National Australia Bank posted an 8% increase in its quarterly cash profit helped by robust results in wealth sector and rise in lending volumes.
Sectors
Company Report: Hong Kong Disneyland Reported $19.1 Million Loss As Fewer Chinese Tourists Visit the Theme Park
Hong Kong Disneyland reported its first loss since 2012. Fewer tourists had come to visit the resort and theme park, with the biggest decline from Chinese tourists. China’s economic slowdown, along with political instability and the emergence of Shanghai Disneyland is believed to have affected the Chinese tourists.
Orange SA Needs More Weeks For Bouygues Deal
Along with reporting its fourth quarter performance, France telecommunication company Orange SA also report the acquisition plan. The company needs more weeks to have approval from antitrust authorities.
Japan’s SoftBank embarking on its biggest repurchase of $4.4 billion
The Japanese telecom giant, SoftBank, has announced buyback of shares amounting to $4.4 billion, its biggest repurchase ever. This move is a desperate attempt by the company to regain its footing after its shares plunged to an all-time low following the company's overseas investment in US mobile operator, Sprint.
Brazil's Usiminas hires Credit Suisse for unit sale
Brazilian steelmaker Usiminas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA, a Brazilian steel producer, is in the process of offloading its manufacturing unit. Usiminas has already hired Credit Suisse SA as its financial advisor for the unit sale. The sluggish global economy and China's economy slowdown are impacting the Brazilian steel industry in more negative way.
Latest News
The 27th largest diamond in the world was just discovered in Angola. The spectacular diamond has been estimated to worth $20 million Australia or $14.3 million USD. The diamond was found under an Australian company in partnership with some Angola's companies.
The Wikimedia Foundation received a $250,000 grant to support its early stages of search engine project, The Knowledge Engine. The project will develop a search engine that goes across Wikipedia and other Wikimedia’s services, allowing users to obtain relevant information more easily.
David Tepper, the pioneer in distressed debt, buys millions of shares in Energy Transfer Partners and Kinder Morgan in the face of plaguing oil slump and toxic energy market. He has tapped these pipeline companies after strengthening his US equity holdings by 56% last quarter.
The market volatility, rising dollar and sluggish global economy are forcing foreign investors towards the US small business credit market for growth opportunities. Foreign investors generally prefer to invest in US treasury bonds. But the prevailing global conditions are propelling them to park their funds in small business credit market.
Salted Venture, one of Samsung start-up companies, has developed a smart shoe aiming to be used for fitness and golf. The shoe features an advanced technology that will provide users with data, which is very useful for their sport activities.
UK-based Vodafone and US cable group firm Liberty Global are combining their operations in Netherlands market to float a joint venture. The combined JV is expected to be operational by end of 2016. Vodafone has agreed to pay €1 billion (£770 million) after excluding Ziggo's net debt of €7.3 billion.
Data analysis company Palantir Technologies Inc acquired Kimono Labs to increase its data collection capacity. Following the acquisition, Kimono Labs will shut its service on February 29, 2016.
Iran has started to export its crude oil to Europe after a landmark nuclear deal was achieved. The sanctions lifting becomes a new chapter for Iran to rebuild its oil industry, and increase the production per day.
A former Managing Director of CVC Capital Partners (US) Inc has moved court against the private equity (PE) firm over gender-discrimination. Lisa Lee, who complained against the company, has alleged that the firm was favoring male employees in more of unfair way.She criticized the company's measures in promoting less qualified male co-workers over her.
