Swiss central bank under scrutiny after franc shock
ZURICH (Reuters) – Six weeks after a fateful decision that blasted its currency skywards, Switzerland’s central bank is coming under intense scrutiny, with critics calling for changes to its insular policy practices and century-old ownership structure….
No deal too small for Lazard’s $500 billion banker
LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) – Lazard banker Vincent Le Stradic recently took a break from his job advising Europe’s top telecoms companies on deals to help little-known French start-up Sigfox raise 100 million euros.
HSBC CEO repeats apology, says used Swiss bank to keep pay details private
LONDON (Reuters) – HSBC boss Stuart Gulliver has apologized to lawmakers for past failings at its Swiss private bank that allegedly allowed clients to dodge taxes.
Exclusive: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has dropped some of the world’s leading technology brands from its approved state purchase lists, while approving thousands more locally made products, in what some say is a response to revelations of widespread Western cybers…
Buffett sets sights on German companies
BERLIN (Reuters) – Renowned U.S. investor Warren Buffett is readying for an acquisition spree in Europe’s biggest economy after setting the ball rolling last week with the purchase of a niche German retailer by his Berkshire Hathaway holding company.
HBC to form real estate joint ventures in U.S., Canada
TORONTO (Reuters) – Canadian retailer Hudson’s Bay said on Wednesday it had agreed to form two real estate joint ventures that would bring in about C$1.1 billion in cash, reducing its debt, and paving the way for an initial public offering or alternate…
Futures flat after Dow, S&P records; Yellen testimony continues
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stock indexes were little changed on Wednesday, after the Dow and S&P 500 climbed to their latest records, before a second day of testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and data on the housing market.
Chesapeake profit falls short, company to slash spending
(Reuters) – Chesapeake Energy Corp on Wednesday said it would slash its 2015 spending and rig count in response to low crude oil prices and reported a fourth-quarter profit that fell short of Wall Street expectations.
RBS suspends another two staff in foreign exchange probe
LONDON (Reuters) – Royal Bank of Scotland said another two employees had been suspended as part of an investigation by the bank into failings in its foreign exchange business.
Unions, charity accuse McDonald’s of avoiding $1.1 billion in tax
LONDON (Reuters) – Labor unions and a charity accused fast food chain McDonald’s of avoiding around 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in tax between 2009 and 2013 by routing revenues through a Luxembourg unit and called on the European Commission to inves…
