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☆ Why they don't teach you how to do your taxes in school—and how to actually get started
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Personal finance education itself is catching on, but is still pretty sparse in American schools. Just 25 states guarantee a standalone personal finance course for students before graduation, according to Next Gen Personal Finance . And there are a number of reasons taxes may not be a part of the curriculum in those programs. "Because people don't have the background in tax law, some people don't know what ordinary income is," Donnellan says. Common credits include the Child Tax Credit for parents and guardians of qualifying dependents and the Earned Income Tax Credit for low to moderate-income earners.

Persons: Abby Donnellan, Donnellan, You'll Organizations: Finance, CNBC, Revenue, IRS, Child

☆ Roche’s late obesity punt offers wider market cure
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Roche’s (ROG.S) foray into the prospective $100 billion obesity market can bring wider benefits. On Monday, the $224 billion Swiss pharma group said it had agreed to take over weight-loss drug developer Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion. Market leader Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) is already selling obesity drugs in the U.S. and parts of Europe. Still, Schinecker’s obesity bet could turn successful if it ends up undercutting obesity pioneers on prices. With over 1 billion people globally classed as seriously overweight, other drugmakers will follow Roche on the obesity bandwagon.

Persons: drugmaker Roche, Arnd, Eli Lilly’s, Thomas Schinecker, Eli Lilly, Eccogene, Roche, Aimee Donnellan, Neiman Marcus, Lisa Jucca, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Swiss pharma, Carmot Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, AstraZeneca, Novo, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Basel, Switzerland, U.S, Europe, Hong Kong

☆ Private equity double-dips are a tasty faux pas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Private equity groups are trying something similar in the capital markets: successfully listing a company, then coming back for a second bite by buying it back once its stock craters. Take Synlab (SYAB.DE), listed at the height of a Covid-19 boom in testing by investment group Cinven. European companies listed by private equity groups since 2020 are trading, on average, at a 22% discount to their IPO price, according to data from Dealogic and Breakingviews calculations. The message from such deals, however, is that it’s better to buy a private equity-owned company after it has listed. Follow @aimeedonnellan on XCONTEXT NEWSPrivate equity firm Cinven on Sept. 29 offered 10 euros a share to take Covid test maker Synlab private.

Persons: Russell Boyce, Synlab, Cinven’s, Cinven, Sweden’s, Dr Martens, Elliott, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Revenue, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Cinven, France, Dealogic, Permira, Synlab

☆ Saudi’s Indian cricket play works for both sides: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The kingdom is looking to invest as much as $5 bln in the Indian Premier League. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss what it means for the sport and how it sizes up against Riyadh’s growing global sporting ambitions. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on XSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Thomas ShumOur 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: Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Indian Premier League, Thomson

☆ Ferrovial ends bumpy Heathrow ride on a high
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ferrovial (FERF.AS) may be relieved to be exiting one of the world’s busiest airports. The Spanish infrastructure giant has sold its final stake in Heathrow, left over after its 2006 acquisition of BAA, which owned the hub along with Stansted and Gatwick. Regulators forced BAA to sell airports like Gatwick on competition concerns, and Ferrovial later trimmed its stake to just 25%. In 2020 Covid-19 struck, and Heathrow has since been locked in disputes with airlines like British Airways, who accuse it of overcharging. The price paid by Ardian and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund values Heathrow including debt, at 25 billion pounds, a 27% premium to its regulated asset base.

Persons: –, Aimee Donnellan, Julius Baer’s, Lisa Jucca, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, BAA, Stansted, Regulators, Gatwick, Heathrow, British Airways, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Jefferies, X, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Heathrow, Gatwick, It’s

☆ Barclays strategic fix will entrench low valuation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Barclays (BARC.L) is looking for a valuation cure. Cutting into the investment bank and reallocating to the more stable retail operations may look enticing but is hard to do without upending short-term returns. Still, the currently favoured suggestion of cutting less profitable investment bank clients sounds equally tricky, and might only shave at most a tenth off Barclays’ 219 billion pounds of corporate and investment bank risk-weighted assets. At Credit Suisse-inflated UBS (UBSG.S), which trades near book value, investment bank RWAs are 25%. Even getting Barclays’ corporate and investment RWAs back to 50% of the total would involve shrinking them by over a fifth.

Persons: Venkatakrishnan, Aimee Donnellan, Julius Baer’s, Warren Buffett, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Barclays, Barclays ’, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, UBS, X, Thomson Locations: reallocating

☆ Listen Now: OpenAI’s boardroom drama is far from over
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Breakingviews category · November 24, 2023The German government is working hard to demonstrate the foolishness of the country’s iron-clad ban on large budget deficits. It now says it will suspend the “debt brake” after the Constitutional Court forced it to cancel some 60 billion euros worth of fiscal spending that it had included in a 210 billion euro climate and transformation fund. But the welcome relief is only temporary, and the harm is done. The budget crisis will cripple the economy for years to come, for three reasons.

Organizations: Constitutional

☆ OpenAI’s boardroom drama is far from over: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Breakingviews category · November 23, 2023 · 1:44 AM UTCLawmakers in South Korea blasted the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act as a betrayal. European Union leaders worried it would leave the bloc’s companies at a disadvantage. And big miners like Australia’s Fortescue said it left them little choice but to direct a lot of spending to the United States. Yet concerns about market distortion from the policy intended to stimulate investment in the energy transition and signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022 are easing. Other countries are realising they need to adapt the blueprint.

Persons: Australia’s Fortescue, Joe Biden Locations: South Korea, United States

☆ Branding’s corporate titans face moment of truth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Now for the first time this century, sales volumes at the big consumer goods manufacturers are falling. In the first nine months of the year, Kraft Heinz said the quantity of its sold items declined by nearly 6 percentage points year-on-year. That’s likely to allow Nestlé, Kraft Heinz and Unilever to see flat or modest increases in 2023 sales, LSEG data shows. Earlier this year, outgoing Kraft Heinz Chief Executive Miguel Patricio said the company lost market share to a branded competitor that spent more. Unilever, Nestlé and Kraft Heinz have all pointed to a slowing of price growth in the coming year.

Persons: Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, ’, Xavier Roger, Kraft, what’s, John Furner, Miguel Patricio, Mars, ”, François, EY, George Hay, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Consumer, Kraft, Unilever, Danone, ’, United Nations, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Nestlé, Kraft Heinz, Target, Reuters Graphics, Obesity, Mondelez, Walmart, “, Thomson Locations: U.S, Europe, Australia, Norway, Chocolat, London

☆ Biden and Xi’s warmer ties look flimsy: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The leaders of the largest economies resumed high-level communication following years of tension. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how Taiwan as well as anti-China rhetoric in the lead-up to next year’s US election could undo any goodwill. Subscribe 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: Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, China

☆ UniCredit’s Greek stake is less odd than it seems
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But Italy’s UniCredit (CRDI.MI), which on Monday purchased 9% of Alpha Bank for about 300 million euros, should have better luck. This will include merging the lenders’ Romanian units and Alpha distributing UniCredit’s asset-management products in Greece. Probably the most reassuring news for investors in the Italian bank is that Orcel has no plans to raise its stake. UniCredit hasn’t requested regulatory permission to buy more and doesn’t envisage doing so, according to a person familiar with the matter. For shareholders, then, UniCredit’s mini-Greek adventure is unusual but easily tolerable.

Persons: Italy’s, Andrea Orcel, Crédit, Société, Orcel, UniCredit, UniCredit hasn’t, Liam Proud, Aimee Donnellan, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Alpha Bank, Alpha, Piraeus Financial, X, SEC, Thomson Locations: Greece

☆ Wind woe opens door for alternative green ideas: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Nov 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Shares of Orsted and Siemens Energy are being battered by their inability to boost profits. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how trouble in offshore wind may encourage investors to back other clean energy segments like battery storage, cables and solar. 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: Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Siemens Energy, Thomson

☆ Bayer slow-motion breakup may leave clunky core
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bayer’s (BAYGn.DE) planned surgery risks leaving an ailing rump. Valued in line with peers, Bayer’s seeds, drugs and consumer units could be worth 54 billion euros, 38 billion euros and 16 billion euros respectively, according to Breakingviews calculations using LSEG data. Take off debt and pensions, and Bayer’s equity should total nearly 60 billion euros, some 47% above its current market capitalisation. But hiving off the seeds business would leave a pharma business hitched to a consumer unit, a model shunned by rivals Pfizer (PFE.N), Sanofi (SASY.PA) and GSK (GSK.L). They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: weedkiller, Bill Anderson’s, Anderson, Aimee Donnellan, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Pfizer, Sanofi, GSK, X, SEC, Paramount, Thomson

☆ Drug shortages demand quick and costly action: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Used blister packets that contained medicines, tablets and pills are seen in this picture illustration taken June 30, 2018. In this Exchange podcast, Dr. Steffen Denzinger, president of the European Fine Chemicals Group, argues that safeguarding medicines may require patients to pay more. 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: Russell Boyce, Steffen Denzinger, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, European Fine Chemicals Group, Thomson

☆ UK fashion retailer can revive discount price tag
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Primark’s improved fast-fashion appeal can power a valuation revival. Assuming sales at the retailer were to grow 7% annually, just half of the 15% jump of last year, they would hit 9.6 billion pounds. If margins were to rise to 10%, that would add 235 million pounds to the conglomerate’s operating profit, which stood at 1.5 billion pounds last year, Breakingviews calculations show. If Primark’s input costs keep falling and it successfully expands in the U.S., it can narrow this gap. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Aimee Donnellan, Aston Martin, Lisa Jucca, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, British Foods, Foods, X, Starbucks, Paramount, Macquarie, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ Maersk's woes signal slow-motion industry crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Boss Vincent Clerc is not alone in trying to manage a crisis that is battering the container shipping world and which analysts at DNB Markets reckon could last up to 2030. He may also suspend the company's share buyback programme which has been put under review. Investors – spoilt by 16 consecutive quarters of earnings growth up to September – knocked 17% off the company’s share price following the news. The unit, which handles container shipping, reported a 56% drop in third-quarter sales due to a steep fall in freight rates. The World Trade Organization halved its growth forecast for global goods trade this year.

Persons: Evelyn Maersk, Fabian Bimmer, Moller, Boss Vincent Clerc, –, Clerc, Pamela Barbaglia, Aston Martin, Aimee Donnellan, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Shipping, Maersk, World Trade Organization, X, Macquarie, Pfizer, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Germany

☆ Sainsbury’s gain is private equity’s pain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 2 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Red hot competition in the UK grocery market is favoring the largest players. Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts reckons the 6.5 billion pound group has been taking market share from rivals including discounters Aldi and Lidl. That may not be good news for Sainsbury’s smaller peers like Morrisons and Asda, owned by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and EG Group respectively. Both Sainsbury’s and Tesco have held their market shares relatively stable since 2021, when CD&R bought Wm Morrison. Sainsbury’s is currently valued at 5 times forward EBITDA, according to LSEG data.

Persons: J Sainsbury’s, Simon Roberts reckons, Wm Morrison, Aimee Donnellan, Aston Martin, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Aldi, Tesco, Clayton, Rice, EG, R, Asda, Morrisons, Pfizer, Thomson Locations: Britain’s, Asda, Dubilier

☆ Japan’s rates tweak is careful and crafty: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Breakingviews category · November 3, 2023 · 6:06 AM UTC“A billion here, a billion there”, Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen reputedly said of the U.S. budget deficit in the mid-1960s, “and pretty soon, you’re talking big money". The senator would need to do some swift recalibrations were he confronted with today’s American public finances. Last month, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that the federal budget deficit for the fiscal year ending September 30 had hit $1.7 trillion. Shortly afterwards, the International Monetary Fund forecast that the deficit will continue at the same level for at least the next five years. Meanwhile, government debt has tripled since the senator’s day to around 120% of GDP.

Persons: Everett Dirksen, you’re Organizations: Congressional, Office, International Monetary Fund Locations: Illinois

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ St James’s Place adds extra twist to wealth pain
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - St James’s Place (SJP.L) is in a tricky spot. Wealth managers around the world are finding it harder to justify their fees as interest rates in countries like the UK have topped 5%. Friday’s 16% drop in the 4 billion pound UK wealth manager’s shares reflects its problematic twist on that trend. The UK firm is under pressure from regulators to overhaul its fee structure to comply with new rules brought in by the Financial Conduct Authority. SJP, run by CEO Andrew Croft, has been facing intense scrutiny due to its complex fee structure and stiff penalties for clients who look to withdraw their cash.

Persons: Andrew Croft, SJP, Aimee Donnellan, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Financial, Authority, Reuters Graphics Reuters, X, Infosys, Ericsson, Thomson Locations: Europe

☆ Apollo may get noodle LBO thrown back in its face
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The private equity firm has offered to buy Wagamama owner Restaurant Group (RTN.L) for 701 million pounds including debt. Restaurant Group is an obvious takeover target. And Restaurant Group itself reckons it can crank up its EBITDA margin by as much as 3.5 percentage points by 2026. Apollo could comfortably double its money, assuming it used debt of around 300 million pounds to buy the business, or 3 times 2024 EBITDA. The deal is being undertaken by a special purpose vehicle indirectly owned by Apollo Funds, managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management.

Persons: Andy Hornby, Frankie, Jefferies, John Wood, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Restaurant, Irenic Capital, Oasis Management, Apollo Group, Restaurant Group, Apollo Funds, Apollo Global Management, Thomson Locations: Britain

☆ Smaller banks pose big problems for regulators: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Britain’s Metro Bank came close to the brink, while several US regional players failed earlier in 2023. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate whether watchdogs have the right tools to deal with such situations, and whether they’re brave enough to use them. 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: watchdogs, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Britain’s Metro Bank, Thomson

☆ Obesity revolution gorges on dialysis maker
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Megan Jelinger Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Kidney dialysis kit-makers look set to be the latest victim of the obesity drug boom. On Wednesday, shares in Germany-listed Fresenius Medical Care (FMEG.DE) fell 20% after a medical trial showed a Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) drug can reduce the risk of kidney failure. Diabetes and obesity drugs are showing their fringe benefits. In a recent drug trial, Wegovy, an obesity remedy made by Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, reduced the incidence of serious cardiovascular events like strokes and heart attacks by 20% in overweight patients. The collapse in Fresenius Medical Care’s share price looks appropriate.

Persons: Dawn, Megan Jelinger, Michael Sen, Danish drugmaker, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Novo Nordisk, Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, Fresenius, Thomson Locations: Findlay , Ohio, U.S, Germany, Fresenius, Vamed, Danish

☆ LVMH may have to settle for a more humdrum future
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The disappointing results knocked 6% off LVMH stock on Wednesday and dragged down rivals Richemont (CFR.S) and Kering (PRTP.PA) which also fell about 3%. That may compound investor worries about an overall slowdown of the company that’s behind Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior (DIOR.PA). And China’s economic slowdown and a possible U.S. recession make their future even more uncertain. LVMH is trading at 20 times its expected 2023 earnings after Wednesday's fall. If the less exuberant times keep rolling, LVMH may find itself settling for an even less luxurious valuation.

Persons: Richemont, Bernard Arnault’s, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Karen Kwok, Aimee Donnellan, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, UBS, Hermès, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Qantas, Thomson Locations: Asia, Japan, Brussels

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