Investing

The US recession stemming from the coronavirus pandemic lasted two months, making it the shortest downturn on record. The National Bureau of Economic Research, which is considered the official judge of when and how long recessions occurred, said on Monday that the economy bottomed out in April 2020.  Andrew Lloyd Webber has cancelled the opening

Australia and New Zealand’s decision to shut their borders to non-residents during the pandemic has helped suppress Covid-19, enabling economic growth and corporate profits to beat expectations. But 15 months on, critics warn that these “hermit nation” policies are now causing significant problems for businesses, which face worsening skills shortages that are raising costs and

Bond Yield Rate vs. Coupon Rate: An Overview A bond’s coupon rate is the rate of interest it pays annually, while its yield is the rate of return it generates. A bond’s coupon rate is expressed as a percentage of its par value. The par value is simply the face value of the bond or

In this article SPCE AMZN An uncrewed New Shepard rocket launches on the company’s NS-14 test flight in January 2021. Blue Origin VAN HORN, Texas — Near a small town in the West Texas desert, a quartet led by the world’s richest person is preparing to launch on a historic flight to the edge of

The London Metal Exchange has launched a new contract for battery metal lithium, setting up a transatlantic battle with US rival CME Group, as exchanges look to capture rapid growth in demand for commodities tied to the electric car industry. The LME said the lithium contract was “designed to bridge” the need for battery and

The White House and its western allies have accused the Chinese government of teaming up with criminal gangs to commit widespread cyber attacks, including one on Microsoft this year that affected tens of thousands of organisations. The accusation came as the US Justice department unsealed an indictment alleging that four Chinese nationals affiliated with the

Depreciation is that moment when you drive a new car off the lot, and the car instantly loses a percentage of its value. But some models hold their value better than others. The cars that depreciate the most on automotive lists tend to be high-end luxury cars. However, many models hold their value and are

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square has been forced to restructure a $4bn deal to buy a 10 per cent stake in Universal Music, the company behind artists such as Taylor Swift, after US regulators objected to the original shape of the deal. Pershing had agreed last month to buy the stake from Vivendi, Universal’s owner, via

European and Asian shares fell as growing concerns over Covid-19 outbreaks clouded the outlook for the global economy. In early morning trading on Monday, Europe’s Stoxx 600 index fell 1.4 per cent. London’s FTSE 100 dropped 1.3 per cent as England lifted most of its coronavirus restrictions. Optimism about the reopening was overshadowed by more

While commission-free trades have become the norm for customers of discount online brokers, in October 2019, it was big news. Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, and Ally Invest all cut equity commissions to zero the first week of October 2019, and Fidelity joined the crowd on October 10. Bank of America’s Merrill Edge extended free trading to all

Three of Britain’s most senior cabinet ministers — including prime minister Boris Johnson — will be self-isolating on England’s so-called “Freedom Day” on Monday, highlighting the surge in Covid-19 cases just as the country throws off its last pandemic restrictions. Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak were forced into a humiliating U-turn on Sunday after facing

This article from FT Globetrotter is part of a guide to Hong Kong and a new cycling series running all summer on exploring great cities by bicycle When I first started cycling in Hong Kong more than 15 years ago, I almost felt ashamed to admit my hobby to others.  At the time, it was

Apple Inc. (AAPL) resumed its dividend payments in 2012 after a 17-year hiatus. At the end of its fiscal year 2011, it had accumulated cash and cash equivalents of over $25 billion. That cash hoard has grown to $38 billion as of the end of the fiscal year 2020. Since then, Apple has seen a

Co-founder and director of Netflix Reed Hastings delivers a speech as he inaugurates the new offices of Netflix France, in Paris on January 17, 2020. Christophe Archambault | AFP | Getty Images As second-quarter earnings season kicks into gear, Wall Street analysts are highlighting the stocks that are poised to deliver impressive quarterly performances. The

Asian garment workers have been deprived of almost $12bn in wages and severance pay as international retailers cancelled orders and demanded price reductions in the wake of the pandemic, according to a labour rights group. The Clean Clothes Campaign said that roughly 1.6m garment workers had lost their jobs in seven Asian countries, including Bangladesh,

Hello and welcome to the working week. Firstly, thank you to all those who contacted me at jonathan.moules@ft.com about the new Week Ahead format. Please keep messaging me with your thoughts — whether you would like more of something or less of something else. I would also love to hear about the important events of

For many investors, the futures markets, with all of the different terms and trading strategies, can be both confusing and daunting. There are opportunities to limit losses on your portfolio or enjoy significant profits by using the futures markets, but it is important that you understand how these derivative products work and how you can

The remains of China’s Anbang have been valued at more than $5.2bn in the latest attempt by state controllers to dissolve the once high-flying group led by jailed tycoon Wu Xiaohui. Anbang, together with a cohort of conglomerates including HNA and Dalian Wanda, embodied China’s “going out” policy which led to aggressive overseas investment and

Meditation and mindfulness apps have become hot perks. Companies are increasingly offering mental health services to employees to help alleviate pandemic strains. Even before lockdowns, the investment case was gaining growing recognition. Studies suggest every £1 spent yields an average return of £5, according to Deloitte. A growing number of virtual mental-health service providers have emerged to

Operations management theory is the set practices companies use to increase efficiency in production. Operations management is concerned with controlling the production process and business operations in the most efficient manner possible. Key Takeaways Operations management theory encompasses the strategies companies employ to increase efficiency in operations and production. To operate efficiently, firms should use

Costs at the top US banks jumped more than $6.6bn, or 10 per cent, in the most recent quarter compared with the same period of last year as executives paid up for talent and technology to fortify their businesses against increasing competition from nearly every angle.  The increase in spending at JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs,

As the world’s greatest athletes began to pour through the airport and a Covid-menaced Tokyo entered its final countdown to the Olympic Games this Friday, an immense, disembodied human head rose above the city to open the Cultural Olympiad. The merits of the giant hot air balloon as a piece of art are for others

Inventory turnover measures the rate at which a company purchases and resells its products (or inventory) to its customers. Low inventory turnover can indicate bad management, poor purchasing practices or selling techniques, faulty decision-making, or the buildup of inferior or obsolete goods. As a result, investors usually don’t like to see a low inventory turnover

In this article ABG sturti | E+ | Getty Images Company: Asbury Automotive Group Inc. (ABG) Business: Asbury Automotive Group is an automotive retailer in the United States. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and vehicle repair and maintenance services, replacement parts, and collision repair services. The

A £30,000 per week luxury flat in central London that is owned by the Vatican has become the subject of complaints from local residents over what they claim was “hellish noise” from late night gatherings. Some residents in Hans Place in Chelsea, one of London’s most expensive addresses, have complained to the local council and

Sajid Javid, Britain’s new health secretary, said on Saturday that he had tested positive for coronavirus and was experiencing mild symptoms as the UK prepares to end the last of its lockdown restrictions. Javid said he had taken a lateral flow test and was waiting for the result of a more accurate PCR test. “I

Tesla, Inc.’s (TSLA) colorful CEO Elon Musk has provided updates on the company’s Cybertruck, launched with a splash in 2019, and suggested that it could end up becoming a flop in the market. On Twitter, Musk’s favorite social media platform, the CEO wrote that the car’s doors would not have handles. Instead, it would simply

When John Ruiz invested in an apartment at the luxury waterfront Ritz-Carlton Residences in Miami Beach earlier this year, he encountered the man who would later help to make him a billionaire multiple times over — at least on paper.  The apartment’s co-investor was Ophir Sternberg, a wealthy property developer and founder of Lionheart Capital,

With just over two months to go until polling day, the devastating floods that swept through western Germany this week have catapulted climate change to the heart of the German election campaign. Most of Germany’s political parties agreed that global warming was to blame for a catastrophe that left 103 people dead and visited destruction

JPMorgan Chase vs. Goldman Sachs: An Overview JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs are two of the largest and most respected investment banks. Both have seen rising stock performance over the past several years, benefiting largely from low interest rates and Federal Reserve policies. Below, we’ll take a look at where both companies are headed and