🌀 Move over, Mukesh Ambani. China's bottled-water king, Zhong Shanshan, has become Asia’s new richest person after his fortune surged to $77.8 billion. https://bloom.bg/38UjMqm
🇬🇧 The U.K. Parliament approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit trade deal less than 24 hours before the country’s final split from the EU. “The destiny of this great country now resides firmly in our hands,” Johnson said. https://bloom.bg/3n1avBQ
🇨🇳 China is trying to revise the Covid-19 narrative in Wuhan and beyond, hindering efforts to pin down where the virus came from. https://bloom.bg/3hrWJqE
🇬🇧 The U.K. Parliament approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit trade deal less than 24 hours before the country’s final split from the EU. “The destiny of this great country now resides firmly in our hands,” Johnson said. https://bloom.bg/3n1avBQ
🇨🇳 China is trying to revise the Covid-19 narrative in Wuhan and beyond, hindering efforts to pin down where the virus came from. https://bloom.bg/3hrWJqE
🚚 Today Brexit gets real for U.K. businesses that rely on some $1.6 billion of products that cross the border daily. https://bloom.bg/3aY0jYu
🇭🇰 Hong Kong’s highest court sent tycoon Jimmy Lai back to jail as he fights national security charges. https://bloom.bg/3n1OCCq
🏘️ Record-low mortgage rates were supposed to make it easier for U.S. homebuyers. Instead they pushed affordability to a 12-year low. https://bloom.bg/3aXog24
🇭🇰 Hong Kong’s highest court sent tycoon Jimmy Lai back to jail as he fights national security charges. https://bloom.bg/3n1OCCq
🏘️ Record-low mortgage rates were supposed to make it easier for U.S. homebuyers. Instead they pushed affordability to a 12-year low. https://bloom.bg/3aXog24
Bloomberg
All Quiet in Dover: The Calm Before Brexit’s Border Storm
On the day the U.K. makes its final break with the European Union, the ports are clear of truck backups, goods are moving smoothly and grocery-store shelves are well stocked.
Hello and happy new year! Here's what we're reading right now:
💉 After the New York Stock Exchange said it's delisting three major Chinese telecommunications companies, a largely symbolic move, shares of each firm fell. Chinese oil producers may be targeted next. https://bloom.bg/3rMUov8
🇺🇸 President Donald Trump urged Georgia officials to “find” thousands of votes and overturn the election result to flip the state to him. His 62-minute call on Saturday, which shifted from flattery to threats, comes just days before Congress is scheduled to certify the results. https://bloom.bg/3pPt3Xx
🌍 Africa is left with very few options for a Covid vaccine as the outbreak worsens there. Neither Moderna nor AstraZeneca have any supplies available for the continent, South Africa’s presidency said. https://bloom.bg/3njAlRL
💉 After the New York Stock Exchange said it's delisting three major Chinese telecommunications companies, a largely symbolic move, shares of each firm fell. Chinese oil producers may be targeted next. https://bloom.bg/3rMUov8
🇺🇸 President Donald Trump urged Georgia officials to “find” thousands of votes and overturn the election result to flip the state to him. His 62-minute call on Saturday, which shifted from flattery to threats, comes just days before Congress is scheduled to certify the results. https://bloom.bg/3pPt3Xx
🌍 Africa is left with very few options for a Covid vaccine as the outbreak worsens there. Neither Moderna nor AstraZeneca have any supplies available for the continent, South Africa’s presidency said. https://bloom.bg/3njAlRL
😷 The U.K. gave the first shots of a Covid-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca, in a race against a faster-spreading coronavirus variant. The first injection was given to a 82-year-old kidney dialysis patient. https://bloom.bg/3571eC4
🏠 In Hong Kong, the world’s least affordable housing market, one in eight homes sold is a nano apartment. 13% of apartments sold in 2019 were less than 260 square feet (24 square meters), or smaller than two car-parking spaces.
https://bloom.bg/2LeoQxs
💰 Wall Street could be forgiven for greeting 2021 with an abundance of caution.
Instead if there’s an oversupply of anything, it’s optimism. Here's (almost) everything Wall Street expects in 2021. https://bloom.bg/3b7PCm2
🏠 In Hong Kong, the world’s least affordable housing market, one in eight homes sold is a nano apartment. 13% of apartments sold in 2019 were less than 260 square feet (24 square meters), or smaller than two car-parking spaces.
https://bloom.bg/2LeoQxs
💰 Wall Street could be forgiven for greeting 2021 with an abundance of caution.
Instead if there’s an oversupply of anything, it’s optimism. Here's (almost) everything Wall Street expects in 2021. https://bloom.bg/3b7PCm2
Bloomberg.com
U.K. Bolsters Vaccination With Oxford Shot as Covid Surges
The U.K. gave the first shots of a Covid-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca Plc and the University of Oxford, in a race against a faster-spreading coronavirus variant that’s prompted new restrictions on movement across much of the country.
📉Volatility is hitting global markets. U.S. stocks are selling off over concerns that a surge in coronavirus cases could hinder the economic recovery: http://bloom.bg/356UrYQ
⬇️ Bitcoin prices fell as much as 17% in the biggest drop since March: http://bloom.bg/35b7f0t
😷 An easier-to-spread variant of Covid-19 detected in the U.S. for the first time last week could intensify the virus’s surge, boosting the urgency for a speedier, more effective vaccine push: http://bloom.bg/2JIX7EF
⬇️ Bitcoin prices fell as much as 17% in the biggest drop since March: http://bloom.bg/35b7f0t
😷 An easier-to-spread variant of Covid-19 detected in the U.S. for the first time last week could intensify the virus’s surge, boosting the urgency for a speedier, more effective vaccine push: http://bloom.bg/2JIX7EF
🇬🇧 The U.K. went back into lockdown. Boris Johnson is betting that 2 million vaccinations a week, protecting 13.9 million people by mid-February, will be enough to start easing those restrictions. https://bloom.bg/3n9nYaE
📈 Here’s what Asia’s stock investors are betting on this year: https://bloom.bg/2XdyByy
⚖️ And Julian Assange’s fight for freedom is far from over. He won an important legal fight on Monday when a judge ruled he shouldn’t be sent to the U.S. to face criminal charges, but that’s hardly the end of the story. https://bloom.bg/38Wo4xg
📈 Here’s what Asia’s stock investors are betting on this year: https://bloom.bg/2XdyByy
⚖️ And Julian Assange’s fight for freedom is far from over. He won an important legal fight on Monday when a judge ruled he shouldn’t be sent to the U.S. to face criminal charges, but that’s hardly the end of the story. https://bloom.bg/38Wo4xg
🇺🇸 U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced 4.6 billion pounds ($6.2 billion) of emergency support to help businesses survive a third lockdown that threatens to plunge the economy into a sharp double-dip recession. https://bloom.bg/3bhGJGq
✌Qatar's ruler landed in Saudi Arabia to a warm embrace from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia reopened its borders with Qatar on Monday, a leap toward easing the diplomatic dispute that began in 2017. https://bloom.bg/38ZscN7
💸 Bitcoin has the potential to reach $146,000 in the long term as it competes with gold as an asset class, according to JPMorgan. On Monday, Bitcoin slid as much as 17% after breaching $34,000 for the first time over the weekend. https://bloom.bg/3966W8e
✌Qatar's ruler landed in Saudi Arabia to a warm embrace from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia reopened its borders with Qatar on Monday, a leap toward easing the diplomatic dispute that began in 2017. https://bloom.bg/38ZscN7
💸 Bitcoin has the potential to reach $146,000 in the long term as it competes with gold as an asset class, according to JPMorgan. On Monday, Bitcoin slid as much as 17% after breaching $34,000 for the first time over the weekend. https://bloom.bg/3966W8e
Bloomberg
Sunak Hands $6.2 Billion to U.K. Firms Facing Lockdown Recession
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced 4.6 billion pounds ($6.2 billion) of emergency support to help U.K. businesses survive a third lockdown that threatens to plunge the economy into a sharp double-dip recession.
💰More large U.S. companies filed for bankruptcy in 2020 than in any year since the global financial crisis: http://bloom.bg/2Xb7Mv5
✅ The New York Stock Exchange has abruptly reversed plans to delist three major Chinese telecommunications companies: http://bloom.bg/3nfzfX6
💒The number of Americans getting divorced plummeted last year, while the marriage rate also dropped: http://bloom.bg/35cGsRg
✅ The New York Stock Exchange has abruptly reversed plans to delist three major Chinese telecommunications companies: http://bloom.bg/3nfzfX6
💒The number of Americans getting divorced plummeted last year, while the marriage rate also dropped: http://bloom.bg/35cGsRg
Hello 👋 Here’s what's making news right now:
🇭🇰 Some 50 people in Hong Kong, including democracy activists and opposition politicians, were arrested on suspicion of violating the city’s national security law. It appears to be the biggest sweep yet under the China-imposed legislation. https://bloom.bg/3pT7C7T
📥 In the U.S., two Georgia runoff races will determine control of the Senate and the fate of President-elect Joe Biden’s agenda. They were too close to call from early results, and because of the high number of absentee ballots, there’s a chance the winners won’t be determined for days. https://bloom.bg/2XfLHLK
📵 President Trump signed an order banning U.S. transactions with eight Chinese software apps, including Alipay and WeChat Pay, in 45 days. He’ll no longer be in office then, so it'll be up to Biden to enforce the policy. https://bloom.bg/394gyk2
🇭🇰 Some 50 people in Hong Kong, including democracy activists and opposition politicians, were arrested on suspicion of violating the city’s national security law. It appears to be the biggest sweep yet under the China-imposed legislation. https://bloom.bg/3pT7C7T
📥 In the U.S., two Georgia runoff races will determine control of the Senate and the fate of President-elect Joe Biden’s agenda. They were too close to call from early results, and because of the high number of absentee ballots, there’s a chance the winners won’t be determined for days. https://bloom.bg/2XfLHLK
📵 President Trump signed an order banning U.S. transactions with eight Chinese software apps, including Alipay and WeChat Pay, in 45 days. He’ll no longer be in office then, so it'll be up to Biden to enforce the policy. https://bloom.bg/394gyk2
🇺🇸 Democrats' hopes of taking control of the U.S. Senate hang in the balance after Raphael Warnock captured one seat for the party in the Georgia runoff elections. Another race remains too close to call. https://bloom.bg/35fOr07
😷 The next few weeks will be the biggest challenge yet for the British government as it attempts to protect the health service. Infections are at a record, and hospital staff say they may be forced to turn people away. https://bloom.bg/35fglcC
💰Move over, Warren Buffett. Zhong Shanshan, chairman of Chinese bottled-water company Nongfu Spring Co., is now richer than Buffett as his fortune surged $13.5 billion since the start of the year to $91.7 billion on Tuesday. https://bloom.bg/2MAcY9D
😷 The next few weeks will be the biggest challenge yet for the British government as it attempts to protect the health service. Infections are at a record, and hospital staff say they may be forced to turn people away. https://bloom.bg/35fglcC
💰Move over, Warren Buffett. Zhong Shanshan, chairman of Chinese bottled-water company Nongfu Spring Co., is now richer than Buffett as his fortune surged $13.5 billion since the start of the year to $91.7 billion on Tuesday. https://bloom.bg/2MAcY9D
Bloomberg
Democrats’ Senate Bid Hangs in Balance After First Georgia Win
Democrats’ hopes of taking control of the U.S. Senate received a huge boost early Wednesday after the party captured one seat in the Georgia runoff elections and waited on the outcome of another race that remained too close to call.To secure a narrow majority…
There’s a lot going on in the U.S. right now. We’re here to help break it down for you.
• A violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Congress was in the middle of arguing over the electoral vote count from Arizona, and the violence forced lawmakers to flee. A woman was fatally shot. https://bloom.bg/3hP8k3a
• Congress later reconvened to certify the November election. The violence spurred a wave of Republican criticism of the president, and top White House officials are considering resigning over Trump’s encouragement of protests that led to the riot. https://bloom.bg/2LwXMtC
• Twitter and Facebook also suspended the president’s account for the first time. https://bloom.bg/3pVYSxF
Follow live updates here: https://bloom.bg/3s3OQMK
• A violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Congress was in the middle of arguing over the electoral vote count from Arizona, and the violence forced lawmakers to flee. A woman was fatally shot. https://bloom.bg/3hP8k3a
• Congress later reconvened to certify the November election. The violence spurred a wave of Republican criticism of the president, and top White House officials are considering resigning over Trump’s encouragement of protests that led to the riot. https://bloom.bg/2LwXMtC
• Twitter and Facebook also suspended the president’s account for the first time. https://bloom.bg/3pVYSxF
Follow live updates here: https://bloom.bg/3s3OQMK
Get caught up on the news out of Washington:
• Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol. https://bloom.bg/35zDxCL
• Chaos and drama unfolded as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building, disrupting the certification of Joe Biden's Electoral College victory by Congress. These were some of the most dramatic images. https://bloom.bg/3hQXj19
• And Donald Trump's relationship with his most loyal lieutenant, Mike Pence, splintered on Wednesday after the vice president defied the president's call to overturn his loss in the November election. https://bloom.bg/394fdtu
• Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol. https://bloom.bg/35zDxCL
• Chaos and drama unfolded as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building, disrupting the certification of Joe Biden's Electoral College victory by Congress. These were some of the most dramatic images. https://bloom.bg/3hQXj19
• And Donald Trump's relationship with his most loyal lieutenant, Mike Pence, splintered on Wednesday after the vice president defied the president's call to overturn his loss in the November election. https://bloom.bg/394fdtu
Bloomberg
Biden Victory Is Certified After Day of Debate and Tumult
Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result.
🇺🇸Donald Trump is under mounting pressure and facing calls to resign or be removed, after inciting a mob of protesters who stormed the U.S. Capitol: http://bloom.bg/3bhc10a
💰Elon Musk, the outspoken entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, is now the richest person on the planet: http://bloom.bg/3otI3Kg
📈Bitcoin’s wild price swings resumed after the the world’s largest cryptocurrency climbed above $40,000 for the first time: http://bloom.bg/3s3cglB
💰Elon Musk, the outspoken entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, is now the richest person on the planet: http://bloom.bg/3otI3Kg
📈Bitcoin’s wild price swings resumed after the the world’s largest cryptocurrency climbed above $40,000 for the first time: http://bloom.bg/3s3cglB
🇺🇸 In a video message, President Donald Trump finally conceded that Joe Biden would take office on Jan. 20, and condemned the riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. https://bloom.bg/3pXhKwo
🚗 Hyundai shares surged up to 24% after a report said the carmaker was in talks with Apple on developing self-driving cars. https://bloom.bg/35mXxbz
📈 And Asian stocks followed their U.S. peers higher on Friday as investors focused on the prospect of more stimulus money and the likelihood of calm prevailing in a Biden presidency. https://bloom.bg/3hRjXqi
🚗 Hyundai shares surged up to 24% after a report said the carmaker was in talks with Apple on developing self-driving cars. https://bloom.bg/35mXxbz
📈 And Asian stocks followed their U.S. peers higher on Friday as investors focused on the prospect of more stimulus money and the likelihood of calm prevailing in a Biden presidency. https://bloom.bg/3hRjXqi
A police officer has died of injuries he sustained when a pro-Trump mob broke into the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon. https://bloom.bg/3opRHxC
Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine appears to be effective against a key mutation in fast-spreading new coronavirus strains, researchers say. https://bloom.bg/2XkbN03
And in an effort to clean up its image, Amsterdam aims to restrict tourists from visiting a key attraction: its marijuana-selling coffee shops. https://bloom.bg/3omBRDM
Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine appears to be effective against a key mutation in fast-spreading new coronavirus strains, researchers say. https://bloom.bg/2XkbN03
And in an effort to clean up its image, Amsterdam aims to restrict tourists from visiting a key attraction: its marijuana-selling coffee shops. https://bloom.bg/3omBRDM
Bloomberg
Police Officer Dies From Injuries in Riot: Congress Update
A U.S. Capitol police officer has died from injuries sustained during the riot at the Capitol. A former White House chief of staff under President Donald Trump, John Kelly, backed removing his ex-boss through invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.…
Hello, here's what we're following right now:
🇺🇸 Donald Trump and a dwindling circle of advisers are planning a defiant final week in office, sources say, despite growing calls to impeach the president or remove him from office. https://bloom.bg/3sennby
🇯🇵 Japan says it found a new strain of the coronavirus in four passengers arriving from Brazil. https://bloom.bg/2Logunf
✈️ Wreckage was recovered from a Boeing passenger jet that crashed in Indonesia shortly after takeoff on Saturday. The plane carrying 62 people was intact when it hit the water. https://bloom.bg/35sHskm
🇺🇸 Donald Trump and a dwindling circle of advisers are planning a defiant final week in office, sources say, despite growing calls to impeach the president or remove him from office. https://bloom.bg/3sennby
🇯🇵 Japan says it found a new strain of the coronavirus in four passengers arriving from Brazil. https://bloom.bg/2Logunf
✈️ Wreckage was recovered from a Boeing passenger jet that crashed in Indonesia shortly after takeoff on Saturday. The plane carrying 62 people was intact when it hit the water. https://bloom.bg/35sHskm
📈 Bitcoin's wild ride took another twist Monday as the worst two-day tumble in the digital currency since March stoked concern that the cryptocurrency boom may run out of steam. https://bloom.bg/2Xu8zHv
🇺🇸 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is readying Democrats for a lightning-fast second impeachment of President Donald Trump this week. The move risks consuming Congress in a bitter political fight. https://bloom.bg/3qfcxjP
🇬🇧 And at least 250,000 small companies in the U.K. are set to close in 2021 unless the government provides more assistance, as the economy heads for a double-dip recession. https://bloom.bg/38wnrvb
🇺🇸 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is readying Democrats for a lightning-fast second impeachment of President Donald Trump this week. The move risks consuming Congress in a bitter political fight. https://bloom.bg/3qfcxjP
🇬🇧 And at least 250,000 small companies in the U.K. are set to close in 2021 unless the government provides more assistance, as the economy heads for a double-dip recession. https://bloom.bg/38wnrvb
Bloomberg
Bitcoin’s Biggest Plunge Since March Shakes Faith in Crypto Boom
A steep selloff in Bitcoin is fueling concern that the cryptocurrency bubble may be about to burst.
📱 WhatsApp’s new privacy rules have sparked an exodus by users and an outcry among tech experts and privacy advocates. Here's what the policy says and what it means. https://bloom.bg/39mr7PE
💰 It took Trump’s entire presidency for most of his corporate allies to turn on him. They’re standing up to him now, when their pressure can’t change much in the administration’s final days. But they do have the power to hurt his return to the business world. https://bloom.bg/2Xwv8LN
👀 And we’d like to introduce you to our new video series, China+, which dives into how the country’s international projects affect the rest of the world. Watch the first episode: https://bit.ly/3sk9OHI
💰 It took Trump’s entire presidency for most of his corporate allies to turn on him. They’re standing up to him now, when their pressure can’t change much in the administration’s final days. But they do have the power to hurt his return to the business world. https://bloom.bg/2Xwv8LN
👀 And we’d like to introduce you to our new video series, China+, which dives into how the country’s international projects affect the rest of the world. Watch the first episode: https://bit.ly/3sk9OHI
🇺🇸 The abrupt resignation of the U.S. Homeland Security chief has added to tensions ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration next week. The FBI has warned of armed protests in all 50 state capitals.
https://bloom.bg/3qi0pOZ
⚠ From health certificates to new taxes and additional paperwork, U.K. businesses are drowning in red tape at the EU border under the new Brexit rules. https://bloom.bg/3oEYX8N
🚓 And South Korean police are on the hunt for a female casino executive who disappeared after her employer discovered 14.6 billion won ($13 million) in cash missing from the resort’s coffer. https://bloom.bg/38xYgIN
https://bloom.bg/3qi0pOZ
⚠ From health certificates to new taxes and additional paperwork, U.K. businesses are drowning in red tape at the EU border under the new Brexit rules. https://bloom.bg/3oEYX8N
🚓 And South Korean police are on the hunt for a female casino executive who disappeared after her employer discovered 14.6 billion won ($13 million) in cash missing from the resort’s coffer. https://bloom.bg/38xYgIN
Bloomberg
Washington Tense as DHS Chief Quits, FBI Warns of Armed Protests
The abrupt resignation of Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf added to the mounting tension in Washington ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week, with thousands of National Guard troops set to be deployed and the FBI warning…
Breaking: The U.S. House voted to demand that Vice President Mike Pence remove Donald Trump from office by invoking the 25th Amendment and declaring the president incapable of executing his duties.
It went ahead with the resolution even though Pence said just hours before that he wouldn’t comply.
But emotions are running high after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol last week. If the vote does not persuade Mike Pence to remove Trump, Democrats will proceed with a historic impeachment vote just eight days before Joe Biden is inaugurated. https://bloom.bg/39pH8Eh
It went ahead with the resolution even though Pence said just hours before that he wouldn’t comply.
But emotions are running high after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol last week. If the vote does not persuade Mike Pence to remove Trump, Democrats will proceed with a historic impeachment vote just eight days before Joe Biden is inaugurated. https://bloom.bg/39pH8Eh