HSBC Navigator surveyed over 3,000 small to large international corporates operating across 11 European markets (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) and Russia. 81% firms in Europe are positive about the international trading environment  A quarter of European firms are focusing on up-skilling their work force to capitalise on new technologies The outlook has certainly cooled for European exporters, but this must be viewed in the context of a historically-strong 2017. The...

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By Jake Rubinstein According to a Supreme Court brief filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), federal law allows employers in the United States to purposefully discriminate against employees based on their gender identity. In other words, in the view of the United States government, an employer can fire, suspend, or otherwise punish employees for not conforming to gender norms. In the case now before the Supreme Court, a funeral home fired an employee who identified as female for breaking a...

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By Valerie Hughes | Senior Counsel The World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system has been a remarkably good tool for resolving disputes, but it is not perfect and like any mechanism that has been in use for some time, it needs updating. The last 23 years have shown that a well-functioning WTO dispute settlement mechanism is critically important to Canadian business. On October 24–25, 2018, Canadian International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr hosted a meeting in Ottawa of 13 trade ministers from...

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November 2018 FX OutlookThe US dollar has been resilient in recent weeks despite the increased volatility in equities and the decline in yields. Two considerations remain dominant.  The widening interest rate differentials and the policy mix can continue to underpin the dollar.  With fiscal stimulus still in the pipeline, and talk of a further reduction in middle class income taxes, the US economy is still the best positioned to weather the headwinds of trade tensions and equity weakness.  Europe...

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Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Rover.com® has acquired a majority share in DogBuddy. The transaction closed on October 30, 2018.   DogBuddy was founded in 2013 and has grown exponentially to become Europe's leading online dog sitting community, with more than one million dog lovers already registered. With over 25,000 approved dog sitters using the service, DogBuddy helps to match dog owners with local and reliable dog sitters who provide home dog boarding, doggy day care, and dog walking across...

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The air freight market is heating up fast as the peak season gets into its stride. Forwarders have a three-day wait to fly cargo out of key hubs in Asia, he added. Emirates is thought to be full already for the rest of the week, ex-Hong Kong. Shanghai is also seeing strong demand, and there has been a rise in charter flights to the US, with charter rates increasing apace, and some destinations now not available. Crucially, November 11, singles day,...

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Consulate General of Finland and the Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN hosted a celebration for their new office premises on Wednesday, September 26th 2018. In addition to the employees, dignitaries and representatives from companies and associations joined the celebration. Consulate General of Finland and the Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN moved to their new, shared office premises in July 2018. New premises were officially opened during the UN General Assembly Week at the end of September. Dignitaries...

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By Jeroen Kortmann | Partner Amsterdam On 24 October 2018, the European Court of Justice ruled that a choice of forum clause in a contract between Apple and eBizcuss, a former reseller of Apple products, may apply to abuse of dominance claims, even when the clause does not explicitly refer to disputes relating to liability resulting from a competition law infringement. In 2012, eBizcuss brought damages proceedings against Apple in France claiming that Apple had abused its dominant position. Apple, however, argued that the French...

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