published May 16th 2016, 8:06 pm, by Olivia Zaleski (Bloomberg) — Merchant Customer Exchange, a mobile payments company started by major retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said it will eliminate 30 employees and postpone the national introduction of its highly publicized product, a would-be Apple Pay competitor. The staff cuts

published May 15th 2016, 2:38 pm, by Megan O’Neil (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama told graduating students at Rutgers University that “ignorance is not a virtue” in politics, as the president continued to attack Donald Trump — by implication, if not by name — for his provocative campaign pronouncements. “Facts,

published May 14th 2016, 2:57 pm, by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo (Bloomberg) — French President Francois Hollande and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari agreed to strengthen military cooperation and work with the West African country’s neighbors in an stepped-up effort to crush Boko Haram. Buhari said the EU and others had pledged 916

published May 15th 2016, 1:00 pm, by Elena Popina (Bloomberg) — Russian assets, which are among the most volatile in the world, are bringing hedge fund managers the best returns in emerging markets. Funds with a geographical focus on the country have gained an average 29 percent since the start

published May 12th 2016, 3:58 pm, by Margaret Carlson (Bloomberg View) — In the days leading up to Donald Trump’s much-ballyhooed courtesy call to Capitol Hill on Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan seemed like a groom wanting his presumptive bride to change before he does. “This is the party of

published May 12th 2016, 4:13 pm, by Alexandra Scaggs (Bloomberg) —Treasuries fell after a $15 billion sale of 30-year bonds, the last of three U.S. debt auctions this week, drew the weakest demand since February. U.S. yields rose as the sale garnered the week’s smallest number of bids submitted for

published May 12th 2016, 7:10 pm, by Jonathan Burgos (Bloomberg) —Asian stocks dropped as crude oil retreated and technology shares declined after Apple Inc. sank to the lowest since June 2014. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.2 percent to 127.26 as of 9:06 a.m. in Tokyo. The gauge pared

published May 11th 2016, 8:04 am, by Matt Levine (Bloomberg View) — Merger advice. Well: In 2015, the buyers in public-company deals valued at more than $1 billion didn’t use financial advisers in 70 instances, or 26% of the time, according to Dealogic. That is the second-highest total on record

published May 11th 2016, 4:33 pm, by Lindsey Rupp (Bloomberg) — A glum outlook from Macy’s Inc. renewed concerns about the broader retail industry, contributing to a stock rout for consumer companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Michael Kors Holdings Ltd., Ralph Lauren Corp. and Ross Stores Inc. on Wednesday.

published May 11th 2016, 8:49 pm, by Kevin Cirilli and Jennifer Jacobs (Bloomberg) —Donald Trump has discussed in recent days the possibility of selecting former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as his vice presidential running mate, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been