Singapore topped the global ranking for the second year in a row in the latest Economic Freedom Index published last week by US conservative think-tank, The Heritage Foundation.
Singapore increased its overall score by 0.3 points to 89.7 primarily due to an improvement in the score for government spending. Singapore s score is well-above the regional and world averages. Rounding up the global top five are New Zealand in second place with 83.9 points, Australia, third (82.4 points), Switzerland in fourth with 81.9 points and Ireland (81.4 points). As for the major economies, the United Kingdom is 7th (78.4 points) United States is ranked 20th with a score of 74.8 points, Japan 23rd (74.1 points), Germany is 29th (72.5 points) and China is number 107 scoring 58.4 points.
By Suzanne Barlyn NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street and a gauge of global equity markets rose on Friday as investors cheered signs of economic strength in a report that showed faster-than-expected U.S. jobs growth, data that initially stoked inflation concerns. The session was marked by frantic trading across the globe. Asian markets dropped overnight. MSCI s all-country index was on its longest losing streak in six months before clawing back. All Wall Street s main indexes closed higher, bouncing back from early losses. Investors were spooked this week by rising interest rates, which offset optimism about an economic rebound. Microsoft rallied 2.2%, the biggest boost for the S&P 500.
An Indian trade group representing 150,000 mobile phone stores on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to investigate Amazon s business practices in the country and impose a daily cap on a single seller s online smartphone sales. In a letter sent to Modi, the group cited a Reuters special report published last month that revealed Amazon has for years given preferential treatment to a small group of sellers on its Indian platform, using them to circumvent the country s strict foreign investment regulations. The report was based on internal Amazon We were already aware of Amazon s thought process and strategy, the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) wrote in the letter. The documents, the letter said, have revealed that Amazon is doing business in India with the strategy of deftly dodging the regulators and politicians .
Read more about WTO to hold ministerial meeting in Geneva in late 2021: Report on Business Standard. WTO members agreed on Monday to hold the next major ministerial meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in late 2021