Edition: U.S. / Global

Friday, April 29, 2016

Business

Protesters demonstrated against unemployment in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens this month.
Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

Protesters demonstrated against unemployment in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens this month.

The eurozone, the 19 countries that use the euro, has finally edged back above its precrisis level, but doubts persist about its prospects.

At a port in Hamburg, Germany. Unemployment in that country has fallen steadily and is now lower than in the United States. But there is increasing doubt about whether Germany can continue its run.
Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg News

At a port in Hamburg, Germany. Unemployment in that country has fallen steadily and is now lower than in the United States. But there is increasing doubt about whether Germany can continue its run.

Unlike the United States, which surpassed its pre-bubble peak in 2011, the eurozone as a whole has stumbled along. Here are some of the bloc’s notable leaders and laggards.

Vijay Mallya, Indian ‘King of Good Times,’ Dethroned by Debt

The beer-and-airline magnate left the country ahead of creditors, as bad corporate loans hurt the economy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda.

The Upshot

Listen Carefully for Hints of the Next Global Recession

The stories people tell one another about the state of the economy can translate into reduced spending, which may, in turn, contribute to a downturn.

As Russians Struggle to Pay Bills, Debt Collectors Mimic the Mob

A culture of violence and threats flourishes as growing numbers of Russians turn to borrowing at astronomical interest rates amid a recession.

A New Generation’s Anger Resounds From a Packed Plaza in Paris

Nuit Debout, a movement ignited over a plan to change French labor laws, has expanded to include a mélange of grievances, and politicians are warily watching.

‘Zappa Plays Zappa’ Pits Zappa vs. Zappa

Frank’s son Dweezil was told by the family trust, controlled by two of his siblings, that his show Zappa Plays Zappa risked huge copyright infringement fines.

Puerto Rico Debt Deadline Looms With Washington Still Haggling

As a May 1 deadline nears, terms of a bill to rescue the island are unresolved, risking greater injury to its ailing economy.

Plan to Turn Sony Building Into Luxury Apartments Is Abandoned

In the latest example of a market’s slowdown, the developer Joseph Chetrit is selling the tower to companies that will turn it into an office building.

R.B.S. Losses Widen After Payment to British Government

The bank paid $1.7 billion in March to fulfill a condition of its bailout package, which gave the government dividend priority.

Anheuser-Busch InBev Offers to Sell More SABMiller Assets in Europe

On the block would be SABMiller’s assets in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia as it seeks approval for their merger.

British Airways Parent Trims Growth Plans After Brussels Attacks

The International Airlines Group, whose portfolio also includes Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus, maintained its forecast for 2016 profit, however.

Chinese Appear Underwhelmed by Under Armour Knockoff

A flashy rollout by Uncle Martian, with its nearly identical logo of the American sports manufacturer, has been met by skepticism on the Internet in China.

In Rome, Cheap Public Housing Hid for Years in Plain Sight

The city owned so many apartments that no one was certain how many there were or who lived in them, and many were doled out in a political spoils system.

Bits

Will Amazon Stand Apart From Weak Tech Earners?

The online retail giant reports quarterly earnings on Thursday, after tech companies including Apple and Microsoft posted weaker-than-expected results.

Deutsche Bank Profit Falls 58% Amid Overhaul

The bank said that its litigation costs had declined significantly in the first quarter, but that market conditions had cut into its profits.

Sanofi Offers to Buy Drug Maker Medivation for $9.3 Billion

Sanofi said that it made a private offer to acquire the prostate cancer drug maker nearly two weeks ago but did not receive a response.

Chinese Statistics Bureau Investigated Over ‘Service Fees’

About 300 people in the bureau are being investigated for charging fees for statistics and research, which amounted to about $500,000.

Lloyds Banking Group Profit Down 44% After Bond Redemption

The British lender took a charge of about $1.2 billion in the first quarter related to the buyback of bonds with a high rate of interest issued during the financial crisis.

VW Chief ‘Personally’ Apologized to Obama Over Cheating

The automaker said it had set aside about $7.9 billion for legal costs worldwide over its test rigging, less than it faces in the United States alone.

Insight and Analysis
Common Sense

Europe’s Case Against Google Might Help Rivals More Than Consumers

The driving force pushing the recent European action against Google’s search engine was a consortium of corporate rivals.

Global Manager

Bold Decisions Require Cool Analysis

Raphaël Gorgé, chief of Groupe Gorgé, a French high-tech company, on proving himself capable of running his father’s company.

Special Sections
Special Section
Mutual Funds & E.T.F.s

A section on how funds performed in the first quarter of the year — and on where they may be heading.

Special Section
DealBook: Fintech’s Power Grab

A collection on financial disruptors looking to transform the nature of money.

Your Money Special Section

Human psychology can get in the way of a secure life. Here are some ways to outwit it.

Retirement Special Section

Articles on making three-generation family vacations work, the ins and outs of renting abroad, how frugality can hurt your credit score and more.

Your Taxes Special Section

Articles on tax preparation software, tax policy, how to fill out your return and more.

In Depth

Graphic: Why the Russian Economy Is Tumbling

Russia has been operating at a deficit since 2012, and its Reserve Fund is slated to run out by 2017.

Graphic: Explaining Volkswagen’s Emissions Scandal

Volkswagen has admitted that 11 million of its vehicles were equipped with software that was used to cheat on emissions tests. The company is now contending with the fallout.

Oil Prices: What’s Behind the Drop? Simple Economics

The oil industry, with its history of booms and busts, is in a new downturn.

Coverage of the Davos World Economic Forum

Follow The Times’s reporting on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Markets »