For a true indication of the growing power of Amazon, look no further than the unlikely nascent partnership between Google and Walmart – NYTimes and WSJ
Chevron CEO John Watson is out in a move that leaves the energy giant without a board-confirmed successor and marks the “dramatic shift under way at big oil companies as they adapt to a prolonged period of lower prices brought about by the U.S. shale boom” – WSJ
Federal banking regulators have announced that they will move forward with easing capital rules for smaller banks by not requiring most banks to comply with international Basel III standards for the treatment of mortgage servicing and other assets – Law360
More on the flirtation between Fiat Chrysler and China’s Great Wall Motor, including the possibility that Jeep may be its own bargaining chip – NYTimes
The Bayer/Monsanto merger—a deal worth $56 billion—is under the microscope of European regulators at the moment. Recent chemical company mergers have passed EU muster, but the “size and scope” of this one suggests that the investigation will be intense – NYTimes and WSJ
Blackstone’s reportedly weighing an IPO of Gates Corp., an auto-parts maker in its stable that it sees as potentially worth $8-9 billion – WSJ
It feels like Elliott Management’s everywhere these days—and we’re not even the companies it’s targeting. Bloomberg profiles the man behind Elliott—Paul Singer—and his status as the “world’s most feared investor” – Bloomberg
Speaking of, let’s check in with BHP Billiton’s new CEO, shall we? – Bloomberg and WSJ
The latest concern in the cybersecurity world involves hijacked cellphone accounts in an effort to pilfer virtual currency (and other financial products) – NYTimes and Marketplace
A YouTube sensation as a tourism jump-starter (and potential debt reliever)? Stranger things [but not many] have happened – Marketplace