Seetharamanomics

Seetharamanomics

Exploring the Causes of Economic Growth in Europe

Britain takes aim at Microsoft's $69 billion 'Call of Duty' deal

  1. Britain placed another hurdle in the way of Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) $69-billion mega purchase of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O), saying it could harm gamers by weakening the rivalry between Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Wednesday the biggest-ever deal in gaming, announced a year ago, could result in higher prices, fewer choices and less innovation for millions of players, as well as stifling competition in cloud gaming.
  2. It said Activision’s flagship “Call of Duty” franchise was important in driving competition between consoles, and Microsoft could benefit by making the game exclusive to Xbox, or only available on PlayStation under materially worse conditions.

Deutsche Boerse 2022 net profit up 24%, more than expected

  1. German exchange operator Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) said on Wednesday that 2022 profit rose 24%, beating analyst expectations and driven by volatility in financial markets that lifts trading volumes and revenues. 
  2. Deutsche Boerse also pointed to higher trading volumes in derivatives and commodities, as well as the U.S. dollar’s appreciation against the euro, as factors that helped lift earnings. 
  3.  “Despite the expected economic slowdown we are anticipating our business to continue to grow further in the current year,” said Theodor Weimer, chief executive officer. 

Nine global banks invest $45 mln in carbon credit platform

  1. Nine global banks have invested a total of $45 million in a new platform to help scale up transactions of voluntary carbon credits and make it easier for their customers to participate in the market. 
  2. Demand for carbon offsets, generated through projects such as tree planting or using cleaner cooking fuel, is expected to soar as companies seek to use the credits to help meet net-zero emissions goals. 
  3. Currently the credits are often traded bilaterally on a project-by-project basis and through commodity exchanges. Each of the banks – BBVA, BNP Paribas, CIBC, Itaú Unibanco, National Australia Bank, NatWest, Standard Chartered, SMBC and UBS – have invested $5 million in Carbonplace, which will connect buyers and sellers of credits through the banks.

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