Why virus denial resembles climate denial. By Paul Krugman Opinion Columnist Let me summarize the Trump administration/right-wing media view on the coronavirus: It’s a hoax, or anyway no big deal. Besides, trying to do anything about it would destroy the economy. And it’s China’s fault, which is why we should call it the “Chinese virus.” […]

FRANKFURT/VIENNA (Reuters) – AMS (AMS.S) shares fell below the price at which the Austrian sensor maker is raising new equity on Monday, in the latest hurdle to its planned purchase of German lighting group Osram. Austria’s AMS began offering new shares at 9.20 Swiss francs ($9.71) on Monday, hoping for proceeds of 1.75 billion Swiss […]

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s biggest private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) plans to buy off-grid energy producer Zenith Energy Ltd (ZEN.AX) for A$150.9 million ($99.59 million), sending shares in the target company soaring. The buyout, which both parties said in a joint statement they had agreed on, builds on PEP’s holdings in the energy […]

In October 31 Chinese teenagers reported to the Beijing Institute of Technology, one of the country’s premier military research establishments. Selected from more than 5000 applicants, Chinese authorities hope they will design a new generation of artificial intelligence weapons systems that could range from microscopic robots to computer worms, submarines, drones and tanks. The program […]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Praesidium Investment Management, a vocal critic of Instructure Inc.’s (INST.N) plans to sell itself to private equity firm Thoma Bravo, said on Thursday that it cut its stake in the U.S. educational software company. Praesidium said in a regulatory filing that it reduced its stake to 5.70% from 7.53% by selling […]

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Private equity suitors for Thyssenkrupp’s (TKAG.DE) elevator division, which is seen fetching around 16 billion euros ($17.4 billion), have submitted offers with similar levels of debt, four people familiar with the process told Reuters on Wednesday. Two consortia remain in the race: Blackstone (BX.N), Carlyle (CG.O) and the Canada Pension Plan Investment […]

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Private equity suitors for Thyssenkrupp’s (TKAG.DE) elevator division, which is seen fetching around 16 billion euros ($17.4 billion), have submitted offers with similar levels of debt, four people familiar with the process told Reuters on Wednesday. Two consortia remain in the race: Blackstone (BX.N), Carlyle (CG.O) and the Canada Pension Plan Investment […]

(Reuters) – Intuit Inc (INTU.O) is nearing an agreement to buy financial technology portal Credit Karma Inc for about $7 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported. The deal in cash and stock, which will push Intuit further into consumer finance, could be announced by Monday, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. According […]

DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) – The two consortia bidding for Thyssenkrupp’s (TKAG.DE) 16 billion euro ($17.3 billion) elevator division have signed a fair owner agreement, a key demand by labor union IG Metall to protect jobs, the union and a company spokesman said on Saturday. The move leaves wide open the race for the asset, potentially […]

LONDON/MILAN (Reuters) – Italian payments firm SIA is moving ahead with preparations for a share listing on the Milan bourse and is expected to pick JPMorgan (JPM.N) and UniCredit (CRDI.MI) in what would be one of southern Europe’s largest floats this year, sources said. SIA, which is being advised by Rothschild (ROTH.PA), has sent out […]