Seven of the world’s top 10 economies by 2030 will likely be current emerging markets. The prediction for a shake-up of the world’s gross domestic product rankings comes in new long-term forecasts by Standard Chartered Plc, which includes a projection for China to become the largest economy by 2020, using purchasing power parity exchange rates […]
The traditional 9–5 workday is poorly structured for high productivity. Perhaps when most work was physical labor, but not in the knowledge working world we now live in. Although this may be obvious based on people’s mediocre performance, addiction to stimulants, lack of engagement, and the fact that most people hate their jobs — now there’s loads […]
China vowed to fightback against the Trump administration’s plans to impose tariffs on an additional $200 billion in Chinese goods, escalating a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies. Beijing described the latest U.S. move as “totally unacceptable” bullying, and urged other countries to join China to protect free trade and multilateralism. China promised […]
U.S. stocks fell to the lowest level since May and Treasuries rallied amid renewed concern that the Trump administration will crack down on Chinese investment. Energy producers surged with crude, while the dollar jumped. The S&P 500 Index erased gains that reached 0.9 percent to finish at the worst level since May 29. Comments from Larry Kudlow […]
Last Wednesday at an investor day, Bank of Ireland (BOI, A3/Baa1 positive, baa31) announced a challenging growth strategy for the next three years that moves the bank to a growth phase from a restructuring phase. BOI plans to increase its loan book by 20%, or €14 billion, by 2021 (20% on the retail Irish portfolio, […]
Last Wednesday, Toyota Motor Corporation (Aa3 stable) announced that it will invest $1 billion in Grab Holdings Inc., a Singapore-based ride-hailing service provider, to expand their collaboration in Southeast Asia. The investment is credit positive for Toyota. The deal will enhance Toyota’s foothold and capability in ride-hailing services, a fast-growing business that could alter automakers’ […]
Last Wednesday, China Railway Group Limited (CRG, A3 stable) announced that it had an agreement with nine investors to sell equity interests of 23.8%-29.4% in its four subsidiaries for RMB11.6 billion. The company plans to use the proceeds primarily to pay down debt and expects to complete the transaction by the end of this month. […]
Last Monday, French grocer Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA (Ba1 stable) said that it will sell €1.5 billion of non-core assets in 2018 and 2019, which will substantially reduce its French operations’ net debt of €3.7 billion at year-end 2017, a credit positive. How the divestments will affect Casino’s parent company, Rallye, whose credit quality Casino’s share […]
Last Tuesday, H&R Block Inc., which issues debt through its wholly owned subsidiary Block Financial LLC (Baa3 negative), said it plans to change its pricing structure, close about 400 of its nearly 10,000 US offices and commence a large, multi-year investment program to update its information technology capabilities. We view these strategic changes as credit […]