(Bloomberg) -- The evening briefing will soon be available in your inbox every day. Sign up here.
It's a bleak prospect. Billionaire investor George Soros penned an editorial on Thursday predicting it may take the U.K. as long as five years to leave the European Union, concluding that Brexit “is certain to be immensely damaging to both sides.” He urged the world's biggest trading bloc to avoid penalizing Britain and instead focus on reforming itself. With ongoing uncertainty over the upcoming June 8 general election, Bloomberg's Brexit Barometer continued to slide today, hitting fresh lows.— Andy Reinhardt
And yet, London's Brexit apocalypse is nowhere in sight. In the year Britons voted to leave the EU, much has been made of the fear that London stands to lose its status as a global financial center. That hard-won title was achieved over decades by people, capital, and policies. Despite political turbulence, London is determined to show the world it can continue to dominate global finance, Europe be damned.
Chip on his shoulder? Russian president Vladimir Putin used the occasion of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to accuse the West trying to prevent the emergence of a multi-polar world by countering his country's efforts to assert itself on the global stage. He later added that he likes guys like Donald Trump and wants to build better relations with the U.S. leader, even though swirling controversies in Washington are making it difficult for Trump to govern.
Norwegians are switching to electric vehicles, fast. In fact, they're adopting them faster than anyone else on the planet, with more than a third of all new cars purchased either fully electric or plug-in hybrids. The government says that by 2025 there may be no gasoline- or diesel-powered cars sold. The electric boom is built on generous government incentives, including exemptions from car-purchase tax and sales tax. Norway's small population and plentiful, cheap hydroelectricity help, too.
Step aside, bitcoin. The value of ether, the digital currency linked to the ethereum blockchain, could surpass that of bitcoin by the end of 2018. Bitcoin currently dominates a little less than half of the digital currency market, down from almost 90 percent three months ago.
The Nordic tiger. After years known as the new “sick man of Europe,” Finland is on the mend. In the first three months of 2017 the economy grew the fastest in seven years, thanks to a five percent increase in exports. Record-high consumer confidence, an expanded workforce and abundant industrial order books are all positive signs. It's an auspicious start to the year Finland marks a century of independence from Russia.
Workers of the world, drool. Staff working in Google's planned new U.K. headquarters will have no excuse not to keep fit. Among other amenities, the building is set to feature a 200-meter long “Trim Trail” on the roof, a three-lane swimming pool, massage rooms, a host of exercise studios and a games area for basketball, five-a-side soccer or badminton.
Compiled by Andy Reinhardt and Leila Taha
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andy Reinhardt at areinhardt2@bloomberg.net, Leila Taha Adam Blenford
With assistance from Editorial Board
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
