Does economic growth lead to greater inequality? The answer might surprise you.

By Matteo Lanzafame, Antonio Francesco Gravina Finance, globalization, technology and urbanization – key drivers of economic growth – can lead to more or less inequality—depending on how prevalent they are in the economy. The determinants of income inequality—a measure of how unevenly income is distributed across individuals or households in a population—has for a long time been at […]
Costco beats revenue estimates as restrictions ease

Membership-only retail chain Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O) reported quarterly revenue on Thursday that beat analysts’ estimates and said it was optimistic about sustained demand for high-margin items, such as jewelry and home furnishings.
Gap raises 2021 forecasts as apparel shopping gains momentum

Gap Inc (GPS.N) raised its forecast for annual sales and profit, expecting an unabated surge in demand for new apparel as more people begin to step out and socialize after a year of hunkering down at home due to the pandemic.
Big banks look for post-pandemic rebound of credit card revenue

Big U.S. banks are prepared for credit-card balances to start ticking up again this year as pandemic restrictions ease and stimulus checks stop arriving, setting up the industry for a bump in one of its most profitable businesses.
Britain’s Nationwide almost doubles profit as costs fall

Nationwide Building Society (POB_p.L) nearly doubled annual profit after improving interest income and margins as it shaved costs, it said on Friday.
Cisco forecasts profit below estimates, cites supply chain issues

Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) on Wednesday cautioned that supply chain issues will linger through the end of 2021 and forecast its current-quarter profit below estimates, sending shares of the network gear maker down 5%.
Walmart beats estimates for sales on stimulus spending boost, raises profit forecast

Walmart Inc (WMT.N) raised its full-year earnings forecast on Tuesday and beat estimates for same-store sales as it benefited from additional stimulus checks that put more money in consumers’ pockets and boosted demand for apparel and electronics.
The impact of COVID-19 on artificial intelligence in banking

COVID-19 has not dampened the appetite of European banks for machine learning and data science, but may in the short term have limited their artificial-intelligence investment capacity.