The Wall Street Journal reports, Microsoft is making a $300 million investment in Barnes & Noble’s Nook digital-book business and college-texts unit, in a move that helps value the prized Nook business. Microsoft will have a 17.6% stake in a new subsidiary for the businesses, in a transaction that values them at $1.7 billion. That compares with Barnes & Noble’s current market cap, of about $791 million, and could fuel the argument, that the digital business should be separated from the retail division. As part of the move, there will be a Nook application included in the new Windows 8, which is scheduled to have a release preview in early June.
Bloomberg reports, The euro weakened for a third day against the yen after a report showed Spain’s economy entered its second recession since 2009, adding to concern Europe’s debt crisis is worsening. The 17-nation currency extended its first monthly decline this year, versus the dollar as, Spanish ministers prepared to brief reporters on plans, to cut the deficit in an economy that’s grappling with almost 25 percent unemployment.
Reuters reports, The United States faces a tense week in China, as high-level talks on trade and global hot spots, like Iran and North Korea, begin, in the shadow of a blind Chinese activist’s bold escape, from house arrest, to seek U.S. protection in Beijing. Chen Guangcheng, a self-schooled legal advocate, who campaigned against abortions, forced under China’s “one child” policy, had been held under extra-legal confinement, in his village home in Linyi since September 2010, after he was released from jail. The United States has not confirmed reports that Chen Guangcheng, who slipped away, fled into the U.S. Embassy. China has also declined public comment on Chen’s reported escape. Bob Fu, whose religious and political rights advocacy group ChinaAid, is the chief source of information about Chen, confirmed that “intensive talks”, between the United States and China, began right after the activist took shelter in the embassy on Friday.
The Wall Street Journal reports, Microsoft is making a $300 million investment in Barnes & Noble’s Nook digital-book business and college-texts unit, in a move that helps value the prized Nook business. Microsoft will have a 17.6% stake in a new subsidiary for the businesses, in a transaction that values them at $1.7 billion. That compares with Barnes & Noble’s current market cap, of about $791 million, and could fuel the argument, that the digital business should be separated from the retail division. As part of the move, there will be a Nook application included in the new Windows 8, which is scheduled to have a release preview in early June.
Bloomberg reports, The euro weakened for a third day against the yen after a report showed Spain’s economy entered its second recession since 2009, adding to concern Europe’s debt crisis is worsening. The 17-nation currency extended its first monthly decline this year, versus the dollar as, Spanish ministers prepared to brief reporters on plans, to cut the deficit in an economy that’s grappling with almost 25 percent unemployment.
Reuters reports, The United States faces a tense week in China, as high-level talks on trade and global hot spots, like Iran and North Korea, begin, in the shadow of a blind Chinese activist’s bold escape, from house arrest, to seek U.S. protection in Beijing. Chen Guangcheng, a self-schooled legal advocate, who campaigned against abortions, forced under China’s “one child” policy, had been held under extra-legal confinement, in his village home in Linyi since September 2010, after he was released from jail. The United States has not confirmed reports that Chen Guangcheng, who slipped away, fled into the U.S. Embassy. China has also declined public comment on Chen’s reported escape. Bob Fu, whose religious and political rights advocacy group ChinaAid, is the chief source of information about Chen, confirmed that “intensive talks”, between the United States and China, began right after the activist took shelter in the embassy on Friday.