Nissan to spend $17.6 bln over 5 years in electrification push

Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) announced it will spend 2 trillion yen ($17.59 billion) over the next five years to accelerate vehicle electrification, aiming to catch up with rivals in one of the fastest growth areas for the automobile industry.
Amazon exec says Omicron’s impact on holiday spending uncertain

A senior Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) executive said it remains too early to predict how the Omicron coronavirus variant will impact consumer spending during the holiday season but suggested that shoppers will press ahead for now.
Japan Oct retail sales boosted by fuel-price spike, broad trend still soft

Japan’s retail sales rose for the first time in three months in October, though less than expected, and the underlying private consumption trend pointed to persistent strains on a fragile economic recovery despite an easing of COVID-19 curbs.
Currencies recover from Omicron chaos but analysts warn more volatility ahead

Currency markets calmed on Monday in Asia after the initial shock of the discovery of the Omicron coronavirus variant sent investors scurrying for cover last week, but analysts warned of more volatility with little still known about the new strain.
It’s raining dividends, hallelujah! Canadian banks set to post strong results

Canada’s top six banks are expected to resume raising dividends and share buybacks after nearly a two-year hiatus and report strong quarterly earnings this week, which could boost the sector’s appeal to yield-hungry investors even as stocks trade close to all-time highs.
EXCLUSIVE Europe’s telcos want U.S. tech giants to help fund network costs

U.S. tech giants should bear some of the costs of developing Europe’s telecoms networks because they use them so heavily, chief executives of Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE), Vodafone (VOD.L) and 11 other major European telecoms companies said on Monday.
UK sets out plans to boost global digital trade

Improving digital trade would provide huge opportunities for British businesses and help boost economic growth, the government’s Board of Trade said, setting out how it aims to become a world leader in modern services and online goods.
Google proposes new commitments on browser cookies – UK competition regulator

Britain’s competition regulator said on Friday it had secured improved commitments from Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) Google on changes to user-tracking cookies in its browser, including the U.S. tech giant extending the time any pledges would last to six years.
Analysis: In Japan, a weaker yen may not be the blessing it once was

A weak yen, once seen as favourable for Japan’s exports-focused economy, has now become a pain point as it eats into household finances and confounds policymakers.
Analysis: EU adds more pieces to its ‘elusive’ capital market jigsaw

The European Union has moved a step closer to its vision of creating a single capital market across the bloc, a slow moving process but one that is chipping further away at Britain’s status as Europe’s investment banker.