Business News at a Glance

How the Finance Industry Is Trying to Cash In on #MeToo

Accusations of sexual harassment have felled dozens of executives, but in one quiet corner of the financial world, the #MeToo movement looks like a golden opportunity. Companies that offer money to plaintiffs in anticipation of future legal settlements are racing to capitalize on sexual harassment lawsuits. That is setting off alarms in some quarters because the industry, like payday lenders, has a history of providing cash at exorbitant interest rates to customers who need the money for living and sometimes medical expenses. The largely unregulated companies have operated with less public scrutiny than the rest of the litigation finance industry.

Oil Boom Gives the U.S. a New Edge in Energy and Diplomacy

A substantial rise in oil prices in recent months has led to a resurgence in U.S. oil production, enabling the country to challenge the dominance of Saudi Arabia and dampen price pressures at the pump. The success has come in the face of efforts by Saudi Arabia and its oil allies to undercut the shale drilling spree in the United States. Those strategies backfired and ultimately ended up benefiting the oil industry. In a sign of the resiliency of the shale boom, energy companies and their financial backers weathered market turmoil — and the maneuvers of the global oil cartel — by adjusting exploration and extraction techniques.

German Carmakers Criticized for Emissions Research on Monkeys

Three major German carmakers that financed the researchers who used monkeys to test the health effects of diesel exhaust struggled to contain harsh criticism from animal welfare activists and a wave of negative media coverage after details of the tests emerged. News of the research — reported by The New York Times on Thursday and portrayed by an episode of the documentary “Dirty Money” that began airing Friday on Netflix — quickly developed into a public relations disaster for the companies: Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW. It is also likely to intensify a backlash against diesel in Europe, where, until recently, it was the most popular engine option.

Tech Giants Brace for Europe’s New Data Privacy Rules

Over the past two months, Google has started letting people around the world choose what data they want to share with its various products. Amazon recently began improving the data encryption on its cloud storage service and simplified an agreement with customers over how it processes their information. And on Sunday, Facebook rolled out a new global data privacy center. A major reason for these shifts comes from Europe: The tech giants are preparing for a stringent new set of data privacy rules in the region, called the General Data Protection Regulation, that are set to take effect May 25.

At Davos, the Real Star May Have Been China, Not Trump

President Donald Trump used the World Economic Forum meeting to woo investors and business leaders by reassuring them that “America first does not mean America alone.” But it was clear in Davos, Switzerland, last week that geopolitical momentum lay with Beijing, not Washington. One of the best-attended speeches was that of Liu He, a member of China’s ruling Politburo, who promoted the One Belt, One Road initiative. Participants said the initiative was rivaling more established, traditionally U.S.-led, international institutions. "The China One Belt, One Road is going to be the new WTO — like it or not,” said Joe Kaeser, chief executive of Siemens, the German industrial giant.

‘Maze Runner’ Sequel is No. 1, Adding to Fox Box Office Bonanza

Six starkly different films from 20th Century Fox appeared on the box office charts over the weekend, giving the studio control of more than 50 percent of ticket sales in North America. “Maze Runner: The Death Cure," arrived to about $23.5 million in ticket sales domestically, making it the No. 1 attraction. Another Fox movie, “The Greatest Showman,” a slow-building hit, delivered about $9.5 million in ticket sales. Three dramas with varied production budgets “The Post,” “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” — took in an additional $18.2 million for Fox and its specialty label, Fox Searchlight. And the animated “Ferdinand” collected about $1 million.