Saudi Arabia Debuts Bond Sale worth $17.5 Billion

By Nolan Abramowitz

The latest news from emerging markets is the debut of the $17.5 billion bond deal Saudi Arabia offered to investors on Wednesday. Saudi Arabian officials now recognizing the need for economic reform are increasing cash flows to withstand the downturn in oil prices. While the original debt deal was forecasted to be within $10-$15 billion, extremely high demand from investors pushed the total order book to over $60 billion, causing the raise in price. The debt was primarily sold to private placement US-based investors and to other Asian institutions.

Hilton Innovates in New Role as Market Challenger

By Hyun Ho Lee

The story of the year in hospitality, the announcement of the merger between Starwood and Marriott, has continued to make its reverberations felt throughout the industry, and Hilton Worldwide has felt the effects of the disruption more than any other. Hilton, which competes directly with Marriott in nearly every class, lost its position as the largest hotel company in the world by number of rooms in September when the merger finally closed. This revelation is a major threat to Hilton’s current market share and status as an industry leader

Netflix Says Zaijian to China

By Lily Wang

Netflix is the latest U.S. tech company to abandon its efforts to capitalize on China’s enormous online market. In a statement issued alongside its quarterly earnings report, the company informed shareholders that it will no longer pursue a full-service offering in China due to hazy government restrictions and ruthless competition. Instead, Netflix is choosing to license content to existing online service providers in China, foregoing the opportunity to further expand its international presence.

The Old Switcheroo

By Hamish MacDiarmi

With just days to go before the election, the variety of scandals surrounding both candidates have only deepened in their complexity and gravity, ensuring that the race has narrowed as we come into the final stretch. Democrats and Republicans have undergone vast changes, with both of their parties’ structures shifting how they will conduct themselves in the future and which groups of the public they will target in order to be successful

The Business of Cybersecurity

By Cameron Griffith

Recent high profile cyber-attacks on companies ranging from Target to J.P. Morgan & Chase have started a frenzy in the cyber defense industry. As companies continue to move more and more of their functionality online, the importance of investing in cyber security is of increasing importance.

France’s Nuclear Energy Future

By Katherine Pioro

For the past forty years, France has relied primarily on nuclear power. But as the energy landscape continues to rapidly change, France’s nuclear sector is plagued with both financial and safety troubles. Can France maintain its status as renewable energy powerhouse, or will it have to integrate alternative sources of energy?

The Noir Market

Graphic by Charles Wideska '17 — Graphic by Charles Wideska '17

Source: Tenuta Torciano

Early Christmas morning in 2014, the front door of the iconic Napa Valley restaurant French Laundry was greeted not by Saint Nick, but by an unknown masked man whose intrusion would only be discovered the following day. The burglar, however, was not after the cash in the vault nor the expensive décor of the restaurant.

Exclusive Interview with Richard Baker

By Jack Kapp

Richard Baker ’88 is the owner, governor, and chief executive officer of the Hudson’s Bay Company, the world’s oldest trading company, which owns department stores Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States as well as Hudson’s Bay and Home Outfitters in Canada. Baker grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and graduated from Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration.

A Taxing Worry for the Financial Industry

By Nick Piccone

Congressman Dave Camp’s proposed tax reform bill aims to drastically change tax code for both individuals and corporations. The proposed increases of taxes on the nation’s largest financial institutions has caused outrage throughout the financial industry. Tax reform is a constant topic of debate in both the political and business worlds. Tax codes have a major impact on how businesses operate…

Bitcoin: The future of currency?

By Jack Kapp

In the aftermath of the financial crisis and the resulting monetary easing policies, Bitcoin was created to alleviate growing concerns of government manipulation of currency. Bitcoin is a virtual peer-to-peer currency that was introduced in January 2009 by a programmer or group of programmers using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin is designed as a decentralized currency that is not subject…

Fed: Banks could survive a $490 billion loss

By Sang Hyun Park

This month, the Federal Reserve released results for the first phase of stress tests on the nation’s top banks and has reported positive results.

How Feasible is Direct Primary Healthcare for the U.S?

By Todd Wei

Beneath Obamacare lies another possible alternative to the healthcare model.

Fed Contemplates Higher Interest Rates

By Samantha Torre

As a result of the U.S. economic recession of 2008, short-term interest rates have remained extremely low, ranging from 0% to 0.25%, in an attempt to stimulate economic activity and lessen the burden associated with taking out loans. Seven years later, the U.S. economy has stabilized yet the Federal Reserve has preserved low rates.

Iran Seeks Investment in Post-Sanctions World

By Isaac Greenwood

During his recent visit to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani encouraged American private investment in the soon-to-be unrestricted Iranian economy.

Britain Embarks On Trade With China

By Dean Xu

On October 21, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a multi-billion dollar deal with Great Britain on his four-day visit to the country. Despite the magnitude of Chinese investment to finance projects of mutual interests, American and European criticism gave business a grain of salt.

Shorting the Devil

By Hunter Bosson

One of the few places where student protesters are taken seriously is the institution that takes their money: universities. The university, with its resources, publicity, and networks, offers a praxis for political and social change far beyond campus.

Campaign Finance: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

By Sam Torre

As the 2016 Presidential election nears, the anticipated and often feared influence of corporate wealth on politics through super PAC contributions continues to raise concern throughout the United States. As The New York Times Editorial Board predicted, “This election year will be the moment when individual candidate super PACs—a form of legalized bribery—become a truly toxic force in American politics.”

Election Year: Rhetoric vs. Reality

By Isaac Greenwood

2016 has ushered in a national election cycle like none other. In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2007-2009, and despite the rhetoric espoused by many of the leading candidates on both sides of the aisle, the still-recovering American economy would be best served by centrist economic policies given the fragility of international developments and tepid growth.

Spotlight Yve-Car Momperousse

By Catherine Chen

Yve-Car Momperousse is the founder and CEO of Kreyol Essence, an agribusiness specializing in luxury beauty products made from organic ingredients from Haiti. In addition to being a social entrepreneur, she has founded eight non-profits throughout her career. Yve-Car is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Agriculture and Rural Development here at Cornell and is the former Director of Cornell’s Diversity Alumni Program.

The Real Reason CVS Stopped Selling Cigarettes

By Catherine Chen

In a shocking and unprecedented move, pharmacy and retail behemoth CVS Caremark announced earlier in February that its more than 7,600 retail pharmacy stores will stop selling all cigarette and tobacco products by October 1st of this year. Antitobacco and public health lobbying groups such as the American Cancer Society have praised CVS for its seemingly progressive, people-first, profits-second motive.