What to watch for today
The Bank of England keeps rates low. Growth is looking healthier in the UK and inflation is still below target, so it’s unlikely the bank will its benchmark interest rate from the current 0.5%.
Rite Aid takes a knock from Obamacare. Analysts expect the US drugstore chain to post its second consecutive profitable year after a string of losses. Profit margins are set to drop, though, as pharmacies offer deals to lure newly insured Americans.
Heartbleed’s splatters spread across the internet. Websites are still rushing to patch their online security software as they deal with the widening repercussions of the disastrous security exploit—described as an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. Meanwhile, there is little that users can do.
While you were sleeping
Greece’s bond sale went off with a bang. The country’s first debt offering in more than four years attracted more than €20 billion ($27.7 billion) in orders, with a yield of 4.95% that was well below the 5.3% the government was aiming for. But hours before the sale began, a large car bomb went off near the Greek central bank, rattling windows but causing no injuries. Protesters have been demonstrating outside the bank against tax increases and spending cuts.
Fast Retailing tapered expectations. The owner of Uniqlo said its net income for 2014 will be about 88 billion yen ($865 million)—down from a forecast 92 billion yen, <due to rising costs, currency effects, and falling demand for its casual wear in Japan. Asia’s biggest clothing retailer is pinning its hopes on international expansion.
China trade was unexpectedly weak… Exports and imports both fell in March, surprising most analysts who expected them to increase, putting more pressure on Beijing to stimulate the economy.
… as did Japan’s core machinery orders. February orders were down 8.8% after a 13.4% rise in January. The core orders are a gauge of capital spending, and may suggest a lack of confidence in prime minister Shinzo Abe’s economic policies.
How to float pork. China’s WH Group, the world’s biggest pork producer, launched an IPO worth a potential $5.3 billion. The proceeds will pay off some of the debt the company—formerly known as Shuanghui—incurred when it bought Smithfield Foods last year.
Australia’s jobless rate fell. The number of people with jobs in March rose by 18,000 for an unemployment rate of 5.8%, from a revised 6.1% in March, adding to evidence of a consumer-led economic expansion.
Quartz obsession interlude
Leo Mirani on Samsung’s unconventional expansion plans. ”Samsung is going where few multinationals have gone before. In India, the South Korean giant will open between 3,000 and 4,000 shops in cities with fewer than 100,000 people, according to the Economic Times. This may not sound like a big deal to readers from countries with populations measured in millions instead of a billion, but towns of that size in India are little more than overgrown villages.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Transparent pay doesn’t just benefit women. It makes all workers more productive.
The future of “Made in America” is Tesla. The electric car company could soon have more American-made parts than Ford’s best-selling F-150 pickup truck.
America’s sushi habits are funding exploitation. Most of the seafood imported to the US is caught or trafficked illegally.
People just want to date themselves. Opposites don’t attract, according to the data.
State meddling is killing Brazil’s oil giant. It’s up to the middle class to save Petroleo Brasileiro.
Wall Street is up to its old tricks. Mortgage-backed securities are out, but rental-backed securities are the new swindle.
Surprising discoveries
“Game of Thrones” names are ascendant. There were more Khaleesis than Betsys born in 2012.
Burger King is planning to open in Crimea, after McDonald’s pulled out last week.
The Apple smartwatch will cost over $1,000, according to the most accurate Apple analyst out there.
This email will self-destruct after reading. Two students have built the Snapchat of email messaging.
You can pre-pay for a New York taxi ride. Here’s our step-by-step guide to this time-saving hack.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, “Game of Thrones” names, and taxi hacks to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter here for updates throughout the day.