People

Biden tries a new tool for handling China: realism

24 May 2022

At first glance a pact with India, Japan and Vietnam looks short on substance and skips sensitive issues. The U.S. also looks likely to drop many tariffs against China. But where his predecessors’ bids to woo or contain Beijing failed, Biden’s are at least likely to prove durable.

Australian election augurs serious climate upgrade

23 May 2022

Labor’s more ambitious green goals helped unseat the conservative coalition. Wins by climate-focused independents warn further against complacency. New Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also will rely on Greens for support. Bolder 2035 emissions targets would set the right tone.

Drought of economic ambition blots Aussie election

20 May 2022

Despite a 48-year low in joblessness and navigating the pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s party is in a dogfight. Homebuyer and dam-building policies smell fishy, and a lack of climate leadership hurts too. As times get tougher, whoever wins will have to be bolder.

Fortescue energy transition loses sight of another

18 May 2022

The $42 bln miner and wannabe green hydrogen champ is hiring older white men as part of a management shakeup that repositions two women. Chair Twiggy Forrest and former GE, AGL and RBA bosses may bring useful experience, but it’s important to keep making progress in all phases.

Hong Kong co-living boom bets on more lonely years

17 May 2022

Warburg Pincus is among those buying hotels in the Asian hub to convert into upscale shared digs for millennials. Given a 99% drop in visitors in the past three years and a belief that won’t reverse soon as officials stick with China’s zero-Covid policy, more deals look likely.

India heatwave throws food security for loop

12 May 2022

Crops are wilting after weeks of climate change-induced scorching temperatures. On top of domestic pain, it casts doubt on India’s new role exporting grain to replace supplies lost to Russia’s war in Ukraine. That’ll create more dilemmas for political leaders near and far.

Marcos clan’s return to Manila is awkwardly timed

11 May 2022

The Philippines’ president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the late strongman, inherits an economy that grew 7.7% last quarter, but faces mounting headwinds. He will have to find drivers beyond the infrastructure spending that made his predecessor – and father - so popular.

Capital Calls: Business travel, Adidas China woes

6 May 2022

Concise views on global finance: British Airways owner IAG faces stormy UK skies; Chinese lockdowns and boycotts are slowing down the German sneaker maker.

Anti-Americanism is blinding Chinese policy

5 May 2022

President Xi Jinping’s obsession with surpassing his country’s top trading partner is distorting his approach to growth and the pandemic. Bad debts, crackdowns and Covid-zero could slow China’s push to double output by 2035 and become the world’s largest economy.

Capital Calls: Amazon and consumers

29 Apr 2022

Concise views on global finance: People are spending more amid price hikes, while the e-commerce giant struggles with them.

Elon Musk’s Twitter funds, Netflix with ads

28 Apr 2022

Tesla’s boss is close to clinching control of the social network, having secured financing from Wall Street. Breakingviews columnists discuss why the bet makes sense for banks in this Viewsroom podcast. Also, the streaming service’s subscriber pain may lead to bountiful change.

Capital Calls: GM electrifies executives’ pay

27 Apr 2022

Concise views on global finance: The Detroit automaker’s move to tie boss Mary Barra’s pay to electric vehicles goals is a new spin on pledges to shift away from combustion-engine cars.

Elon Musk’s Twitter deal sullies his climate cred

27 Apr 2022

The Tesla CEO’s master plan is to combat global warming, which he calls the “biggest threat” to humanity. Committing most of his available wealth to buying a social media company doesn’t much help the cause. It’s a $33 bln missed opportunity to reduce even more carbon emissions.

Elon Musk buys Tesla a pounding Chinese headache

26 Apr 2022

The world’s wealthiest man is buying Twitter for $44 bln in the name of free speech. Beijing will lean on him to un-ban its troll army, then push him to comply with its extra-territorial sedition law. The profitable carmaker’s key Shanghai outfit risks being a pawn in the fight.

Fallen casino kings have lessons for Blackstone

25 Apr 2022

If the buyout shop’s $6.5 bln bid for Crown Resorts succeeds, its executives will study founder James Packer and his former Macau partner. Lawrence Ho’s Melco group is struggling while Packer is exiting Crown after bad China bets. Even so, their examples point the way to success.

Twitter’s scarce suitors, Didi’s New York exit

21 Apr 2022

As Elon Musk dangles a $41 billion offer, Breakingviews columnists discuss whether anybody will end up buying the social network in this Viewsroom podcast. Plus, the Chinese ride-hailing firm cancels its U.S. listing less than a year after arriving, leaving shareholders stranded.

Shanghai deflates the Chinese Dream

19 Apr 2022

Brutal lockdowns in the financial centre are testing the elites' confidence in the Communist Party. The tacit contract in which citizens traded political rights for rising living standards is fraying. Revolt is unlikely, but China can ill-afford a sulking intelligentsia.

China’s “bulletproof” coffee IPO is full of holes

12 Apr 2022

Star Plus Legend banks on the founder's pop-star son, Jay Chou, hawking butter-infused, or bulletproof, java and other diet fads. Beijing's crackdown on celebrity influence, however, threatens $57 mln of revenue. Using consumers as a sales force raises another red flag.

Flighty Musk exposes Twitter’s flaky governance

11 Apr 2022

The world’s richest man bailed on joining the social media firm’s board, days after agreeing to become a director. His run-ins with regulators and inflammatory tweets were well known. Appointing Musk the day he unveiled a 9% stake reflects how poorly the $37 bln company is run.

Capital Calls: GoTo debuts in smart fashion

11 Apr 2022

Concise views on global finance: The Indonesian e-commerce, ride-hailing and financial technology firm, valued at $28 bln, jumped more than 20% in opening trade on its first day in Jakarta.