Markets
Visa closes in on a deal to buy fintech Plaid
Founded in 2013 and now connecting with over 11,000 financial institutions across the United States, Canada and Europe, Plaid will be able to use the acquisition to leverage Visa's global brand in expanding its own business, according to a source familiar with the matter. [Full Article...]
U.S. stocks gain ahead of trade deal signing
Tesla Inc rose 4.8 per cent after a report said China would not make significant cuts to subsidies for new energy vehicles (NEV) this year. Ten of the 11 S&P 500 sectors moved higher, led by materials (+1.4%), information technology (+1.3%) and real estate (+1.2%), while health care (-0.4%) was the lone holdout amid disappointing guidance from Abiomed and weakness in the insurance stocks . [Full Article...]
Carlos Ghosn Seeks Retirement Benefit from Renault
Changes to Nissan's board would also follow as a map to a potential split is drawn out. He was due to stand trial in Japan this year. Terminating the more than 20-year alliance could be painful for both Nissan and Renault amid falling sales. [Full Article...]
Walmart sacks 56 executives in India
The Bentonville, Ark. based company now operates 28 wholesale stores where it sells goods to small shopkeepers, and not to retail consumers. The retailer sees little scope in adding physical stores in the country. Walmart had partnered with Bharti Group in 2007 for the wholesale business. "We have recently made significant investments to serve our members better and will continue to do so". [Full Article...]
Birmingham could ban private cars from city centre in air pollution drive
The second-largest city in the UK, Birmingham , unveiled on Monday a plan to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions by limiting access of private cars to the city center. In November, Bristol City Council approved the first United Kingdom ban for diesel cars, restricting them from entering the city centre during peak times, while Oxford plans to introduce a Zero Emission Zone , charging non... [Full Article...]
Mark Hamill quits Facebook, accusing Mark Zuckerberg of valuing 'profits'
Zuckerberg, whose company is under pressure for failing to adequately police content and protect user privacy on its platform, said he expects governments to come up with clearer rules for the internet over the next decade. Trying to distance himself from Libra is the way that Zuckerberg is doing solves nothing, as the project is clearly tied to one of the most abusive digital companies on planet ... [Full Article...]
China vehicle sales fall 8.2% in 2019 China 11:53
Citing the monthly trend of production and sales of vehicles, the CAAM said China's automobile production and sales situation is gradually improving. But global automakers have been cautious with their predictions after cutting back production, shutting factories and firing staff a year ago. In China, Ford makes cars through its joint venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile and Jiangling Mot... [Full Article...]
BoyleSports acquires 33 Northern Ireland betting shops from William Hill
The company said today that during 2019, it made " good progress " towards delivering its long-term strategy to become a " digitally led and internationally diversified business of scale while continuing to embed a culture of responsible gambling". [Full Article...]