financializer news A weblog highlighting financial topics making news in the international media.

soccer person: The legendary gonzo journalist was never a soccer person Hey Rube, his published collection of essays for ESPN, mentions the sport just once in passing but he was undoubtedly a writer with a keen sense of when things were about to get weird. ; After more than a decade of following a J. League known as much for its wacky matchday promotions as its unpredictable results, I imagine that Thompson would agree with me that the ongoing attempt to create a genuine European-style super club at Vissel Kobe is probably as weird as it gets, according to The Japan Times. The club's Saturday home opener against Sagan Tosu had all the trappings of the modern football frequently railed against by overseas soccer fans and rarely seen in the Japanese game until recently. At the top of mine is Hunter S. Thompson. Three hours before kickoff, dozens of workers manned booths and held up signs promoting Noevir Stadium's cash-free conversion, with payments everywhere from food stalls to merchandise stands only accepted through credit cards, the Edy e-money card or Rakuten's own Rakuten Pay app. As the players entered the Noevir Stadium pitch, five fans cheered from a roped-off sideline area, tickets for which cost 300,000 each and include the use of an exclusive lounge, two signed uniforms, a stadium tour and player meet-and-greets. Near the 20,000 replica uniforms among the most expensive in the league were commemorative mugs, mouse pads and towels featuring Vissel's star European trio of David Villa, Andres Iniesta and Lukas Podolski sharing space with opposing Sagan striker Fernando Torres. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

singapore-based startup: Soft Bank is already a major backer of the Singapore-based startup, and the latest investment will boost its stake. ; Grab founder Anthony Tan is battling Go-Jek for leadership in the Southeast Asian market after vanquishing Uber Technologies Inc. in the region last year, according to The Japan Times. He plans to spend a significant portion of the latest proceeds in Indonesia, the home turf of Grab's rival. The funding brings the amount of money the company has collected from investors in the past year to about 4.5 billion, it said. Go-Jek has presented the thorniest challenge, with the Jakarta-based startup marching into Grab's home market of Singapore as well as Vietnam and Thailand. Southeast Asia's two most valuable startups are aiming to expand swiftly in everything from mobile payments to food delivery. Go-Jek, led by Tan's Harvard Business School classmate Nadiem Makarim, is also raising additional capital to compete for customers and drivers. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

stock ownership: The announcement is part of a growing shift to tokenize financial assets that proponents argue gives investors the ability to trade traditional assets they might otherwise struggle to do, according to Market Watch. If you look at stock trading, it's really for the middle and upper class, said Daniel Skowronski, co-founder and CEO of DX. Exchange. Estonia-based cryptocurrency exchange DX. Exchange said on Wednesday its clients can now trade 15 of the most popular ETFs on its cryptocurrency exchange, hinting at where the nascent market may be headed. With fractional ownership, it opens up stock ownership to the bottom billion and people can, for example, own 10 worth of Facebook shares. Investors exchange Ether, ETHUSD, -1.80% the native cryptocurrency of the ethereum blockchain, to gain exposure to the ETFs of their choice, which are purchased and held by MPS Market Place Securities, a partner of DX. Exchange. Fractional ownership is where investors can own part of a single stock, ETF or other asset. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

wednesday marks: Others peg it to the closing low scored three days later on March 9. 10 years ago today, March 6 2009, marked the market low during the financial crisis and SPX hit its intraday low of 666 Sven Henrich Northman Trader March 6, 2019 Here's Slope of Hope's Tim Knight, fondly recalling the way we were on his blog Think about the world in March 2009, according to Market Watch. Obama was still finding his way around the White House. Wednesday marks exactly 10 years to the day that the S&P 500 dropped to 666 in intraday trading, a final plunge lower for stocks that marked the end of a vicious bear market and the start of the current bull market in the eyes of some. Facebook was a private company. And Zero Hedge was just a few weeks old. Netflix was five bucks a share. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

york market: On Tuesday, the key market gauge sagged 95.76 points. ; The TOPIX index of all first-section issues closed down 3.98 points, or 0.25 percent, at 1,615.25, after dropping 8.36 points the previous day, according to The Japan Times. Both Nikkei and TOPIX remained in negative territory throughout the session, pressured by persistent profit-taking while the yen's weakening against the dollar and Wall Street advance were pausing, brokers said. The 225-issue Nikkei average lost 129.47 points, or 0.60 percent, to end at 21,596.81. But active trading was held in check, due to the absence of fresh market-moving factors, they added. The New York market ended lower for the second straight session Tuesday after choppy trading despite several strong U.S. economic data and earnings results, with buying sentiment dampened to a certain extent by reported remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that President Donald Trump would reject any trade deal with China that is not perfect. New York's subdued mood spilled over into Tokyo, said Hiroaki Kuramochi, chief market analyst at Saxo Bank Securities Ltd. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

wall: It looks like she gave business and political advice and also took rides on his personal jet, according to MSNBC. The board learned about this through a discovery of email communications. Source Sandy Dover via Flickr Modified According to the Wall Street Journal, CEO Kevin Plank had perhaps a problematic relationship with MSNBC anchor, Stephanie Ruhle. Yet the good news is that not much has come out of this story. Since UAA stock dropped below 13 in October, there has been a powerful bull run, with return at 92%. Granted, the stock price is far from the all-time high of 50 in 2015. And hopefully for the sake of Under Armour stock, there are no more unexpected surprises.A Look at Under Armour Stock Keep in mind that the company's turnaround has been a success. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

right: They wrote We believe this is the right time to move to a firm-wide flexible dress code, according to The Guardian. The memo cited the changing nature of workplaces generally in favour of a more casual environment . Virgin Atlantic drops mandatory makeup for female cabin crew Read more However, they cautioned that staff should exercise good judgment and that casual dress would not be appropriate for every situation. The change was signalled by the new chief executive of the US investment bank, David Solomon, a veteran banker who also DJs under the stage name D-Sol, and two other senior executives in a memo to staff. Goldman had already loosened its dress code for its technology staff but had maintained formal business attire for the remainder of its 36,000 employees. The memo said All of us know what is and is not appropriate for the workplace. It did not give further guidance to staff. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

sacrifice: But nothing could have prepared them for what they were to excavate - a previously unknown 15th-century mass sacrifice site full of headless child skeletons, according to Nine News Australia. More than 130 were uncovered, along with three adults and more than 200 juvenile llamas. To improve your experience update it here News World Ancient mass sacrifice site in Peru reveals hundreds of child skeletons By CNN10 59am Mar 7, were lured to a burial ground on the Peruvian coast by local residents who claimed to see bones protruding ghoulishly from eroding dunes. Researchers say that the displaced ribs and cut marks on the sternums of the human and animal bones suggest their hearts were removed. The well-preserved remains was excavated on a site of 700 square metres between 2011 and 2016 where the Chim state once flourished. The findings were published in the journal PLOS yesterday. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

security guards: Surrounded by security guards and dressed in a workman's uniform and a blue cap, Ghosn's face was obscured by thick glasses and a surgical-type mask, a far cry from his usual tailored suits, according to Nine News Australia. He managed to avoid many of the reporters camped at the site before being whisked away in a small Suzuki van. To improve your experience update it here News World Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn leaves Japan jail in disguise By AAP12 29am Mar 7, Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn walked out of a Tokyo prison on bail, slipping past reporters in a face mask and moving closer to mounting a defence against financial misconduct charges that he has called meritless . Ghosn, among the world's most prominent vehicle industry executives whose dramatic rescue of Nissan two decades ago made him a celebrity in the industry and in Japan, was barely recognisable on Wednesday as he left Tokyo Detention House where he had been detained for more than 100 days in a small cell with no heating. Ghosn paid the 1 billion yen A12.6 million bail, among the highest ever in Japan, after the Tokyo District Court rejected a last-ditch appeal by prosecutors to keep him in jail. He has agreed to set up cameras at the entrances and exits to his residence, and is prohibited from using the internet or sending and receiving text messages. Ghosn, also the former chairman of Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, has agreed to strict bail conditions and given assurances he will remain in Tokyo, surrender his passport to his lawyer and submit to extensive surveillance. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

woodbine station: Instead, Woodbine Entertainment Group will fund the entire project as a private investor, according to The Toronto Star. It is expected to cost between 75 million and 90 million.A rendering of the new Highway27-Woodbine station that Metrolinx plans to build at Woodbine Racetrack. The agency says the new station is set to replace the existing Etobicoke North station on the Kitchener line, and will be built with no direct cost to taxpayers. It will replace the existing Etobicoke North station on GO's Kitchener line. The station at Woodbine is the first to be fully built through a private partnership at no cost to taxpayers, and Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek said more such projects will follow. Woodbine Entertainment Group The provincial government and Metrolinx started seeking private sector partnerships to build transit last fall, announcing a private developer would build a mixed-use facility, parking spaces and public park at Mimico GO station in south Etobicoke. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

a-share market: In the past, the A-share market was an isolated one where domestic liquidity decided stock valuations... Now, overseas capital is acting like a 'stabilizer' as most incoming capital is managed by institutional investors who have their own investment criteria, said Michelle Qi, chief investment officer equities for Eastspring Investment Management Shanghai Co, according to Global Times China. Eastspring Investment Management Shanghai is a branch of Eastspring Investments, which is the Asian investment management arm of UK-based insurer Prudential. Photo VCG The A-share market has slowly changed in the past two years, shifting from a market that's entirely swayed by domestic capital to one where overseas capital has increasing influence, a veteran equity investor said on Tuesday. Overseas capital is speeding up its allocation to A-share assets this year, a trend that has been an important force in the rebound in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets, experts said. Northbound capital through stock link programs had reached about 121 billion yuan 18.06 billion in the first two months of this year, according to the Shanghai Securities News on Tuesday. The Shanghai Composite Index rose from 2,465 points at the beginning of this year to 3,054 points on Tuesday, while the Shenzhen Component Index rose from 7,149 points to 9,595 points. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

carbon performance: But all could do more, according to The Japan Times. Investors have a clear message to the aviation sector When it comes to carbon performance they must be in it for the long haul, said Faith Ward, co-chair of the TPI on behalf of the British Environment Agency Pension Fund. The fast-growing sector accounts for 2 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions and should do more to manage risks of climate change, the Transition Pathway Initiative TPI said in a review of 20 of the world's biggest listed airlines. ; It rated Delta, Lufthansa, United Airlines and ANA Holdings as the best performers at managing the business risks and opportunities of climate change. Investors do care it's about encouraging disclosure so we can make informed decisions, she told Reuters. Its research is by the London School of Economics' Grantham Research Institute. TPI, which seeks to assess the performance of businesses in cutting carbon, groups 40 investors with 13 trillion under management, including BNP Paribas and Legal & General Investment Management. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

chagas disease: This week, we published the first comprehensive assessment of the vector-borne disease outbreak that is assailing the country, according to The Independent. Vector-borne diseases are those spread by insects mosquitos, sand flies, kissing bugs and others. Once recognised as a regional leader for public health and disease control, Venezuela's healthcare and health research infrastructure has fallen into a state of collapse, creating a severe humanitarian crisis and a major outbreak of infectious disease. The we is a global consortium of authors, many of whom are Venezuelan doctors and academics working in the country under exceptionally difficult conditions. Chagas disease is a silent killer. Others include Colombian, Brazilian and Ecuadorian academics who are witnessing the crisis unfold Venezuelan refugees on the streets of their cities, diseases malaria, Chagas disease, measles, diphtheria spreading through porous land borders, and regional disease outbreaks of unprecedented proportions.I first travelled to Venezuela in the early 2000s to study Chagas disease, a single-celled parasite spread by the kissing bug, a blood-sucking insect that infests the walls of adobe houses. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

chinese: As the US intensifies Russian sanctions and wages a trade war against China, this latest report reveals an abnormal phenomenon in China-Russia economic cooperation, according to Global Times China. However, some Russian media agencies have played up China's lowered investment in Russia. According to the data, Chinese investment reached 3.18 billion as of June 30, 2018, 1 billion less than the 4.2 billion mark by the end of 2017. Some reports claimed that Chinese investment had cooled down while Chinese investment had increased worldwide during the same period. It has been the consensus of both countries that their comprehensive strategic collaborative partnership remains persistent. This latest round of Russian media sentiment needs attention. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

divorce agreement: Remain supporters shelter from the wind and rain across the street from parliament in London, Thursday Feb. 28, 2019, according to The Toronto Star. British Prime Minister Theresa May has offered Parliament the chance to delay Britain's scheduled March 29 departure if lawmakers fail to approve her divorce agreement with the bloc. Households alarmed by reports of potential shortages in the event of a no-deal Brexit are beginning to stockpile ahead of the country's scheduled departure from the European Union on March 29, according to a survey Tuesday by market researcher Kantar Worldpanel. PA via AP / Jonathan Brady The firm found that 10 per cent of customers at Britain's major supermarkets have started preparing for a disorderly Brexit, a scenario that would see tariffs imposed on products coming into the United Kingdom and other restrictions on trade with the EU. That is not yet enough to have a big impact on supermarket sales, worth around 100 billion pounds 132 billion a year, but it could if Brexit uncertainty persists. Kantar, which surveyed over 7,000 customers in early February, found that 61.5 per cent of those that had already begun storing extra goods were focusing on food. They survey noted that another 26 per cent of shoppers say they're ready to start stockpiling as well. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

day slate: The news arrived after House judiciary committee chairman Jerrold Nadler announced earlier in the day a slate of requests for documents from 81 contacts close to Mr Trump, including two of his children, Trump Organisation Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg, and his White House administration, according to The Independent. According to the new report, Cohen's lawyer suggested his client would be willing to work with investigators if he were not offered a pardon from the president. Stephen Ryan held conversations on behalf of Cohen with Rudy Giuliani, Jay Sekulow and Joanna Hendon that are now the subject of Congressional investigations, the Wall Street Journal reported. ISOCountry Groups euro at be cy ee fi fr de gr ie it lv lt lu mc mt nl pt sk si sm es va uk gb us us variants 1 33.4, 2 33.3, 3 33.3 We'll tell you what's true. From 15p 0.18 0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras. You can form your own view. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

european election: The German government supports the lively discussion about the orientation of the European Union, according to Deutsche Welle. Macron has made a strong statement in favor of the European project On Tuesday, Macron, who has come under fire in France by yellow-vest protesters and others, presented ideas for a European renaissance in an article published in newspapers throughout Europe and online. In an official statement by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to Reuters news agency, a spokesperson said It's important ahead of the European election in May for pro-European forces to present their ideas. Among his wide-ranging suggestions were enhanced protection against hate speech, greater control of EU borders and immigration, and a nationally adjusted European minimum wage ideas that went down well with most German politicians. if !window.twttr window.twttr function d, s, id var js, fjs t window.twttr ; if d.get Element ById id return t; js d.create Element s ; js.id id; js.src fjs ; t. e ; t.ready function f t. e.push f ; ; return t; document, script twitter-wjs ; twttr.ready function twttr link Color ' 0087eb', width '550', align 'center' ; ; The Social Democratic Party's SPD lead candidate in the European election, Katharina Barley who is both a UK and German citizen tweeted in French Dear Emmanuel Macron, thank you for this initiative. The lead candidate of the center-right Free Democratic Party FDP Nicola Beer, also expressed support for the French president's suggestions. if !window.twttr window.twttr function d, s, id var js, fjs t window.twttr ; if d.get Element ById id return t; js d.create Element s ; js.id id; js.src fjs ; t. e ; t.ready function f t. e.push f ; ; return t; document, script twitter-wjs ; twttr.ready function twttr link Color ' 0087eb', width '550', align 'center' ; ; Macron stresses Europe's commonalities, significance and strength, Beer wrote on Twitter. We need to come together as Europeans and make Europe strong. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

non-gas areas: But unfortunately, such a comfortable mode of overly relying on resources is often not sustainable, according to Global Times China. Azerbaijan is well-known for its rich petroleum resources. Photo Courtesy of the Office of Trade Representative at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Beijing Editor's Note It's often hard for countries rich in resources to get rid of the so-called Dutch disease, mainly because those countries only need to export their resources in exchange for money while other countries have to earn money through such laborious methods like manufacturing, research and development. But in recent years, the government of Azerbaijan has continuously deepened economic reforms, worked to speed up economic development in non-oil and non-gas areas as well as improved the country's investment environment. Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev Mustafayev stressed that the country is determined to conduct economic transition when he was interviewed by the Global Times GT during the event. On March 1, the China and Azerbaijan Belt and Road Trade Cooperation Roundtable was held in Beijing. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

panasonic sony: This is the massive and long-standing industrial relationship between Japan and Britain, especially in automotive manufacturing. ; The news that Honda is closing its plant at Swindon, after 40 years, and that Nissan is to make its new X-Trail model back in Japan rather than at its super-efficient plant in Sunderland, England, has been greeted in anti-Brexit quarters as a clear sign that after all these years Japanese investment has lost faith in Brexit-minded Britain and is heading home, according to The Japan Times. The news that in other sectors both Panasonic and Sony are shifting their headquarters out of England and to somewhere on the European continent has given further fuel to this story. Some sensation-seeking British journalists have just found an undoubtedly good thing that they claim is at an end. Nor has it helped that Hitachi has just suspended involvement in one major British nuclear power project and Toshiba has withdrawn from another, although even the most frenzied opponent of leaving the European Union would find it hard to attribute this to Brexit. Incoming Japanese businesses in the 20th century faced Britain's obstructive trade union practices head on. One part of the whole picture which is unquestionably true is that Japan's investment in the United Kingdom has not only been a major commercial success but also a huge benefit for the transformation of the British economy over some 50 years. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

wall street: It scaled 11.87 points Monday, according to The Japan Times. From the outset, a wide range of issues came under profit-taking pressure exerted by an overnight drop on Wall Street in the wake of the release of weaker than expected U.S. construction spending in December. The Nikkei 225 average lost 95.76 points, or 0.44 percent, to end at 21,726.28 after rising 219.35 points Monday. ; The Topix, which covers all first-section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed 8.36 points, or 0.51 percent, lower at 1,619.23. Both the Nikkei and Topix failed to become buoyant for the whole day, as investors retreated to the sidelines amid a dearth of fresh trading incentives, brokers said. Optimism cannot be warranted over the course of trade talks between the two largest economies, Fujii noted. Despite growing hopes for an end to the U.S.-China trade dispute, investors find it difficult to buy stocks further, said Tomoaki Fujii, head of the investment research division at Akatsuki Securities Inc. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

mini: Speaking at the opening of the Geneva motor show, BMW said it might be forced to stop making the Mini at its Cowley plant near Oxford, putting more than 4,500 jobs and more than 100 years of carmaking at the site at risk, according to The Guardian. The German carmaker was swiftly joined by Toyota, Bentley and France's PSA, which owns Vauxhall, in sounding the alarm about an uncontrolled exit from the EU, adding to the darkening clouds over the UK automotive sector. With 24 days left until Britain's scheduled departure from the EU, some of the automotive industry's most senior figures offered a bleak assessment of the dangers facing a sector on which more than 850,000 people rely for their livelihoods. Brexit won't bother the City but everyone else should worry Nils Pratley Read more Nissan later refused to deny a Sky News report that it will scale back production at its Sunderland facility, saying it did not comment on rumours and speculation . Last month, the Japanese carmaker said Brexit was disrupting plans for its UK business, after cancelling production of its new X-Trail SUV. A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said The government's top priority is to secure a deal with the EU, and to maintain the conditions for further jobs and growth in our world-leading automotive sector. This no-deal Brexit would be really a huge burden for the Mini brand. The BMW board member Peter Schwarzenbauer, who oversees the Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, kicked off the flurry of warnings at Europe's leading motor show, saying the Mini's future in the UK was at stake. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

england: Charterhouse, in Surrey, describes itself as one of the great historic schools of England espousing sound Christian values . Established in 1611 on the site of a monastery, it has educated some of the giants of public life, including the poet Robert Graves, the broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, and 200 years before him, the evangelical preacher John Wesley, according to The Guardian. The foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is a former head boy. The disclosures come after ministers specifically warned private schools to undertake better due diligence over the sources of fee payments. Today, it welcomes children from around the world. Over the course of one summer, and three separate transactions, Charterhouse collected five years' worth of boarding fees. Among them, in 2010, was a boy with a Russian name whose family chose an unusual method of paying for his education. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

half years: That was the slowest growth in two and a half years, according to The Toronto Star. Lower prices for oil, a slump in real estate prompted by tighter mortgage rules and slower business spending are some of the culprits for the slowdown cited by Statistics Canada. Larry Mac Dougal / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO The latest bit of evidence came Friday, when Statistics Canada announced the Canadian economy grew by a paltry 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter. As a result, most experts expect the Bank of Canada to leave its key overnight lending rate unchanged Wednesday at 1.75 per cent. Article Continued Below A more intense-than-expected moderation of economic growth came just as North American commodity markets sent Canadian heavy oil prices lower, resulting in an additional near-term growth shock as producers curtailed output, DePratto added. There is no denying that Canada is facing a perfect storm at present, said TD senior economist Brian DePratto in a report analyzing the new data. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

homes: Some young Canadians are finding it harder to buy homes, according to The Toronto Star. Mortgage insurance levels have declined by 15 to 20 per cent since the minister of finance extended the stress test to five-year mortgages in October 2016. And it works. The real reason young people can't buy houses is that they are just too expensive, writes Evan Siddall. Rene Johnston / Toronto Star It requires lenders to underwrite mortgages using an extra interest rate cushion above prevailing interest rates. And along with new housing supply, the stress test has prevented houses from being even less affordable. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

motor: Motor Mouths an audiovisual guide to the UK car industry in pictures Read more It did not disclose the value of the takeover, announced after the unveiling of its Plus Six model at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday but managers and the workforce will have a stake in the business, according to The Guardian. The Morgan family will continue to represent the brand and retain a minority stake after the scheduled completion of the deal in April. The 110-year-old classic sports car firm, based in Malvern, Worcestershire, said it had sold a majority holding to Italy's Investindustrial, which owns stakes in a broad range of auto brands, including Aston Martin and the motorbike maker Ducati. Founded in 1909, Morgan is one of the last car companies still under British ownership. It reported revenues of 33.8m in 2018 and an after-tax profit of 3.2m. It sells about 700 handmade sports cars with buyers sometimes forced to join a waiting list that can last six months. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

analysis extras: It came as Labour MPs from Leave-backing areas dismissed Theresa May's Brexit bribe of 1.6bn for run down towns, saying their vote is not for sale . ISOCountry Groups euro at be cy ee fi fr de gr ie it lv lt lu mc mt nl pt sk si sm es va uk gb us us variants 1 33.4, 2 33.3, 3 33.3 We'll tell you what's true, according to The Independent. You can form your own view. Labour grandee Dame Margaret Hodge had tabled a cross-party amendment to the Financial Services Bill, which would have compelled UK overseas territories to be more transparent about business ownership. From 15p 0.18 0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras. Labour's shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said He leaves a trail of destruction in his wake, causing chaos and wasting billions of pounds yet he shows no contrition the transport secretary has become an international embarrassment. Subscribe now Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it smacks of desperation from a government reduced to bribing MPs to vote for their damaging flagship Brexit legislation . Beleaguered transport secretary Chris Grayling also came under fire on Monday for failing to personally answer questions from MPs about the botched Brexit ferry contracts. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.