FOR COMPANIES SEEKING TOP-LINE REVENUE GROWTH, THE RULES OF THE GAME HAVE CHANGED. Across industries, market dynamics are evolving at an ever-increasing pace as companies derive data-driven insights and apply digital strategies to move quickly and decisively in order to adapt and grow. WITH THOSE NEW RULES COME NEW STRATEGIES. Now more than ever, speed to results and rapid execution in sales, marketing, pricing, and profitability are becoming fundamental to remaining competitive. Many commonly held assumptions have been rendered obsolete, yet many companies still fall...

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On February 10, 2020, the California Attorney General issued the proposed text of modified regulations implementing the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). This draft is a correction of a version that the California Attorney General issued on February 7, 2020. While the California Attorney General previously indicated that major changes to the proposed CCPA regulations were not anticipated, these modifications are likely to have a significant impact on CCPA compliance efforts, particularly regarding privacy notices, agreements between businesses and service providers,...

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In a challenging year, the European Investment Bank Group (EIB) exceeded its own targets, signing a record number of 1 095 operations and increasing financing volumes to EUR 72.22 billion. This was in spite of uncertainty and delays linked to Brexit and to the need for the remaining EU Member States to come to an agreement, last spring, over the replacement of the UK’s share of EIB capital.  “The EU bank has performed well in the markets, proving that there is...

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Importing merchandise made in China is far more expensive than before the imposition of additional tariffs leaving many U.S. importers of products from China grappling with the additional duty. Beginning on July 6, 2018, and pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the United States imposed 25 percent additional tariffs in three tranches on $250 billion worth of Chinese merchandise imported into the country. A fourth tranche was imposed on September 1, 2019 on approximately $116 billion...

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The Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic supported 42 investment plans during this parliamentary term. As the ministry said further, thereof 31 projects were directed to central or eastern Slovakia, where almost 4,500 new jobs will be created. The total volume of supported investments during this parliamentary term should exceed 1 billion euros and create more than 6,700 new jobs. Investment aid exceeded 207 million euros, of which almost 130 million euros represents income tax relief. Last time,...

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With over 2,600 new cases of Coronavirus reported this past weekend, more than 37,000 cases have been recorded worldwide, including over 800 deaths. The good news is the number of new cases declined 20 percent, the first drop since Feb 1. But there is also concern there might be an increase in new cases as people return to work after the Lunar New Year. The new respiratory virus was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, with the vast majority...

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The U.S. Dollar is ending the week strengthening against all peers across the board as economic data is providing evidence of much better performance in this region than elsewhere. Indeed, the greenback is up based on releases showing non-Farm Payrolls growing by 225K over the expected 165K, while the Labor Participation Rate and Unemployment Rate both exceeded expectations. The overall health in the labor sector is certainly impressive, yet wages seem to be stuck with Average Hourly Earnings coming in...

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European Commission presents draft Brexit negotiating directives The European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, on Monday 3 February, presented the EU’s draft negotiating directives. The draft mandate will now have to be approved by EU Affairs Ministers on 25 February. On the first full working day since the United Kingdom officially withdrew from the European Union, the European Commission adopted the EU’s draft negotiating directives for the upcoming negotiations on the future EU-UK relationship. Pending any amendments by member...

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A growing number of customers choose ING as their primary bank Primary customer base rises by more than 830,000 in FY2019 to 13.3 million; total retail customer base reaches 38.8 million Net core lending grows by €17.2 billion in 2019, €2.0 billion in 4Q2019; net inflow customer deposits €23.4 billion in 2019, €2.5 billion in 4Q2019 Four-quarter rolling net interest margin holding up on continued pricing discipline and tiering ING full-year 2019 underlying pre-tax result 9.2% lower than last year;...

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It was not the fault of the crisis or at least not of the crisis alone. But the economic and financial meltdown of 2007/8 and following years made the European investment gap more visible. In late 2014, when the previous President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker took office, it was obvious that the continent had been living off its capital stock for quite some time and that it was in dire need of modernisation. To spur investment and get...

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