Breakingviews

 
By Christopher Swann
The Wall Street firm says it will deploy $40 bln over a decade. It isn’t above self-serving spin, but it’s also never far from the money. With solar and wind power nearing competitive cost levels, clean energy could burnish Goldman’s bottom line as well as its green credentials.

Markets vote for the euro

By Edward Hadas
The single currency is falling because traders fear it will break up. That means they must think the whole is worth more than the sum of the parts. That’s right, and not just because the retrograde transition to national currencies would be costly. Scale and unity are valuable.

Summit silence on Greece is best option for now

By Pierre Briancon
Euro zone leaders can’t yet soften their demands for Greek austerity, for fear of encouraging radicals in the next election. And while insisting they want to keep the country in the euro, they must prepare for a messy exit while pretending not to - since it would spook markets.

Mike Lynch should try to buy Autonomy back

By Chris Hughes
The software group’s founder is leaving HP months after the U.S. tech giant bought it for $11 bln. Other Autonomy execs had already gone. Having overpaid, HP is suffering the cultural woes of M&A. As for Lynch, he could yet exploit the mess to buy his baby back at a decent price.

Trafigura move tests Singapore's fat-cat fatigue

By Wayne Arnold
The commodities trader is moving its HQ to Singapore, where its CFO joins Facebook founder Eduardo Saverin and a stream of bankers. Low taxes and proximity to growing Asian markets explain the appeal. But a warm welcome may depend on new arrivals’ ability to create local jobs.

One reason for Facebook IPO mess: Zuck didn't care

By Rob Cox
From the get-go, Mark Zuckerberg made clear he had little interest in welcoming public shareholders. His voting advantage codified the fact. A strong CEO can temper short-term urges elsewhere. But when he’s indifferent, it makes a failed process like Facebook’s more likely.

Italy's new off balance sheet wheeze

By Neil Unmack
Rome is in a bind; arrears to local companies are choking the economy, but funding them upfront could push up the country’s debt and spook markets. So Italy is using banks to front some of the money. The optics are better, even if the benefit for the economy is probably worse.
Recent Breakingviews Video
All Columnists