interest rates, smothering regulation, recession, war. Lest nerves be soothed by those trends, Dimon lays on caveats with a trowel. Dimon can afford to dwell on the negative because JPMorgan is strong and liquid. If calamity strikes, JPMorgan’s high returns, high capital levels and sheer size make it akin to a safe haven. It also slightly reduced its forecast of expenses and credit-card write-offs from numbers given with second-quarter earnings.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Marco Bello, delinquencies, Wells, Dimon, Peers, Jane Fraser, hasn’t, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: JPMorgan Chase &, Chase, Business The, Miami, REUTERS, Reuters, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Basel, Citi, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: East, Ukraine

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