Fortune 500

Foley-backed SPAC nears $7.3 billion deal with Blackstone's Alight: sources

Foley-backed SPAC nears $7.3 billion deal with Blackstone's Alight: sources

2021-01-24T22:11:42Z

Wuhan, China, marks a year since it entered lockdown as Ground Zero of coronavirus epidemic

Life in the city of 11 million in Hubei Province has largely returned to normal.

2021-01-24T18:43:34Z

SpaceX rocket deploys record-setting cargo

SpaceX on Sunday launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying a record number of satellites on board, the private space company said. Andy Tran, a SpaceX production supervisor, said in a video of the launch that the Falcon 9 was carrying 133 commercial and government "spacecraft" as well 10 SpaceX satellites.

2021-01-24T18:17:22Z

I’m a single mom. I take my kids on trips. My mother says that’s crazy and I should be saving for a house. What do you think?

‘Sometimes, I rent a hotel room by the beach, Las Vegas or other places that I think would be nice for us to see.'

2021-01-19T08:18:30Z

‘They are in this situation through no fault of their own’: Biden boosts food benefits for poor Americans

12 million Americans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will see an increase under President Joe Biden's executive order.

2021-01-22T19:24:18Z

The Guardian view on the BBC: more than good value

Since its foundation in 1922, the BBC has had powerful enemies, usually commercial rivals, who think that it is “too bloody big, too bloody pervasive and too bloody powerful”, to quote the former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, still reportedly in the running to be made chair of the media regulator Ofcom. But since 1986, when the Peacock report ushered in a move from regulation to competition in broadcasting, this claim has been less and less...

2021-01-24T18:31:48Z

Google says it will pull Search out of Australia if the government doesn't back down on the media bargaining code

Google Australia boss Melanie Silva has told a Senate Committee that the company could pull its search engine out of Australia. The threat comes as the tech giant demands the Australian government change proposed legislation that would compel it to pay local news companies.

2021-01-22T01:11:16Z

Former Dragons' Den star investing in hospitality sector

Willingham's adrenaline has kicked in again over the pandemic - despite having to hold board meetings from her bedroom at home in Brighton during lockdown.

2021-01-23T22:32:21Z

Aussies paying $140,000 to stay connected

Bills for the internet, mobile phones and streaming services quickly add up, but a changing market and 5G entering the fray means the chance for a better deal.

2021-01-23T00:11:01Z

LNG production at Shell's Prelude gas processing plant in Western Australia restarts following 11-month closure

It was supposed to be an economical and environmentally safe solution to LNG production, but with almost a third of its short life in shutdown Shell's floating colossus may prove to be a mistake.

2021-01-23T21:12:22Z

Queen bee shortage leaves beekeepers in Australia struggling to rebuild hives

The number of commercial queen bee breeders is dwindling by the day, leaving beekeepers to battle to secure the much-needed queens that are vital for each hive's honey production.

2021-01-23T20:42:20Z

Cost cuts help Siemens Energy swing to first quarter core profit

Cost cuts help Siemens Energy swing to first quarter core profit

2021-01-24T20:31:36Z

'Ethical' funds still hold shares in Grenfell fire firm

A number of leading ethical investment funds continue to hold shares in Irish building materials business Kingspan.

2021-01-24T06:47:53Z

HAMISH MCRAE: Growth is just round the corner

The Bank of England has the best handle on the way the economy is developing and its chief economist said that it would begin to recover 'at a rate of knots' from the second quarter as vaccines were rolled out.

2021-01-23T22:47:08Z

Linda Briggs tried to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for her husband, 78. The earliest date available was March 9

The larger pool of eligible people though has made it even more cutthroat to secure a vaccine appointment.

2021-01-15T05:13:28Z

WA Government launches police recruitment drive as Liberals pledge millions for trade

The State Government has launched a $1.8 million advertising blitz to recruit police officers following its budget commitment to add an extra 800 police if re-elected in March.

2021-01-24T08:13:17Z

Victoria's Great Ocean Road is going quiet, and it's both a blessing and a curse for locals

As Victoria's Great Ocean Road goes without busloads of predominantly Chinese tourists this summer, businesses are calling out for more help. But others say this will have a silver lining.

2021-01-23T19:27:18Z

'What's the point of cash if you can't go and spend it?'

Campaigners are calling on the Government as a matter of urgency to introduce legislation to preserve cash.

2021-01-23T22:47:08Z

Yellen says raising minimum wage to $15 would have ‘minimal’ impact on jobs, but nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office disagrees

Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would 'really help' struggling Americans make ends meet, Yellen said.

2021-01-21T14:37:29Z

US existing home sales hit 14-year record despite pandemic

Record low mortgage rates amid the coronavirus pandemic fueled a US housing boom last year, pushing existing home sales to the highest since 2006, according to a survey released Friday. "Home sales rose in December, and for 2020 as a whole, we saw sales perform at their highest levels since 2006, despite the pandemic," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said.

2021-01-22T16:12:41Z

Relocating to Queensland? Get in line, Sunshine state builders record four-fold rise in new home enquiries

A building company says the level of inquiry for new homes in south-east Queensland is "phenomenal," with a mass domestic migration to the Sunshine State apparently underway.

2021-01-22T19:40:30Z

Stocks falter as Johnson says new UK virus strain more deadly

Global stocks mostly fell Friday as investors fretted about the economic impact of fresh virus shocks amid worries that newer Covid-19 strains may be even more deadly than earlier ones. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned a newer Covid-19 strain may be more deadly, while US President Joe Biden said fatalities in the hard-hit country are expected to exceed 600,000.

2021-01-22T03:34:56Z

Aust shares dip but 1.27pc higher for week

ASX investors had minor losses on Friday but the market climbed for the week as first-half earnings season looms.

2021-01-22T01:40:01Z

US housing boomed in 2020 even as pandemic slammed economy

The US housing market boomed in 2020 even as the coronavirus pandemic caused one of the worst economic contractions of modern times, as Americans took advantage of low borrowing rates to buy homes. The surge in new and existing home sales, and home construction, underscores the unequal experience of the pandemic across the United States. Even as tens of millions of people lost their jobs due to the pandemic disruptions, others were able to...

2021-01-22T19:57:53Z

Australia shares set to open higher; NZ slips

Australia shares set to open higher; NZ slips

2021-01-24T21:48:29Z

Postgraduate enrolments soar as jobseekers wait out competitive market at university

They're qualified and keen but the work simply is not there for many Australians doing it tough. Instead they're weathering the storm at university in numbers tipped to reach record highs.

2021-01-24T20:29:58Z

Australians eat lots of lamb but we don't fancy goat. Why?

Australia is a nation of sheep eaters. Per capita, only Kazakhstan consumes more, according to OECD meat consumption data. Knowing this it is perhaps less surprising that Meat and Livestock Australia’s eccentric, expensive lamb advertisements have become an annual media event. So why doesn’t the other commonly eaten member of the Caprinae sub family, the goat, get a look-in? Australians consume goat milk and goat cheese, but goat meat is still...

2021-01-24T17:24:49Z

GameStop shares rocket as frustrated short seller walks away

Shares in GameStop rocketed on Friday as an activist short-seller said he was walking away from the stock in the retailer due to what he called an "angry mob" that has terrorized him and his family. Andrew Left of Citron Research put out word of the decision on Twitter a day after he posted a video at YouTube detailing reasons he was certain the retailer was overpriced in the market. GameStop shares ended the formal trading day up 51 percent,...

2021-01-22T21:42:46Z

Tesla investment reaps $29bn profit for Edinburgh fund

Elon Musk has made so much money from Tesla that he is now the richest person on the planet. However, the second-biggest winners are investors in an Edinburgh-based investment fund that began backing Musk’s electric car company in 2013. Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust’s investments in Tesla have made an extraordinary $29bn (£21bn) for investors including pension funds, foundations and charities, according to figures released to the Guardian....

2021-01-24T18:01:00Z

Insurers 'funding organised crime' by paying ransomware claims

Insurers are inadvertently funding organised crime by paying out claims from companies who have paid ransoms to regain access to data and systems after a hacking attack, Britain’s former top cybersecurity official has warned. Ciaran Martin, who ran the National Cyber Security Centre until last August, said he feared that so-called ransomware was “close to getting out of control” and that there was a risk that NHS systems could be hit during the...

2021-01-24T17:38:12Z

London stock market facing blockbuster IPO year

London will enjoy a very strong year for stock market flotations, analysts say, arguing that both Brexit and coronavirus offer firms a unique opportunity to expand. Various big-name businesses that have seen booming online demand from home-bound customers during Covid-19 lockdowns have revealed eye-catching plans for initial public offerings (IPOs) in recent weeks. Clarity over Britain's final departure from the European Union on January 1 acted...

2021-01-24T03:22:35Z

World’s biggest hedge-fund manager ‘thrilled’ with Biden’s inauguration speech but still believes America’s on ‘brink of terrible civil war’

Back in early December, Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, sounded the alarm on class and power struggles that are tearing the country apart. It hasn't improved much since then, apparently.

2021-01-24T22:13:59Z

Bridgewater's Dalio sees U.S. divided, in 'terrible financial state'

Bridgewater's Dalio sees U.S. divided, in 'terrible financial state'

2021-01-24T19:34:41Z

Deutsche Bank starts probe in relation to engagement with some clients

Deutsche Bank starts probe in relation to engagement with some clients

2021-01-24T21:54:57Z

Retail sales down 4.2 per cent in December

Retail spending moderated in December as COVID-19 restrictions put a dampener on shopping, and after the sharp increase in November.

2021-01-21T16:39:16Z

Need a lift? SpaceX launches record spacecraft in cosmic rideshare program

Need a lift? SpaceX launches record spacecraft in cosmic rideshare program

2021-01-24T19:41:34Z

Exclusive for MoS readers: See Bordeaux with TV chef James Martin

On this eight-day luxury river cruise along the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde, you'll experience the region's full flavour - with one of the UK's most popular chefs, James Martin.

2021-01-23T22:50:29Z

Why Brexit is poised to unbottle whisky profits

The US imposed a 25 per cent tax on single malt Scotch imports a couple of years ago - punishment for the EU subsidising aircraft maker Airbus. Yet prices have started to rise again.

2021-01-23T22:32:24Z

Tech’s ‘last hurrah’? If hedge funds are any indication, it could be a big week for Apple, Amazon and other megacap favorites

According to Goldman Sachs Group's prime brokerage, hedge funds increased their net exposure to megacaps in the technology sector at one of the fastest paces in recent years. This coming off a stretch where the "smart money" was unloading some of top names.

2021-01-24T19:28:36Z

WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update

A poorly-explained update to its terms of service has pushed WhatsApp users to adopt alternative services such as Signal and Telegram in their millions. The exodus was so large that WhatsApp has been forced to delay the implementation of the new terms, which had been slated for 8 February, and run a damage limitation campaign to explain to users the changes they were making. Over the first three weeks of January, Signal has gained 7.5 million...

2021-01-24T17:00:34Z

Reliance profit soars despite oil business slump

Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries on Friday said that its profit soared 12.5 percent during the last quarter of 2020 despite sharp revenue fall in its dominant oil-to-chemicals business. The 12.5 percent growth figure was in line with the market estimates after a 15 percent fall in its quarterly profits during the quarter ending September 2020.

2021-01-22T16:46:07Z

Inflation likely ended 2020 still subdued

The consumer price index is expected to have risen 0.7 per cent in the December quarter, keeping the annual rate also at 0.7 per cent.

2021-01-24T02:13:03Z

MONTANARO EUROPEAN: Big returns from small firms

Its view is simple: smaller companies offer potential to deliver investors stellar returns, if they are also run with a firm eye on the environment, adopt fair work practices and do not promote boardroom greed.

2021-01-24T06:47:53Z

The Guardian view on India's farming revolt: a bitter harvest

Narendra Modi, India’s Hindu nationalist prime minister, has probably never read Lord Hailsham. But maybe he should. The former lord chancellor’s 1976 BBC lecture contains perhaps the most penetrating assessment of parliamentary democracy, of which India is its largest version. Lord Hailsham’s argument carries a constitutional lesson at an opportune moment for Mr Modi. The Conservative peer warned that Britain risked becoming an “ elective...

2021-01-24T18:29:53Z

Final Trump administration attempt to address citizenship in census data shelved

Critics said Trump team's multipronged effort to shoehorn citizenship data into the 2020 census would result in an intentional undercount of minorities to favor Republicans and whites in redistricting.

2021-01-24T21:28:55Z

'We can't wait:' Biden to push U.S. Congress for $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief

'We can't wait:' Biden to push U.S. Congress for $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief

2021-01-24T17:40:13Z

From Belgium to Coonalpyn, migrant couple's 'wild ride' story of success in land Down Under

When the Ait-Touatis traded the hills of Vijlen in Belgium for the dusty backdrops of Coonalpyn in South Australia, they hoped to make a success of it. But what came next was beyond their highest expectations.

2021-01-23T21:27:18Z

Dr Martens bosses and backers set for huge windfall in £3.5bn float

The British footwear brand Dr Martens is expected to launch a stock market flotation on Monday that would value the Northamptonshire firm at £3.5bn and generate a huge windfall for its bosses and backers. The company, known for its boots with chunky air-cushioned soles and distinctive yellow stitching, was owned until 2013 by the Griggs family, who sold to the private equity investment group Permira for £300m but retained a 10% stake. Just seven...

2021-01-24T19:31:06Z

Nord Stream 2 says pipe-laying vessel has started work in Danish waters

US-RUSSIA-NORDSTREAM2-GAS-VESSEL:Nord Stream 2 says pipe-laying vessel has started work in Danish waters

2021-01-24T19:01:17Z

Larry King's sons reveal they are 'heartbroken' over father's death

Larry King's surviving children described him as an 'amazing father' in a heartfelt tribute, which they shared hours after news broke that he died on Saturday.

2021-01-24T21:06:55Z