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☆ EU defence agency chief: Europe cannot rely on U.S. alone as shield
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( John O'Donnell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (Reuters) - European Union states should buy arms jointly to replenish stocks after supplying Ukraine, said the bloc's defence agency, warning the United States may not always be able to shield Europe from threats. "The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine demonstrates our capability shortfalls," said Jiri Sedivy, chief executive of the European Defence Agency, an EU body that helps the bloc's governments to develop their military capabilities. The agency was in talks with European arms firms about boosting production, he said, as well as with countries about clubbing together to buy equipment and ammunition. Europe has had a splintered approach to defence, with countries mostly equipping their military on their own, spawning a patchwork of incompatible weapons and equipment. The war in Ukraine has confronted the region with its biggest challenge in a generation, exposing deep rifts in how to deal with Moscow.

The Special Technology Centre did not respond to a written request for comment. Russia's Ministry of Defence did not respond to questions from Reuters about the impact of sanctions and its relationship to the Special Technology Centre. Reached by phone, Alexey Terentyev, a top scientist and major shareholder at the Special Technology Centre, said the war has forced it to focus on making drones. Those corporate records show iLogic is based at the same St Petersburg office address as the Special Technology Centre. In a brief telephone interview, Roman Agafonnikov, chief executive officer of the Special Technology Centre, said he didn't know anything about iLogic.

☆ Recession fears could trigger a 'lipstick' effect on deal activity next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

For the first time in over three years, there were no mega deals valued over $10 billion during the third quarter, according to the latest M&A report by Willis Towers Watson . There were only 49 large deals valued over $1 billion during the quarter, as compared with 67 large deals closed in the same period a year ago. Despite global recession fears, geopolitical tensions and expectations for inflation and interest rates to keep rising in 2023, WTW predicts dealmaking activity will continue. "An unprecedented number of disruptive forces have created headwinds for dealmakers, but they are also generating opportunities," said Massimo Borghello, head of human capital M&A consulting, Asia Pacific at WTW. "The fundamentals that drive dealmaking are still in place and, with valuations moderating after the historic levels reached in 2021, strategic and financial buyers alike will take advantage of better-priced opportunities for growth."

☆ China's stunning reversal on lockdowns showed that mass protests can influence policy change in the country — but experts say it still doesn't threaten Xi's regime
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But experts on China say it's unlikely the protests will embolden future political movements. The changes come after protests against COVID measures erupted all across China — rare for a country where dissent is snuffed out quickly. Baogang He, the chair of international relations at Deakin University in Australia, agreed that the protests show how mass anger can influence government policy, but not regime change. "No one is strong enough to exploit or dare to use these protests to mount a challenge to Xi Jinping," Xi, the professor, told Insider. Chong said that although Xi holds extensive power in China, the protests and subsequent rollback both underscore how he can make major mistakes, too.

☆ PwC invests $140 mln in China tourist hub for learning centre
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Dec 10 (Reuters) - PwC said on Saturday it plans to invest more than 1 billion yuan ($140 million) to establish an education and innovation centre China's island province of Hainan, a tourism hub. The Reimagine Park project, to occupy 16 acres in Sanya in the Chinese southern province, is due to open in 2025. "I have absolutely no doubt the China market will rebound," Raymund Chao, chairman of PwC Asia Pacific and China, told Reuters, after Beijing this week eased many of the nation's strict COVID-19 curbs. The accounting and consulting firm partners with business schools such as INSEAD and Thunderbird School of Global Management to provide learning and training opportunities at the park for executives in the business community, it said. ($1 = 6.9559 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Selena Li; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/2] BNP Paribas logo and stock graph are seen in this illustration taken, May 1, 2022. Investment banks typically use standardised job titles to mark career milestones, starting at analyst and culminating at managing director. "BNP Paribas is communicating corporate titles to employees in the London Branch that reflect their existing roles to standardise terminology across all business lines," a spokesperson told Reuters. A broker at BNP Paribas in London was awarded 2 million pounds ($2.45 million) in January, one of the biggest payouts in a UK equal pay suit. Deploying standardised job titles should make it easier for employees to understand where they rank on the bank's career ladder.

☆ Musk taps Tesla's China chief to run Texas gigafactory - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 8 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) chief Elon Musk has roped in longtime executive and the company's president in China, Tom Zhu, to help run the carmaker's new plant in Austin, Texas, Bloomberg News reported late on Wednesday. Zhu, who joined Tesla in 2014 and is heading Tesla's Asia Pacific operations, is in Austin this week. He has brought some of his engineering team from China with him to assist in overseeing the ramp-up of Giga Texas, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Giga Texas, which opened earlier this year, makes the Model Y and will produce Tesla's upcoming Cybertruck. It is not clear whether Zhu will retain his Asia responsibilities or for how long he will be in Austin, Bloomberg added.

☆ Reaction to China relaxing COVID restrictions in major policy shift
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REDMOND WONG, GREATER CHINA MARKET STRATEGIST, SAXO MARKETS, HONG KONG"The 10 new measures are underwhelming, given the high expectations. GARY NG, ECONOMIST, NATIXIS, HONG KONG"The latest announcements show China is determined to speed up its reopening due to economic pressure. It is likely to see upswings cyclically in business sentiment from suppressed demand, especially in sectors heavily affected by the covid restrictions. "The next checkpoint will be Chinese New Year; I think markets are looking for further relaxation to facilitate return to their hometowns by Chinese New Year." SAKTIANDI SUPAAT, REGIONAL HEAD OF FX RESEARCH & STRATEGY, MAYBANK, SINGAPORE"I think markets have, in some ways, priced in that element (of further easing).

☆ Prada to name former Luxottica chief Andrea Guerra as new CEO
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: The company's logo is seen at a Prada store in Zurich, Switzerland January 25, 2021. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann(Reuters) -Italy’s Prada said on Tuesday that it would name former Luxottica chief Andrea Guerra as its new chief executive officer. Guerra will be recommended as the new CEO at a board meeting next month by controlling shareholder Prada Holding S.p.A., the luxury company said in a statement,Reuters reported last week that the fashion group was set to hire Guerra in a top management role to ease a transition at the helm to the next generation of the founding family. After overseeing a successful turnaround since 2017 to reverse a slide in sales, Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli, 76, said a year ago he planned to hand over the reins of the group he leads with wife Miuccia Prada Bianchi to their 34-year-old son Lorenzo. “This is a fundamental step we have decided to undertake, while completely engaged in the company, to contribute more to the evolution of the Prada Group and to ease the succession of Lorenzo Bertelli, the future leader of the Group,” they said.

☆ Foreign equity funds pile into Indian financials as credit cycle picks up
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Anushka Trivedi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MUMBAI, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Foreign investors are buying into Indian financial firms, lured by the prospects of a fresh credit cycle that may boost the stocks of the country's largest lenders. The optimism is reflected in inflows, with foreign investors buying a net of $1.74 billion worth of Indian financial stocks in November, data released by the National Securities Depository Ltd this week showed. Reuters Graphics"PALATABLE" VALUATIONIndian financial stocks are trading at a premium to their historical average, but that is not necessarily the comparison investors are looking at. This has prompted local and foreign investors to pour money into the domestic equity markets, which hit all-time highs last week. The optimism comes despite financial stocks trading at a premium to their two-year historical average on a price-to-book valuation basis.

☆ The rise and fall of Wirecard
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

July 2: The head of Germany's financial watchdog calls the accounting scandal at Wirecard "a massive criminal act". July 6: German prosecutors arrest the head of a Dubai-based subsidiary of Wirecard. 2021Jan. 29: Felix Hufeld, president of German financial watchdog BaFin, steps down. 2022Jan. 14: German prosecutors file first charges in Wirecard fraud, the Financial Times reports. Sept. 21: A Munich district court said it had admitted charges against former Wirecard executives, paving way for a trial.

☆ Global pensions with $3 trln on books fear stagflation -survey
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Global public pension schemes and sovereign wealth funds managing more than $3 trillion in assets fear a combination of economic slowdown and higher inflation in the next 12-24 months, a survey showed on Tuesday. However, public pension funds' assets grew last year, giving them some cushion against market volatility. Assets under management in the top 100 public pension funds grew by 17% in 2021 to $17.4 trillion, OMFIF said. Assets of the top 50 sovereign wealth funds rose 23% to $9.8 trillion. OMFIF carried out the survey between August and October 2022.

☆ Asian stocks draw highest monthly foreign inflows in two years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Gaurav Dogra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Foreign net monthly inflows into Asian equities hit a two-year high in November on hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve could cut the pace of its interest rate hikes. The MSCI Asia Pacific index (.MIAP00000PUS) surged 14.8% last month, its biggest monthly gain in about 24 years, after being hit by aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve earlier this year. Taiwanese equities attracted $6.06 billion in foreign inflows last month, the biggest amount since 2008, while India and South Korea received $4.43 billion and $3.04 billion, respectively. Analysts are also optimistic about flows into emerging Asian markets as the dollar has dropped sharply in recent weeks. "The US dollar index remains locked in a downward bias, which could continue to provide a supportive environment for foreign inflows into Asian equities towards year-end," said Yeap Jun Rong, a market strategist at IG.

☆ Analysis: As economy stutters, China's youth seek safety of civil service
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Eduardo Baptista | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The wishes of Lau's parents that she had a "safe" civil service career suddenly made more sense. Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis, says the preference for civil servant jobs has surged. On social media, young Chinese refer to the civil service as "the end of the universe," meaning the safest place around in such an environment. "Being a civil servant gives you a lot of stability," she said. “The present state of the job market has definitely increased my desire to become a civil servant," she said.

☆ World stocks in upbeat spirits, Fed's Powell in the spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Dhara Ranasinghe | Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, November 29, 2022. REUTERS/StaffLONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - World equity markets rallied on Wednesday and focus turned to Jerome Powell, who speaks later in the day in what will be the U.S. Federal Reserve chief's last opportunity to steer sentiment ahead of the Fed's December meeting. European stock markets rallied (.STOXX) and U.S. equity futures pointed to a firm start for Wall Street , . MSCI's broadest gauge of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rallied more than 1% to its highest since September. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rallied more than 2% (.HSI), although Japan's blue-chip Nikkei fell 0.2% (.N225).

☆ Asia stocks rebound despite disappointing China data
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MSCI's broadest gauge of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) reversed morning losses to gain 0.67%. "Despite the surge in cases and recent protests, China has not hardened its COVID approach and is continuing to fine-tune its policy, which is encouraging to investors." "Headlines from China regarding COVID restrictions and protests are causing jitters among investors. A series of U.S. data concerning manufacturing, inflation and jobs will also be released this week. Oil prices posted gains of more than 1% in Asian trade on Wednesday on falling U.S. crude inventories and a lower greenback, but concerns OPEC+ will leave output unchanged at its upcoming meeting and weak China data limited gains.

☆ Asia stocks choppy as investors cautious after disappointing China data
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Asian shares wobbled on Wednesday as investors remain cautious about China's path to reopening its economy after it released disappointing manufacturing data, with China and Hong Kong stocks wiping out strong gains from the previous day. MSCI's gauge of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was up 0.02% at 0201 GMT, paring earlier losses. The losses in Hong Kong and China reversed positive sentiment from Tuesday, when Chinese officials said the country would speed up COVID-19 vaccinations for elderly people. "Headlines from China regarding COVID restrictions and protests are causing jitters among investors. A series of U.S. data concerning manufacturing, inflation and jobs will also be released this week.

☆ Wall Street mistakenly overlooking Salesforce's solid quarter by focusing too much on co-CEO exit
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Sure, cRPO (current remaining performance obligation) was a little light and the fiscal fourth quarter revenue guide midpoint missed by a hair (some conservatism probably due to the uncertain macro environment). Companywide results Breaking down quarterly subscription and support revenue results by cloud: Sales cloud revenue increased 17% in constant currency to $1.7 billion. Service cloud revenue increased 16% in constant currency to $1.9 billion. Platform and other (including Slack, which Salesforce acquired on July 21, 2021) revenue increased 22% in constant currency to $1.5 billion. Guidance For their fiscal fourth quarter, Salesforce management sees revenues increasing 8% to 10% year over year to $7.93 billion to $8.03 billion.

☆ New CIO Wants Cisco to Be a Model for Hybrid Work
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Fletcher Previn, Cisco Systems Inc.’s new chief information officer, said he is working to help position the networking-equipment maker as a leader in hybrid work. Mr. Previn joined Cisco in 2021 as chief digital officer from International Business Machines Corp., where he was CIO. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CIO Journal The Morning Download delivers daily insights and news on business technology from the CIO Journal team. Cisco CIO Fletcher Previn Photo: Cisco Systems Inc.An IBM veteran of more than a decade, Mr. Previn was named that company’s CIO in 2017. Enabling hybrid work should be a priority for CIOs because it can cut office costs while improving employee productivity, said Bobby Cameron, a principal analyst at Forrester Research Inc.“Priorities for the hybrid work environment continue to be digital tools for meetings and active collaboration,” Mr. Cameron said.

HONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) has laid off about one-third of its China-based investment banking team and nearly half of its research department, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, as part of a global restructuring and as its China business slows. Credit Suisse declined to make specific comments on the layoffs in China when contacted by Reuters. Two sources said that more than 20 China-based investment bankers have been notified about the job cuts at Credit Suisse Securities (China), the bank's 51%-owned joint venture. Credit Suisse's China annual report shows it had 68 people in its investment banking department at the end of last year. At Credit Suisse's China venture, about 10 research staff have been let go, the sources said.

☆ From digital wallet accounts to shares in project ownership, the metaverse will reimagine money as we know it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Mastercard With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In Asia, brands have an opportunity to drive value by creating new experiences for customers in the metaverse. At its core, the metaverse is an interconnection of immersive, real-time virtual experiences. It's still more idea than reality — virtual or otherwise. Making virtual reality realFor "value" in the metaverse, we can substitute the word "experiences." Money will be expressed in new ways, from digital wallet accounts to tokens (like cryptocurrency) that represent rewards, vouchers, or a slice of ownership in a project or service.

☆ China’s Xi attempts to claim diplomatic victory in battle for global influence after summit whirlwind
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese leader Xi Jinping attends the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia on Wednesday. Since taking office, Biden has shored up relations with allies and partners to counter China’s growing influence. In a rare, candid moment caught on camera, Xi chided Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accusing him of leaking details of a brief conversation between them. He also attended the Group of 20 dinner, where he shook hands and chatted with leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apart from the Dutch Prime Minister, Xi also invited US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy’s newly elected Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to visit Beijing early next year.

☆ Factbox: What is APEC and which leaders are attending Bangkok summit?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] A general view outside of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center venue during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, at Asoke Junction, in Bangkok, Thailand November 17, 2022. The United States will be the APEC host in 2023. CHINA PRESIDENT XI JINPINGXi met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Bangkok on Thursday for talks. RUSSIA FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ANDREI BELOUSOVBelousov will represent President Valadmir Putin at APEC. PAPUA NEW GUINEA PRIME MINISTER JAMES MARAPEMarape will hold meetings with U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken.

☆ APEC summit host Thailand urges leaders to put aside differences
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Juarawee Kittisilpa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, wife Naraporn Chao-ocha, China's President Xi Jinping and wife Peng Liyuan attend the Gala dinner of the APEC Summit 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand, November 17, 2022. Thailand Government House/Handout via REUTERSBANGKOK, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Thailand, the host of the APEC summit, urged leaders of the group meeting in Bangkok on Friday and Saturday to "rise above differences" and focus on resolving pressing global economic issues in areas such as trade and inflation. China's President Xi Jinping is attending the summit, while the United States is being represented by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. Security was tight at the APEC summit with around 100 anti-government protesters gathered and planning to march on the meeting venue on Friday morning. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov will represent him at APEC.

☆ After ASEAN and G-20, diplomats make last push on Ukraine crisis at APEC
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Sri Jegarajah | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A possible spillover of the war in Ukraine into Europe's eastern flank, which risks sparking a new phase of the conflict, will overshadow the agenda at this week's APEC Summit in Bangkok. Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBANGKOK — A possible spillover of the war in Ukraine into Europe's eastern flank, which risks sparking a new phase of the conflict, will overshadow the agenda at this week's APEC Summit in Bangkok. The latest developments in Europe are likely to eclipse the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum as business leaders, heads of state and diplomats try to find a way out of the conflict in Ukraine. The war has led to a stubbornly high global inflation that's challenged policymakers and caused a crippling cost of living crisis. Thailand has shown exceptional leadership in steering APEC through a challenging time," he said.

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