Vincent Boland: Anyone for a third force in Irish banking? No thanks
The exit of Ulster Bank from the market has been followed by the resuscitation of a terrible idea which history tells us is not viable
Concept of free trade and fair trade will stand or fall with new WTO boss
Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has her work cut out to tackle the current backlash against the principles for which the World Trade Organisation stands
Vincent Boland: Draghi’s Italian job is really a task for the entire nation
Italy’s afflictions are often filtered through the lens of its enormous public debt and zero-growth economy. Yet its problem is more insidious – that politics does not offer solutions
Vincent Boland: It’ll take more than Musk’s $1.5bn to demystify bitcoin
Cryptocurrencies have their zealous admirers, including the Tesla chief, but critics insist they have no practical uses and facilitate online fraud and tax evasion
Vincent Boland: Bezos sets his sights on the stars but will keep a watchful eye on Jassy
The Amazon founder is stepping down as ceo to devote more time to the Washington Post and his ambitions of space flight, yet he will still monitor his successor closely
Vincent Boland: Exxon loses its way as oil giant goes from leader to laggard
Climate change is now about business rather than emotion and Exxon-Mobil must reinvent itself if it is to catch up with its rivals in the transition to clean energy
Platoons of investors beat hedge funds at their own game – for now
It can be seen as the moment when populism stormed the citadels of high finance, but there are likely to be few winners when the GameStop trading episode is over
Vincent Boland: Macron is shopping for votes as he vetoes €16bn supermarket megadeal
You don’t have to be a fan of investment bankers to think the French government acted hastily in the Carrefour affair
Big Blue way ahead as tide turns on corporate cash for politicians
Not every company can be like IBM in eschewing political patronage. But if they want to play politics, boardrooms must think before acting
Winners and losers as pandemic transforms corporate landscape
It was a good year for Elon Musk, with Tesla now more valuable than almost all its auto industry rivals combined
Vincent Boland: Acts of heroism and humanity stand out in an annus horribilis
From athletes to protesters, and from young people to scientists, 2020 was shaped by inspiring people who gave the world reason to hope
Vincent Boland: China has its limits as a superpower
Rumours of the party-state’s ascendancy and its decline have been equally exaggerated. It is just flexing its considerable muscle
Vincent Boland: Dylan ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s Farm no more after $300m deal
Popular culture – movies, music, football, cricket, GAA matches – is simply a collection of assets to be bought and sold. That is the context in which the entertainment industry now operates
Vincent Boland: Contrary to Biden’s belief, we don’t need another hero
The US president-elect needs to be thinking more of cooperation and solidarity than of ‘leading’ the world
Brexit fishing expedition is ignoring the wider picture
Since Britain voted to leave the EU in June 2016, both sides have spent more time on the future of fishing than the future of financial services
The ship looks to have sailed on corporate adventures overseas
Spanish bank BBVA made it out of the US market last week with both its dignity and its bottom line intact, but it is an exception to the rule
Vaccine breakthrough is just what the doctor ordered for Big Pharma
The global industry may have met its moment of redemption thanks to the pandemic
France deserves solidarity in fight to defend secular ideal from fanaticism
France and Turkey have similar origins, both secular republics born of revolution, but Erdogan’s Muslim-centric approach has created tension
Rise of Ant in Shanghai could shrink the West down to size
Chinese mogul Jack Ma’s mindboggling $34 billion IPO for his digital payments system is helping to shift the axis of economic power eastwards
A kingdom looking ever less united within its own borders
With Scotland, and even Manchester, shying away from Westminster dominance, the union of the UK is shakier than at any other time in its history