The disruption of energy supplies caused by the war involving Iran is giving governments in Europe and Asia a stronger economic reason to accelerate renewable energy investment. The immediate concern is not climate policy but energy security: dependence on imported oil and natural gas has exposed major economies to sharp price increases and supply risks…
Nvidia has paused some revenue-sharing arrangements with artificial intelligence cloud companies, according to reports, only weeks after introducing a financing model designed to help smaller providers obtain the expensive computing equipment needed to build large artificial intelligence systems. The reported pause does not amount to an abandonment of Nvidia’s broader financing strategy, but it highlights…
Meta’s settlement with almost all United States states over alleged harm to teenagers is becoming more than a costly legal resolution. It is emerging as a reference point for governments trying to determine how far social media companies should be required to go in protecting children from platform features that can encourage excessive use. Meta…
Best Buy’s decision to raise its annual sales and profit forecasts is providing an early indication that artificial intelligence is beginning to influence consumer electronics spending beyond the technology companies building AI itself. The US electronics retailer now expects annual revenue of $42.3 billion to $42.8 billion, compared with its previous range of $41.2 billion…
China was once treated by American consumer companies as an almost indispensable engine of global growth. Its huge population, expanding middle class and rapidly developing cities created an opportunity that few multinational brands could ignore. But the assumptions behind that opportunity have changed. For companies such as Nike, Starbucks and General Motors, the problem is…
Meta’s agreement to pay up to $17.1 billion and impose sweeping new protections for young users marks a significant turning point in the legal battle over children’s safety on social media. The settlement, announced after a federal trial had already begun, does more than put a financial value on years of allegations against Facebook and…
Standard Chartered is expanding its use of hedge fund strategies for wealthy clients as financial markets become more difficult to navigate, reflecting a broader shift among global wealth managers toward alternative investments. The bank’s move is significant not because hedge funds are new to private wealth, but because banks are increasingly presenting them as an…
Meta is facing a legal challenge that could affect far more than the future of Facebook and Instagram. A major trial underway in California is testing whether social media companies can be held responsible for deliberately designing platforms to encourage prolonged use among children and teenagers. The case is important because the allegations focus not…
China’s expanding campaign to tax offshore wealth is forcing wealthy investors to reconsider structures that were once widely used to manage assets outside the mainland. New rules covering offshore trusts, combined with growing scrutiny of overseas insurance and investment income, are changing the calculation for families that hold substantial wealth through Hong Kong, Singapore and…
India’s food safety regulator has widened its scrutiny of the country’s spirits industry by inspecting a Pernod Ricard manufacturing facility in Bengaluru and collecting samples of popular whisky brands. The two day inspection, according to sources familiar with the matter, involved testing liquor samples, reviewing documentation and examining production and packaging practices. No adverse finding…
