In spite of the steep price cuts offered, consumers in the US did not do a lot of shopping in brick-and-mortar stores on the weekend before Christmas, Reuters reported.
Industry
Insurers need to be watched - FT
The problems of Britian-based insurer RSA is a reminder that politicians, regulators and the general public should also put the spotlight on insurance companies and not just banks.
South Korean private equity funds lead in domestic buyout market
Local buyout funds like MBK Partners and Vogo Fund are now leading the domestic buyout market in South Korea just nearly a decade after its first private equity fund was established in the country, the Financial Times reported.
Cash-rich Islamic banks seek to invest in Western businesses
Islamic banks want to diversify their investments outside of the Middle East and real estate and are seeking to work with Western businesses that comply with the Shariah law.
American Bankers Association challenges Volcker Rule
The American Bankers Association, a group that represents mostly community banks, has filed a complaint challenging the final version of the Volcker Rule, Bloomberg reported.
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During the financial crisis when the deal markets were quiet, banks parted ways with their senior investment bankers. Now that business has slowly revived, lenders are seeing that they are left with junior bankers that are a little wet behind the ears.
There are no sellers even as Scandinavian phone companies believe that mergers would benefit not only the region but corporate earnings as wel.
For hedge funds that made money this year there was only one strategy that really mattered - latching onto the stockmarket rally.
Investors have received billions of euros from European companies so cautious about the economic outlook they could find nothing better to do with spare cash, but many now want boards to snap up rivals instead - and are rewarding them when they do.
Two foreign investments in Chinese financial institutions this month suggest China will not turn away cash from countries it has taken diplomatic or trade measures against after blaming them for interference in its domestic affairs.
As the hype about the Bitcoin dies, a PCWorld report asks if the well for venture funding for the digital currency has come to an end.
Retailers are going to be ramping up efforts to lure buyers on the final weekend leading up to Christmas but shoppers intend to spend less, Reuters reported.
Venture capital investors and startup CEOs are feeling optimistic and confident about the venture ecosystem next year, according to a survey from National Venture Capital Association and Dow Jone VentureSource.
Tech investment in Brazil is set to grow by 6% and investments for IT training will almost double in 2014, according to a recent survey among 1,000 decision makers in large and medium enterprises.
