Shenzhen-HK stock link tees up "Bubble Connect"

Only connect

Reuters

China backlash bandwagon rolls over Li Ka-shing

Off-grid

China overplays its hand in UK nuclear debate

Point of disagreement

SoftBank takes maverick option on financing

Hawking bonds

Shave Club syndrome nicks P&G makeoverShave Club syndrome could nick David Taylor's Procter & Gamble makeover. The P&G boss has spruced up the $230 billion Tide-to-Pampers merchant since taking charge in November, but growth remains a challenge. Now a profusion of internet-savvy rivals like Dollar Shave Club, recently bought by Unilever for $1 billion, threatens to steal customers and take a razor to margins.P&G's almost $2 billion of fourth-quarter earnings beat estimates, but core sales grew just two per cent compared to the same period last year, short of a longer-term goal of growing faster than the market.P&G expects the muted sales trend to continue over the next 12 months. That will blunt the effects of its cost-cutting program and a nearly completed project to divest about 100 underperforming brands to simplify P&G's business around its biggest, most profitable products.Competition from big consumer rivals has already forced P&G to invest more heavil

Cut-throat competition

Japan's $265 bn spree is deliberately puffed up

Stimulating debate

Pokemon tempts market into playing familiar games

Manias, Pokemon and crashes

Nintendo's augmented shares reflect new reality

Monster hit

Japan's carmakers are passengers in wild FX ride

A brake on profits

The sale of Inter Milan is typical of China's muddy sporting goals. Money from the Middle Kingdom is pouring into foreign teams, rights and agents. In the latest deal, Suning Holdings is buying control of F.C. Internazionale Milano. A mainland retail giant is not an obvious owner for a top Italian soccer club. But then, these deals are all about getting set for the boom that China hopes to enjoy in both watching and playing sports.Like China's broader M&A spree, the sports acquisitions are partly about confidence, cheap capital and diversification. Globally, sport still ranks amongst the content that fans will pay handsomely to see live. That is increasingly attractive as social media, silly videos of cats playing the piano and other small-screen distractions cut into traditionally strong areas of broadcasting.On top of this come the political ambitions. President Xi Jinping wants China to host, and eventually win, a soccer World Cup. The government targets rapid growth in the wide

Inter change

China's sports deals hit the hogwash jackpot

'Unforgettable experience'

G7 pact offers minimal cover for Abenomics reset

Seven Samurai

Supercell sale would mark reboot for SoftBank

Gem for sale

Nissan can help drive Mitsubishi Motors' recovery

Convoy

UK deal veto would be big setback for Li Ka-shing

Blocked number

Bank of Japan goes from activist to bystander

Rest easy

SoftBank star just displays usual Valley flaws

Arora of invincibility?

Hong Kong filings get weirder as times get tougher

Full disclosure

Deutsche Bank beats sensible retreat from China

Yuan less

Nearly there

GE upset offers Asian buyers way into US kitchen

Quentin Webb

Quentin Webb

Quentin Webb

Only connect

Off-grid

Point of disagreement

Hawking bonds

Cut-throat competition

Stimulating debate

Manias, Pokemon and crashes

Monster hit

A brake on profits

Inter change

'Unforgettable experience'

Seven Samurai

Gem for sale

Convoy

Blocked number

Rest easy

Arora of invincibility?

Full disclosure

Yuan less

Nearly there