New Year’s Money Curbs May Prompt More Use of China Outflow Pipe

On the day bank branches reopened after China imposed restrictions on citizens trying to spirit money out of the country, Wendy Chen went to her branch in Shanghai and peppered staff with questions about how to get around the new controls. She was asking after the Jan. 1 rules required people converting yuan into dollars to provide detailed information on how they planned to use the money abroad and restricting its use.

Russia is already retaliating against new US sanctions over…

Russia is already retaliating against new US sanctions leveled against the Kremlin for cyberattacks designed to interfere with the US presidential election. In response to the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats who have been given three days to leave the US, Russia ordered the closure of the Anglo-American School of Moscow, CNN reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed US official with knowledge of the action.

Last-Minute Spending Surge Lifts Holiday Shopping Season

A jump in consumer spending in the final stretch of December significantly offset a slow start to the U.S. holiday shopping season, and is likely to help many retailers beat sales forecasts, industry research groups said on Tuesday. The December spending boost is in contrast to a muted November, when early holiday promotions and expectations among consumers that deals would always be available took a toll.

More foreign Vegas visits don’t equal more tips, workers say

Servers and dealers on the Las Vegas Strip say they’re worried that as more foreign visitors hit the restaurants and casinos, they’ll receive smaller tips because the tourists are coming from countries like China, where American-style, 20 percent gratuities are uncommon. “It’s very difficult when you’re serving or relying on tips and the majority of your guests are foreign.

Better Buy: Las Vegas Sands Corp. vs. MGM Resorts

Because each casino operator has placed separate bets on the gaming market, investors will want to know which makes the better investment as the industry’s rebound gains momentum. Sands and MGM have their feet firmly planted in the two biggest gambling markets, Las Vegas and Macau, but that’s where the similarities end.

Airborne phone use facing ban

Answer : If airlines allow passengers to make in-flight cellphone calls, the carrier must notify passengers in advance, under a rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The rule, proposed last week, may be a moot question because the Department of Transportation is still considering a complete ban on airborne voice calls within, to or from the United States.

Chinese Buying Insurance in Hong Kong Said to Face Further Curbs

Chinese residents buying insurance in Hong Kong will no longer be able to swipe their credit cards multiple times to get around previously imposed curbs intended to slow sales, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Purchases of insurance in Hong Kong using MasterCard Inc. and Visa Inc. credit cards issued in China have been capped at $5,000 per insurance product, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the changes haven’t been made public.

Snap makes $3 billion IPO details public

Snap Inc, owner of popular messaging service Snapchat, made many of its financial details public for the first time on Thursday as it prepared to raise up to $3 billion in an initial public offering. The Los Angeles-based company said it generated $404.5 million in sales in 2016, up from $58.7 million in 2015.