The world is changing fast and to keep up you need local knowledge with global context.
All the latest product and investment news about the world’s biggest companies, including Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Vodafone, Barclays, Deutshe Bank, Goldman Sachs, Tesla, and Netflix.
One of the biggest stories of the last few years has been the worldwide explosion of online retailing. According to data from Goldman Sachs, global online retail sales grew by 19% year-on-year in 2011, 21% in 2012, and 17% in 2013. In the U.S., online sales now account for more than 11% of total retail … Read more
You know that feeling, when you get a nice cash windfall and want to treat yourself to something special? The executive board at Vodafone seems to be experiencing something akin to that as it contemplates the $130bn windfall it will be receiving at the end of the month when it finalises a deal to sell … Read more
From a South African perspective, it’s tempting to buy the shares of the world’s most exciting technology companies, with Apple (AAPL: Nasdaq) a prime example. The allure of its superior smartphones and market-leading tablets puts Apple right up there among the world’s stock market must-haves. And that’s before we consider that Apple is a very rich company. If … Read more
Despite some optimism around the US economy, US stock markets have had a pretty rough year so far. After reaching record highs in 2013, US markets have struggled to gain momentum this year. Indeed, some predicted that the late-January slump in indices like the S&P 500 would evolve into a full-scale correction. Some of this … Read more
The US auto manufacturing industry has been through a very volatile decade. At one point in 2008 or so, it seemed as if the whole industry would collapse, with major companies like General Motors and Chrysler teetering on the brink of liquidation. Rising oil prices sent the price of fuel at the pumps skyrocketing. Americans … Read more
By Jackie Cameron The steadily weakening rand has had positive spin-offs for South African stockbrokers who facilitate trade in international securities. Business has been picking up fast as investors look for opportunities in other currencies and the world’s largest publicly listed global companies, stockbrokers tell Biznews.com. And, online trading is increasingly on the radar of … Read more
From Reuters: Media company Walt Disney Co reported higher profit for the quarter that ended in December, beating Wall Street expectations due to growth at sports network ESPN and the blockbuster performance of its animated hit film “Frozen.” Disney shares jumped 3.9 percent in after-hours trading on Wednesday to $74.52, up from their earlier $71.76 close on … Read more
From Reuters: * Shares plummet 18 pct after disappointing user, views stats * Hopes had run high for blowout numbers * $243 mln in revenue in first results as public company * CEO asks for time to show reaccelerating user figures (Adds chief executive comments, updates share price) Twitter Inc on Wednesday reported its slowest … Read more
From Reuters: The profits picture painted so far by U.S. companies has given little indication of a pickup in earnings growth, supporting the argument that the stock market had come too far, too fast. Of particular concern is the still-sluggish growth in sales. Revenue growth is projected at just 0.6 percent for the fourth quarter, … Read more
From Reuters: * Deal follows more than 3-year investigation * Google proposal valid in Europe for 5 years * EU Commission will not seek feedback from critics * EU to decide in coming weeks whether to open Android enquiry Google agreed to make concessions on how it displays competitors’ links on its website on Wednesday, in a deal with the European Union regulator that ended a … Read more