Business news 2018

Here are some of the major business news stories from 2018:

Global Economy

• The global economy grew at its fastest pace in seven years in 2018, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting a 3.7% growth rate.
• The US-China trade war escalated, with both countries imposing tariffs on each other's goods.
• The European Union and the United Kingdom began negotiating the terms of their divorce, with the UK's departure from the EU (Brexit) set for March 2019.

Technology

• Facebook faced numerous scandals, including the Cambridge Analytica data breach and allegations of election interference.
• Amazon acquired Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion, expanding its presence in the grocery market.
• Apple became the first publicly traded US company to reach a market value of $1 trillion.
• Google's parent company, Alphabet, acquired a 7.7% stake in Lyft, a ride-hailing company.

Finance

• The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates four times in 2018, citing a strong economy and low unemployment.
• The yield curve inverted, a sign of potential economic recession.
• The global bond market experienced a significant sell-off, with yields rising and prices falling.
• Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced significant price volatility.

Retail

• Toys "R" Us filed for bankruptcy and closed hundreds of stores.
• Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears and Kmart, filed for bankruptcy and closed hundreds of stores.
• Walmart acquired a majority stake in Flipkart, an Indian e-commerce company.
• Amazon acquired a 16% stake in Deliveroo, a UK-based food delivery company.

Energy

• Oil prices rose to their highest levels in four years, driven by supply disruptions and strong demand.
• The US became the world's largest oil producer, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia.
• Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power continued to gain popularity, with costs declining significantly.
• The US and China agreed to a trade deal that included increased energy exports from the US to China.

Automotive

• Tesla's stock price rose significantly, driven by strong demand for its electric vehicles.
• General Motors filed for bankruptcy and sold off several brands, including Opel and Vauxhall.
• Ford announced plans to cut thousands of jobs and invest in electric and autonomous vehicles.
• Volkswagen agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle claims related to its diesel emissions scandal.

Healthcare

• The US Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, in a major victory for the healthcare industry.
• CVS Health acquired Aetna, a health insurance company, for $69 billion.
• UnitedHealth Group acquired a majority stake in OptumRx, a pharmacy benefits manager.
• The FDA approved several new drugs, including treatments for cancer and rare diseases.

Other

• The US and Canada reached a new trade agreement, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
• The European Union and Japan signed a trade agreement, reducing tariffs on goods and services.
• The US and South Korea signed a new trade agreement, replacing the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) reported a decline in global trade, citing rising protectionism and tariffs.