Americas
Apple's China Market Share Drops
Apple has experienced a notable decline in its market position within China's highly competitive smartphone sector, losing its leadership to local rivals Huawei and Vivo. As of 2024, Apple's market share has dropped to 15%, down from previous years, marking a significant shift in the tech landscape of one of its most crucial markets. According to recent...
US Stocks Plummet Amid Recession Fears
US stocks experienced a significant decline on Monday, with the S&P 500 trading 2.5% lower and the Nasdaq Composite falling into correction territory, down more than 10% from its record high on July 10. The selloff was driven by fears of a potential recession in the world's largest economy, as investors reacted to disappointing employment data and concerns...
Composites and Fuel Containment Division Sold
Parker Hannifin Corporation, a prominent player in motion and control technologies, has announced a significant strategic move by agreeing to sell its North America Composites and Fuel Containment (CFC) Division to SK Capital Partners, a private investment firm. This decision, made public on July 29, 2024, is part of Parker's broader strategy to streamline...
Bank Of America Revenue Exceeding Expectations
Bank of America reported strong second-quarter results, with revenue and profit exceeding expectations, driven by growth in investment banking and asset management fees. The bank's earnings per share reached 83 cents, surpassing the LSEG estimate of 80 cents, while revenue climbed to $25.54 billion, beating the projected $25.22 billion. Despite a 6.9%...
Crystal Ball Not Required
Company directors owe several fiduciary duties, one of which is to act in the best interest of shareholders. But to what extent does that duty to shareholders apply in the context of the financial health of the company? The award-winning commercial and litigation lawyers at ParrisWhittaker are experienced in advising company directors on their duties,...
Asia Pacific
Leading the Future of Aged & Community Care
Leecare is proud to be recognised in the ACQ5 Global Awards as a category winner for Best Care & Operational Management Software. As a global leader in aged and community care technology Leecare’s Platinum6 Suite is reshaping the approach to Primary and Aged care delivery — with integrated, person-centred software designed for compliance,...
M&A Deals Picking Up Pace in Asia
After a long lull in investment activity, M&A deals are picking up across Asia. In a region that has often been attractive for its growth opportunities, M&A has recently experienced a quiet spell. In the first half of 2024, deal volumes and values in the Asia-Pacific decreased by 23% and 35%, respectively, compared to the first half of 2023, according...
Asia-Pacific Markets Downturn as Bank of Japan (BOJ) Begins Policy Meeting
Tuesday July 30th, 2024Asia-Pacific markets are experiencing a downturn as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) begins its two-day monetary policy meeting. This meeting is drawing significant attention from investors and economists alike, as it could potentially mark a shift in Japan's monetary policy. The BOJ is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate to...
Trade Tensions Hamper Chip Production
Investors in the semiconductor sector have been cautious due to Washington's increasingly protective policies towards the U.S. chip manufacturing industry, which is seen as crucial for competing with China. Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the U.S. has informed its allies of potential severe trade restrictions if companies continue to provide China...
Mixed Performance in Asia-Pacific Markets
Asia-Pacific markets showed a mixed performance on Tuesday as investors digested Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's dovish remarks on potential interest rate cuts, which had propelled Wall Street higher in the previous session. Japan's Nikkei 225 Index edged up following a holiday break, with traders closely monitoring yen movements. Chinese markets...
Europe
Upswing Not Matched By Investments
LONDON – In 2025, Britain’s stock market is outpacing Wall Street, and the UK economy has posted the strongest growth among G7 nations in the first half of the year. Yet while overseas investors are benefiting from this upswing, many British investors remain on the sidelines. For years, the UK equity market has struggled with sluggish returns...
Huge Financial Impact of Heathrow's Fire Blunder Revealed
Heathrow Airport is expected to face costs running into the "low tens of millions" of pounds following its chaotic closure in March, chief executive Thomas Woldbye has revealed. The temporary shutdown was caused by a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation in west London, which led to a power outage and forced the west London airport to halt operations...
Sizewell C Switch
Slaughters, DLA, Freshfields, and Linklaters have played instrumental roles in finalizing the £38 billion investment deal for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, one of the largest and most significant infrastructure projects in the UK. This complex transaction marks a critical milestone in securing funding and moving forward with the construction...
UniCredit withdraws offer for BPM after opposition from Meloni’s government
UniCredit has officially withdrawn its bid to acquire the smaller rival Banco BPM following strong opposition from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, as well as continuing regulatory hurdles linked to Italy’s so-called “golden power” rules. The move comes just days after the European Commission issued a sharp reprimand against the Italian...
BP Job Cuts
BP is making significant changes to its workforce as part of a strategic effort to streamline operations and cut costs. The London-based energy giant announced on January 16, 2025, that it will reduce its global workforce by approximately 4,700 employees, representing about 5% of its total staff of around 90,000. Additionally, BP plans to eliminate...
Mena
Abu Dhabi establishes registration authority to strengthen its business sector
Abu Dhabi has taken a significant step towards enhancing its business ecosystem with the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA). This new entity, launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), aims to streamline business registration processes and introduce new types of licenses, marking a milestone in the...
Qashio has joined forces with global payments giant Visa
Qashio, a Dubai-based provider of spend management solutions, has joined forces with global payments giant Visa to launch an innovative B2B travel payments solution. The partnership, announced on January 6, 2025, aims to transform and digitize payments for online travel agencies and travel management companies across the UAE, Middle East and North Africa...
Qatar Airways Elevates the Pinnacle of Luxury Travel: A New Era for the World's Best Business Class
Qatar Airways, the Doha-based carrier renowned for its commitment to excellence, has once again raised the bar in luxury air travel. The airline, which has consistently dominated the "World's Best Business Class" category at the prestigious World Airline Awards by Skytrax for the past decade, has unveiled a series of upgrades to its already industry-leading...
Somalia’s President Extends Term by Two Years, Drawing Condemnation
His four-year term expired, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed signed a contentious law that critics fear could plunge the fragile country into renewed, possibly violent, turmoil.NAIROBI, Kenya — In a highly contentious move, Somalia’s president has extended his own term in office by two years, drawing condemnation from the United States and other...
With a New Museum, African Workers Take Control of Their Destiny
A Dutch artist worked with former plantation employees to create a “white cube” that they hope will one day display works returned from European museums.AMSTERDAM — When the Dutch artist Renzo Martens presented his film “Episode III: Enjoy Poverty” at Tate Modern in London in 2010, he couldn’t help but notice the many Unilever logos painted...
International
JPMorgan's global M&A head Aiyengar says More mega deals are on the way
Companies worldwide are pursuing larger deals in the second half of this year as executives grow increasingly comfortable navigating volatile markets and unpredictable global politics, JPMorgan Chase dealmakers predict.Mergers and acquisitions have been regaining momentum after earlier disruptions caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, which...
The Importance of Legal Rankings in 2024 and beyond
Law firm rankings have become an increasingly important tool for law firms to showcase their expertise, attract clients, and recruit top talent in 2024. These rankings, published by respected organisations like Chambers & Partners, ACQFive Legal50, Legal 500, and RollOnFriday, provide valuable insights into a firm's performance, reputation, and areas...
HSBC Strategy Continues With Elhedery CEO Appointment
HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA.L) has named its Chief Financial Officer Georges Elhedery as the next CEO, the bank announced on Wednesday. This selection emphasizes the global lender's focus on continuity as it aims to boost growth. Elhedery, 50, will become HSBC's third chief executive in under a decade, taking over from Noel Quinn on Sept. 2. While external...
Unlocking the Future: The Transformative Potential of Synthetic Data in the Financial Services Industry
In the ever-evolving landscape of the financial services industry, data reigns supreme. It is the lifeblood that drives decision-making, innovation, and competitiveness. We embark on a deep dive into the world of synthetic data and explore its transformative potential in the financial services sector. Synthetic data, often dubbed the "data of the future,"...
Mastering the Art of Post-Merger Integration: Unlocking the True Value of M&A
Mergers and acquisitions are significant events in the corporate world, often seen as a strategic avenue for growth, diversification, and increasing market share. However, the real test of an M&A transaction lies in the post-merger integration (PMI) phase. It is during this critical period that companies have the opportunity to unlock the true value...