Business & Finance

Music

J Pop Group Machikado Keiki Japan Draws Inspiration from the Nikkei Stock Average

Kanon Mori, Yuki Sakura, Hinako Kuroki and Jun Amaki comprise the J Pop girl group Machikado Keiki Japan, the latest singing sensation in the land of the Rising Sun but this time with a twist – their songs and music videos draw inspiration from the ups and downs of Japan’s stock market, the Nikkei. The girls range in ages from 16 […]

Dell Considering Privatization

Dell Computer, once a titan of the PC industry in the 1990s, is rumored to be considering a private buyout that would take the corporation into the realm of private equity and allow it to reconfigure itself for future markets without the scrutiny of shareholders. Rather than face the fate of RIM or HP, both […]

Germany Wants Its Gold Returned

Germany wants gold that it stores in France and the United States returned to it, according to reports. The Bundesbank’s total gold holdings top $200 billion in value, representing 3400 tons of gold. 1,500 tons of gold are stored in the vaults of the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City, and 450 tons with the Bank […]

After Purchasing Lucas Films for Star Wars, Disney Reportedly Considering Layoffs

Shortly after announcing the purchase of one of the largest film franchises in history, rumors have surfaced that Walt Disney is pondering cutbacks in staffing and expenses in order to turn around the situation at its unprofitable namesake studio division. Walt Disney increased earnings by 18 percent to $5.7 billion in its 2012 fiscal year […]

HSBC Holdings Fears Fines Exceeding $1.5 Billion in United States Money Launder Scandal

HSBC Holdings, Europe’s largest bank, has expressed concerns that fines from its money laundering scandal in the United States could top $1.5 billion after a report from the US congressional Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found that the bank had a culture of corruption and complicity in narcotics funds trafficking. [Reuters UK]

HSBC Bank Implicated in Drug Money Laundering Scheme

Already under fire for previous allegations of money laundering for terrorist and drug trafficking organizations, a new scandal has emerged for beleaguered HSBC Bank, a firm founded long ago by British opium merchants during the British imperial era in Hong Kong. [Global Research]

The Merger of BAE and EADS: A Dance Between Atlantic Partners

Two of the defense industry’s largest European concerns, EADS (owner of Airbus) and BAE are rumored to be in discussions about a merger between the two companies. Such a merger would create a defense firm larger than American companies Boeing and Lockheed but the proposal to unite the two is fraught with political concerns on […]

The Hurun Rich List in China Reports Fewer Chinese Billionaires This Year than Last

The Hurun Rich List in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) reports that the number of Chinese billionaires has decreased this year with only 251 people making the list while 271 were on it last year. In 2006 only 15 billionaires were on the Hurun Rich List but this year marks the first time in […]

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Wall Street: The Intersection of Money and Power in the American Empire, Part 1

Watch Money, Power and Wall Street: Part One on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE. Politics, money, and power are three concepts typically associated together, particularly with regard to the American political system. Often cited by critics as one of the main democratic deficiencies of the American political system, the convenient marriage of money and power […]

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President of Argentina Cristina Fernández Kirchner Nationalizes 51% of YPF, the Former State Oil Company

The move is widely considered an economic catastrophe for Argentina but the nationalization of former state oil enterprise YPF, a hallowed mark in Argentina, will not only address energy and cash shortages but may also shore up the president’s popularity. Yet, many find this most recent move by Cristina Fernández disturbing because, like Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, […]