Why the Reduction in SED
Since the West Asia conflict began, Brent crude has surged from roughly $73 to $109 per barrel, a 49% increase. In response, India’s Centre trimmed the special additional excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre (about $0.12), aiming to offset OMCs’ under‑recoveries. While the duty cut eases corporate cash‑flow, it represents a direct fiscal loss for the government. The policy reflects a compromise where OMCs, the state, and eventually consumers share the burden of the prolonged supply shock.
From the Supreme Court’s Cox Ruling to Primary Wave’s Kobalt Deal… It’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
Primary Wave Music announced a definitive agreement to acquire Kobalt, with Brookfield joining as a strategic investor, creating a sizable independent publishing alternative. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that ISP Cox Communications cannot be held liable for subscriber piracy,...
Hormuz Ship Traffic Stays Frozen Despite Move to Start Fees
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains virtually halted four weeks into the Iran‑Israel conflict, with only six vessels recorded on March 26 versus the pre‑war average of nearly 60 daily transits in 2025. Iran announced a toll system demanding...
Unlocking Agility in Hospitality Finance with Driver-Based Budgeting
Hospitality operators are shifting from static, incremental budgets to driver‑based budgeting, a method that links financial plans directly to operational metrics such as occupancy, ADR and labor hours. The new approach turns the budget into a dynamic model that updates...
Centre to Borrow ₹8.2 Trillion in FY27 First Half; No Impact of Iran War — Yet
The Indian government has announced a borrowing plan of ₹8.2 trillion (about $99 billion) for the first half of FY27, keeping the target unchanged despite the ongoing West Asia conflict. The plan calls for 26 weekly auctions of securities ranging from three...
The Eastern Mediterranean Won’t Replace Russian or Gulf Gas—But It Can Be Europe’s Energy Shock Absorber
Europe has cut Russian gas imports by 90% since 2021 and aims to end them by November 2027. To replace the lost volume, the continent now relies on LNG, exposing it to global shipping chokepoints. The Eastern Mediterranean basin, with...
Martin To Exit As A Key Audacy Radio Programming Leader
Senior Vice President of Programming and head of music initiatives Michael Martin announced he will step down from Audacy effective May 1, ending a 17‑year tenure that began at CBS Radio in 2009. Martin, who launched Audacy’s annual *We Can Survive*...
Feds Reveal Streams Behind $1-Billion VC Initiative as Budget Becomes Law
Canada’s 2025 federal budget has become law, unlocking roughly $1 trillion CAD in five‑year investments and a $78.3 billion CAD deficit for 2025‑26. The budget earmarks a $1 billion CAD Venture and Growth Capital Catalyst Initiative, split into $700 million CAD funds‑of‑funds, $200 million CAD...
Russ Talks Ownership, Fan Engagement and ‘Making Music Every Day’ at SXSW
Rapper Russ has demonstrated that a relentless release schedule and full ownership can rival major‑label powerhouses. After posting 200 songs in 2015, he scaled to $100,000 a month and peaked at $280,000 in monthly earnings without any label backing. His...
ECB Schnabel: There Is No Need to Rush Into Action
European Central Bank Vice President Isabel Schnabel warned that Europe is confronting a massive energy price shock but cautioned against hasty policy moves. She emphasized that the ECB has sufficient time to assess incoming data before deciding on any rate...
Handbook Notice No. 139
On 27 March 2026 the FCA released Handbook Notice 139, amending the FCA Handbook across ten areas including redress reforms, third‑party incident reporting, perimeter guidance, prospectus rules, fee structures, complaints reporting, administrative fees, data decommissioning, concentration limits and handbook administration. The...
How Sony Electronics’ Creative Space Tour Acts as a Continuous Feedback Loop
Sony Electronics answered community demand for the Alpha 7 V by launching a 10‑city Creative Space On the Road tour, running from Feb. 26 in San Diego to Apr. 30 in Boston. The pop‑up experience uses a customized Airstream trailer where creators can test...
How Does Mentorship Impact a Professional’s Career Longevity?
Amgen has institutionalized mentorship as a core pillar, creating a structured program that pairs early‑career staff with seasoned leaders. The initiative enables rapid up‑skilling, confidence building, and a clear pathway to leadership, as illustrated by manufacturing manager Lauren Moore’s promotion...
Why Strong Leaders Fail When They Do This One Thing
The article argues that strong leaders fail when they neglect context, emphasizing that understanding the broader environment is as critical as setting goals. It illustrates this with a COVID‑era retailer that secured discounted leases, turning a counter‑intuitive move into a...
Morgan Stanley Gets Fed Green Light to Realign German Unit
The Federal Reserve voted 4‑3 to grant Morgan Stanley an exception allowing its German investment bank to be folded into its U.S. holding company, sidestepping Section 23A limits on foreign affiliate ownership. All three Democratic board members dissented, arguing the move...
FDIC Cuts Could Drain Institutional Knowledge: OIG
The FDIC’s Office of Inspector General warned that recent staffing cuts could erode institutional knowledge and impair crisis response. The agency trimmed its workforce by 20% last year, dropping from about 6,300 to 5,000 employees, and nearly one‑fifth of the...
Global Inflation Fears Rise as Goldman Sachs Predicts ECB Rate Hikes and US Prices May Top 4%
Goldman Sachs now expects the European Central Bank to lift rates twice in 2026, with 25‑basis‑point moves likely starting in April. The bank also warns that U.S. consumer prices could climb above 4% later this year as geopolitical tensions stoke...
Colonna’s Shipyard Names Brian Waterfield CFO
Colonna’s Shipyard has appointed Brian Waterfield as chief financial officer, effective March 30, 2026. Waterfield joins after more than nine years at BDO, where he served as assurance director focusing on government contracts, nonprofits, and construction. He will oversee accounting and support...
Google’s Gemini AI and Pixel Phones Are Going to Show up a Lot During the 2026 World Cup
Google has sealed sponsorship deals with France and Argentina for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, positioning its Gemini AI model and Pixel smartphones at the tournament’s forefront. Gemini will power special AI features for the teams, including enhanced communication tools...
Nestlé Moves Forward with Billion-Dollar Deal: Private Equity Firms Eye Perrier and San Pellegrino
Nestlé is advancing the sale of a 50% stake in its European water division, which includes premium brands such as Perrier, San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The transaction is expected to value the division at roughly €5 billion (about $5.45 billion). Private‑equity heavyweight...
How Personal Training Helps You Hit Your Goals
Executives increasingly turn to personal trainers to replace generic workout plans with customized, data‑driven programs. By aligning fitness goals with demanding schedules, trainers provide structure, accountability, and biomechanical expertise that translate hard work into measurable performance gains. The approach mirrors...
Synter Emerges From Stealth With AI Agent to Execute Paid Media Campaigns
Synter has launched from stealth with an AI‑driven advertising operations platform that lets marketers issue natural‑language commands to manage paid campaigns across Google, Meta, LinkedIn, and other networks. The agent connects via official APIs, eliminating the need for manual dashboard...
Gokongwei’s RRHI to Exit PSE
Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) will be voluntarily delisted from the Philippine Stock Exchange after JE Holdings, its largest shareholder, launched a tender offer worth P18.4 billion (approximately $330 million). The offer price of P48.30 per share represents a 23% premium over...
Emotional Intelligence at Work
The Philippine Star column highlights emotional intelligence (EI) as a critical workplace asset, outlining seven behaviors that emotionally intelligent professionals deliberately avoid. It stresses that restraint—pausing before reacting, sharing authentic feelings, and sidestepping gossip or grudges—builds trust and leadership credibility....
February Trade Deficit at 9-Month Low
The Philippines recorded a $3.68 billion trade deficit in February, the lowest level in nine months and down from the $4.27 billion shortfall in January. Export sales rose 8% year‑on‑year to $7.33 billion, driven by a 20.5% jump in electronic products, while imports...
Cost of Quality: Not Only Failure Costs
The cost of quality (CoQ) includes both the expenses of fixing defects and the investments needed to prevent them. While the cost of poor quality (COPQ) can eat up 25‑40% of a company’s revenue at a typical three‑sigma performance, prevention...
DOL Proposed Rule Seeks Higher Prevailing Wages Levels for Foreign Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a rule that would raise prevailing wage levels for employment‑based immigration programs, including H‑1B, H‑1B1, E‑3, and PERM EB‑2/EB‑3 visas. Entry‑level wages would shift from the 17th to the 34th percentile, while the...
From a Side Quest to Serious Business: Has Gaming Entered the Marketing Mix?
Gaming has moved from a peripheral budget line to a core component of the Middle East marketing mix. A PwC survey shows 23.5 million gamers—about 67% of Saudi Arabia’s population—and 7.3 million in the UAE, prompting brands to allocate significant spend to...
Rising Infrastructure Costs Aren’t A Blip — They’re A Reset
Enterprise infrastructure costs are climbing 10‑20% as AI‑driven demand monopolizes GPU, high‑bandwidth memory, and flash production. Commodity components like standard RAM and HDDs face shrinking supply, extending lead times and shortening quote validity. The price pressure is expected to persist...
From Manual Close to Strategic Finance
Finance leaders are increasingly hampered by a manual, spreadsheet‑heavy financial close that drags on for weeks and diverts senior talent to reconciliation work. The article argues that this bottleneck erodes data quality, controls, and strategic insight, especially as reporting demands...
Freddie Mac's Former Chief Charts Path to GSE Capital Reform
Former Freddie Mac CEO Donald Layton argues that the government‑sponsored enterprises (GSEs) can achieve capital reform faster by lowering minimum capital standards and using the 2018 Enterprise Regulatory Capital Framework (ECRF) as a template. He cites the Trump administration's executive order...
IDB Invest Backs Rentandes to Increase MSME Access to Machinery in Colombia
IDB Invest has approved up to $12 million in senior‑loan financing for rentandes S.A.S., a Colombian operating‑lease specialist. The funds, split into an $8 million committed tranche and a $4 million optional tranche, will be disbursed in local pesos over six years. Rentandes...
Strategic Reporting Playbook
Group reporting and consolidation have become essential to CFO credibility as organizations grow in complexity. Finance teams still rely on fragmented, period‑driven processes that deliver insights too late for effective decision‑making. The playbook advocates moving to continuous, connected consolidation, providing...
Fairfax & Favor Co-Founder: ‘Authenticity Is Key’
Fairfax & Favor, a British luxury label for men and women, has built a cult following among race‑goers and countryside residents. Co‑founder Marcus Fairfax Fountaine says the brand’s success hinges on authentic storytelling that reflects rural heritage. By marrying high‑quality...
Robin Tombs Talks UK Digital ID with Trinsic as Yoti Passes 23M Global Downloads
Yoti, the reusable digital identity wallet founded in 2014, has now exceeded 23 million global downloads, including 7.8 million in the United Kingdom, with 5 million added in the past year. CEO Robin Tombs discussed the platform’s evolution on Trinsic’s Future of Identity...
The Shift to a Modern Cloud Infrastructure Delivers Human Benefits
Enterprises across North America are moving from legacy data centres to cloud platforms at an unprecedented pace. The primary driver is a clear commercial imperative: avoid hidden cost spikes during a rushed data‑centre exit. Sequencing migration before decommissioning lets organisations...
UK: Consultation Launched on Protection From Detriments for Taking Industrial Action
The UK Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces new protections that forbid employers from imposing detriments on workers whose sole or main purpose is to prevent, deter or penalise participation in protected industrial action. The government has opened a consultation until...
United Talent Agency Promotes Seven Execs to Partner Within Music Division
United Talent Agency (UTA) announced a new partner class, elevating 35 executives across 23 departments, including seven leaders from its UTA LIVE music division. The promotions come shortly after David Kramer succeeded Jeremy Zimmer as CEO, marking a broader leadership refresh....
Top 20 Private Equity Firms Leading Cross-Border Investments
An analysis of private‑equity cross‑border activity from 2020 through 2026 shows U.S. firms executed 2,973 platform investments abroad while international firms made 1,330 platform deals in the United States. The report ranks the top ten U.S.‑based PE firms, led by...
Iranian Steel Plants Damaged by Air Strikes
Iranian steelmakers Khouzestan Steel and Mobarakeh Steel were hit by air strikes attributed to the US and Israel, damaging storage silos, a substation, an alloy‑steel line and power infrastructure. The attacks are expected to reduce billet and slab production and...
AnaptysBio Spins Out Biotech Operations; Affibody's Data in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
AnaptysBio announced the spin‑out of its biotech operations into a newly formed independent public company, First Tracks Biotherapeutics. The separation isolates AnaptysBio’s early‑stage pipeline, giving First Tracks a focused platform to advance its candidates. The announcement also highlighted promising data...
Exclusive: UAE CFDs Broker Amana Sells UK Arm to Max Koretskiy’s 11:FS
UAE‑based CFDs broker Amana, through its Dubai holding 180 Capital, has sold its FCA‑licensed UK subsidiary to 11:FS Holdings, a partnership between David Brear and Max Koretskiy. The UK operation will be rebranded as Kinsworth Investments Ltd and will expand...
Brazil Imposes Duties on US, Canada PE
Brazil’s foreign‑trade chamber approved definitive antidumping duties on polyethylene imports from the United States and Canada, fixing rates at $199.04 per metric tonne for U.S. resin and $238.49 for Canadian resin for the next five years. The decision caps the...
Telenor, GlobalConnect Fibre Deal Facing Hurdles
Norway’s competition authority has raised red flags over Telenor’s planned purchase of GlobalConnect’s fibre business, warning that the deal could lift broadband prices and degrade service quality by curbing competition. Regulators highlighted that many households might be left with only...
With Odds of a Recession Going Up, Here Are 5 Things Small Businesses Should Do Now
Moody’s Analytics now sees recession odds edging past 50%, while Goldman Sachs estimates a 30% chance of a downturn in the next year as higher oil prices and a cooling labor market converge. Small businesses, lacking the cash buffers of...
New Duty for UK Employers – Annual Leave Record-Keeping From April 6, 2026
From 6 April 2026, UK employers must keep adequate records of workers’ annual leave and holiday pay under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The obligation covers all leave types, including irregular hours and carried‑over entitlement, and records must be retained for six years....
Teams Say They Are Being Pushed to Do More with Less as AI Increases Their Workload
Culture Amp’s research shows 77% of employees say AI tools increase their workload, even as 96% of C‑suite leaders expect AI to boost output. Engagement metrics are sliding, with U.S. employee engagement falling to 31% by 2024. Companies that combine...
Clarity Is the Key to Supporting Workers, ADP Research Says
ADP Research finds fewer than one‑in‑four employees feel confident their jobs are safe, highlighting a major communication gap. Workers who perceive security are six times more engaged, 3.3 times more productive, and twice as likely to stay. Front‑line managers and...
Former Jockey Club Employee Awarded £1m Stress Payout
UK High Court ordered Jockey Club Racecourses to pay nearly £990,000 (about $1.26 million) to former marketing manager Matthew Foxton‑Duffy for psychiatric injury caused by workplace stress. The court found the employer breached its duty of care under the Health and...
People Moves: Marsh Risk Names Zafiriadis to Lead New Service Delivery Practice
Marsh Risk has appointed Katrina Zafiriadis to lead its newly established Service Delivery Practice for the U.S. and Canada. Zafiriadis, who brings two decades of service delivery and operational resilience experience, previously served as chief of staff to Marsh Risk...