Investing: Latest Financial Topics from The New York Times

Here is the latest Investing News from The New York Times.

Delay in Chinese Conglomerate’s Deal for U.S. Insurer
Anbang, a leading Chinese business, withdrew an application with a New York regulator for its $1.6 billion takeover of Fidelity & Guaranty Life.

Jeff Bezos, Riding High, Defends Decision to Buy Washington Post
The Amazon chief, buoyed by record profit, said he bought the newspaper to make it a more powerful publication on a national, and even global, stage.

Nuclear Plants, Despite Safety Concerns, Gain Support as Clean Energy Sources
Some environmentalists have come to accept nuclear power as a low-emission source of electricity. But the industry is struggling to compete with cheap natural gas.

General Mills Recalls Some Flour After Consumers Fall Ill
General Mills announced a recall of flour products after federal health officials linked them to an E. coli infection affecting 38 people in 20 states.

Shari Redstone Intensifies War of Words at Viacom
Her statement about her father’s $40 billion media empire could be a prelude to the dismissal of the company’s board and, ultimately, of Philippe P. Dauman.

In China, Homeowners Find Themselves in a Land of Doubt
A lease dispute in one city highlights the government’s grip on all land, calling into question the wealth of millions of Chinese households.

Recent Commercial Real Estate Transactions
Recent commercial real estate transactions in New York City.

Deal Professor: The Struggles of Today’s Sumner Redstone
Twenty years ago, the aging media mogul would have dealt with the situation at Viacom with a decisive, “Godfather”-like approach.

Economic Scene: A Universal Basic Income Is a Poor Tool to Fight Poverty
In this world where work remains an important social, psychological and economic anchor, there are better tools to help than giving every American a monthly check.

At Strawberry Fields, Feuding Musicians Give Peace a Chance
Buskers at the memorial to John Lennon in Central Park seem to have found a precarious harmony after years of fighting over who got to perform and when.

Longtime Staples CEO to Go After Office Depot Deal Scrapped
Staples Inc. says Ron Sargent will step down as chief executive after 14 years on the job.

‘Roots’ Mini-Series Premiere Draws 5.3 Million Viewers
Although the “Roots” revival received strong reviews, it had a formidable opponent: Game 7 of the N.B.A. Western Conference finals.

Consumer Spending Surges and Home Prices Climb
A strong gain for consumer spending is a sign that the economy is performing better than earlier this year.

SoftBank to Sell a Stake in Alibaba
The Japanese telecom said it would sell $8 billion worth of shares to help pay down debt.

Dell Buyout Deal Shortchanged Shareholders, Court Rules
The court found that Dell shares were worth about $17.62 at the time of the 2013 buyout, not the $13.75 that Michael S. Dell and Silver Lake paid.

Carl Icahn Takes Stake in Allergan
Months ago, Mr. Icahn criticized Pfizer’s proposed takeover of Allergan; now he is buying part of the company.

Why Christopher Kimball Is Moving On From America’s Test Kitchen
After leaving the recipe-testing empire last fall, he is starting a new venture focused on cooking methods from around the world.

White Collar Watch: ‘Hustle’ Mortgage Fraud Case Falls Into Crevice of the Law
Simply breaching a contract, as Bank of America’s Countrywide unit did in a case stemming from the financial crisis, is not be enough to prove fraud.

Square Feet: Downtown Columbus Comes to Life With Millennial Tower
Five other buildings in the southern part of downtown in Ohio’s capital city will bring office space and residential units.

Deal Professor: Online Shareholder Meetings Lower Costs, but Also Interaction
Done in person, the annual meeting is the sole opportunity that all shareholders have to meet and talk with management.

Music World Bands Together Against YouTube, Seeking Change to Law
The industry has asked the government to modify the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, saying it is outdated and makes removing unauthorized content too difficult.

Op-Ed Contributor: I Stand With Gawker
Even if it called me a sexist and a terrible writer.

Simon Cowell on Joining ‘America’s Got Talent’
“This 83-year-old woman in a leotard came on and stood on her head and sang the national anthem and I said, ‘You know what, I’m home.’”

Sketch Guy: The Paranoid Survive, but They Burn Out. Take a Break.
Don’t think that every moment, ounce of energy and extra cent needs to be maximized. Cut some slack and get used to having a little excess instead.

Valeant’s Former C.E.O. to Receive $9 Million Severance
C. Michael Pearson stepped down amid a series of investigations into Valeant’s business practices.

Tech Tip: Getting Up Close With the iOS Camera
Apple’s built-in camera app for its iOS devices includes controls for zooming and other fine-tuning — if you know where to tap.

Great Plains Energy Agrees to Buy Westar for $8.6 Billion
The transaction would create a power company with more than 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri.

Mumbai Police Ask for Video Mocking Celebrities to Be Deleted
After receiving complaints from politicians, officers said they had asked Facebook and YouTube to remove a video mocking a cricket star and a Bollywood singer.

Darty’s Board Recommends That Investors Accept Fnac Offer
The recommendation came after a bidding war this year between Fnac and Conforama, a French unit of Steinhoff International Holdings.

Start-Up Gets Financing for Real-Time Sports Wagers via App
WinView, which will offer free contests at first, hopes to draw ads tied to live sports, and gained Tom Rogers and Hank Ratner as chairmen.

Wall St. Is Mixed in Early Trading
Consumer spending in the United States rose 1 percent in April, the largest amount in more than six years, led by a big jump in purchases of autos and other durable goods.

Economic Scene: A Look Ahead at the Next Recession
At the Brookings Institution recently, Shaun Donovan, Lawrence H. Summers and Eduardo Porter discussed the lessons learned from the Great Recession.

Economic Scene: Why a Universal Basic Income Will Not Solve Poverty
In this world where work remains an important social, psychological and economic anchor, there are better tools to help than giving every American a monthly check.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals to Buy Celator for $1.5 Billion
The deal would further bolster Jazz’s portfolio by acquiring the maker of Vyxeos, a treatment for a form of leukemia.

Volkswagen Posts Surprise Increase in First-Quarter Profit
The results come as the German carmaker takes steps to recover from its diesel emissions scandal, while pushing through an overhaul across its 12-brand group.

Top Retailers Fall Short of Commitments to Overseas Workers
Three years after a factory collapse prompted brands like H&M and Walmart to commit to bettering worker conditions in Bangladesh, rights groups say problems persist.

Michael Dann, TV Programmer Who Scheduled Horowitz and Hillbillies, Dies at 94
He brought “The Defenders,” “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Beverly Hillbillies” to the screen, along with recitals by Vladimir Horowitz.

Charles M. Harper, Who Made ConAgra a Food Giant, Dies at 88
As chief executive he grew the company from a faltering $600 million operation to a $20 billion juggernaut, but he had less success at RJR Nabisco.

Viacom’s Directors Vow to Fight Any Removal Efforts by Redstone Family
In banding together, the company’s board of directors has sided with chief executive Philippe P. Dauman, who was dismissed from Sumner M. Redstone’s trust and the board of National Amusements.

Donald Trump Soured on a Deal, and Hong Kong Partners Became Litigants
“I beat China all the time,” Mr. Trump said last year, citing one Manhattan investment. But documents and interviews tell a very different story of that deal.

Tech Tip: Suppressing Facebook’s ‘Memories’
The social network routinely invites users to nostalgically review older timeline posts, but not everyone wants to be reminded of the past.

Well: Computer Vision Syndrome Affects Millions
Blurred or double vision as well as burning, itching, dryness and redness can interfere with work performance.

Itineraries: A.I. May Book Your Next Trip (With a Human Assist)
Virtual travel assistant services designed to understand conversational language are expected to change the way travel is planned.

A Renegade Muscles In on Mister Softee’s Turf
In a recent battle for Midtown Manhattan, a prime selling spot, Mister Softee says he has been pushed out by New York Ice Cream.

The New Health Care: Drug Prices Too High? Sometimes, They’re Not Costly Enough
For some of the most important drugs, the prices may be too low, giving rise to shortages.

The Appraisal: Making Space for Manhattan Artists That They Otherwise Couldn’t Afford
Several developers in New York are discovering clever ways for painters, sculptors and other artists to work in the city that feeds their creativity.

Rise of Ad-Blocking Software Threatens Online Revenue
A report suggests that one in five smartphone users worldwide, mostly in emerging markets, deploys software to remove ads when he or she browses the web.

Television Networks Struggle to Provide Equal Airtime in the Era of Trump
News organizations wonder how to avoid a lopsided view of the election race as Donald J. Trump seems to relish airtime, while Hillary Clinton does not.

For Assistants in Prestige Fields, Overtime Rule May Alter Career Path
A federal rule on overtime pay endangers a practice in fields like publishing and movies, where low wages are accepted for a kind of apprenticeship.

Effort to Expose Russia’s ‘Troll Army’ Draws Vicious Retaliation
Finland is an active front in an online “information war” between Russia and the West. When a journalist there confronted pro-Putin agitators, she became a target.

Swiss Investigate Apparent Suicide of Ex-Chief of Zurich Insurance
The death of Martin Senn, who had resigned from the insurer in December, comes less than three years after the suicide of its chief financial officer.

MetLife Suit Raises Questions of Extent of Corporate Liability
Victims of a Ponzi scheme have sued MetLife, claiming it failed to oversee brokers selling products connected to the insurance giant.

In Gawker’s Legal Battles, a Focus on Defamation
Many who have sued Gawker said it overstepped the boundaries of privacy, slandered reputations or failed to do adequate reporting before posting articles.

Verizon Reaches Tentative Deal With Unions to End Strike
The agreement gives Verizon some important tools for paring down its work force in the coming years.

Op-Ed Contributor: Don’t Hand Our TVs Over to Google
Allowing the tech giant to get access to viewers’ data could end up hurting innovation and competition.

The Week Ahead: Car Industry Awaits Volkswagen’s Quarterly Earnings Report
Numbers also expected this week are from the Commerce Department on consumer spending and income, and from the Labor Department for hiring and unemployment.

I.R.S. Ruling Is Obstacle to Health Care Networks Promoted by Obama
The agency said an accountable care organization did not meet the test for tax-exempt status because it was not operated exclusively for charitable purposes.

Advertising: Nationwide’s Enduring Slogan Still Distinguishes the Brand
Today, few companies can boast that they’ve remained loyal to a tagline born in the 1960s, but “Nationwide is on your side” continues to stand out in a chaotic marketing landscape.

Product Recalls Rise With Better Detection and Fewer Suppliers
Better detection tools and stricter safety rules mean that problems that once went undetected are now more often spotted and traced back to their source.

Gawker Case Calls Attention to a Go-To Hollywood Lawyer
Until Hulk Hogan’s successful suit against Gawker Media, Charles J. Harder was mainly known for defending the privacy rights of Hollywood celebrities.

From Tylenol to Fitbit: 10 Notable Product Safety Recalls
Manufacturers recall at least one product a day, on average. Here are 10 that stood out.

Frank Modell, Longtime New Yorker Cartoonist, Dies at 98
Mr. Modell’s contributions to the magazine for more than 50 years evoked for readers their everyday vexations.

Treasury Auctions Set for the Week of May 30
The following tax-exempt fixed-income issues are scheduled for pricing this week.

‘X-Men’ and ‘Looking Glass’ Disappoint at Weekend Box Office
“X-Men: Apocalypse” took in an estimated $65 million between Friday and Sunday, while “Alice Through the Looking Glass” bombed, generating only $28.1 million.

Middle Eastern Writers Find Refuge in the Dystopian Novel
A new wave of bleak, post-revolutionary fiction is emerging from writers grappling with the chaotic aftermath and stinging disappointments of the Arab Spring.

Mediator: In the Hamptons, a Small-Town Paper Is a Beacon in the Mayhem
The East Hampton Star is a 131-year testament to the central role that local, family-owned newspapers can still play.

Dutch Firm Trains Eagles to Take Down High-Tech Prey: Drones
When small, off-the-shelf models pose security or other threats, birds have the advantage of grounding them without a potentially dangerous crash.

Dakar Journal: A Mission to Bring STEM Skills to Children in West Africa
A Nebraska professor who returns home to Senegal to start a robotics competition hopes to instill a drive in schoolchildren to improve their world.

Governments Turn to Commercial Spyware to Intimidate Dissidents
Surveillance and hacking tools are becoming increasingly popular among a wide range of nations, many of which use the methods to monitor, silence and punish their critics.

Letters: Self-Made or Just Lucky?
Readers respond to “Successful? You’ve Already Won the Lottery” (May 22).

Letters: Brexit and Britain’s Economy
Readers respond to “The Feel-Good Vote That Could Sink Britain’s Economy” (May 22).

Vocations: As a Special Effects Expert, He Blows Things Up Carefully
When a television show calls for a car, or anything else, to blow up, Mike Myers finds the best and least dangerous way to make it happen.

Bits: Farhad and Mike’s Week in Tech: Techies vs. the Media
Do tech venture capitalists really want to support a system in which moving fast results in company-ending lawsuits?

Inside Wealth: A Worrisome Pileup of $100 Million Homes
Nine-figure real estate listings rise even as sales of luxury real estate cool. Some see the “ultimate bubble signal” in hyperpriced homes.

One of the World’s Greatest Art Collections Hides Behind This Fence
The superrich have stashed millions of works in tax-free storage. So what does that mean for the art?

Paper Points Up Flaws in Venture Fund Based on Virtual Money
A group of computer scientists has asked the Decentralized Autonomous Organization, or D.A.O., fund to hold off on investing until its vulnerabilities are addressed.

A Challenge to Donald Trump’s Energy Claims: Economic Reality
Energy policy experts who followed Mr. Trump’s proposals said that while some hewed to G.O.P. orthodoxy, others appeared implausible and ill-considered.

Chris Christie Approves Financial Rescue Plan for Atlantic City
The struggling seaside resort in New Jersey must meet several measures to avoid bankruptcy, or the state will take over, according to the legislation.

Biggest Hedge Fund Set to Get $22 Million From Connecticut
The commitment is part of a state effort to keep companies from leaving after a tax increase last year.

Behind Long Airport Lines, a Chain of T.S.A. Cuts, Missteps and Crises
With the Transportation Security Administration struggling with shrinking resources and low staff morale, an expert said that “a structural change is needed.”

Tech Companies Take Their Legislative Concerns to the States
As they create increasingly sophisticated voice and face recognition products, technology firms are lobbying state lawmakers to discourage restrictive new laws that critics call necessary to prevent the violation of user rights.

Silicon Valley Journal: Tech Titans Raise Their Guard, Pushing Back Against News Media
The leaders of Silicon Valley are becoming more cautious and elusive, even as their products make the world more transparent.

Born in the VCR Era, Great Courses Seeks to Evolve
With a new streaming service aimed at broadening its customers base, the company says it can be ‘the Netflix of learning.’

Breakingviews: Squaring a Bid for Monsanto With Bayer’s Reward
While there could be extra rewards in bundling Monsanto’s high-tech seeds with Bayer’s crop sprays, a merger might not produce enough profit to justify a higher offer.

Deal Professor: Hostile Takeovers Abound, but Success Is No Guarantee
A look at the most significant deals provides a lesson in how hostile takeovers work and how would-be acquirers often make common mistakes.

Thermo Fisher to Acquire FEI for $4.2 billion
Thermo, a maker of devices and materials for scientific research, will incorporate FEIs electron microscopy platform into one of its units.

Dewey Defendant Gets New Lawyer for Second Trial
Stephen DiCarmine, the former executive director at Dewey, had said he would defend himself but decided to retain Rita Glavin of Seward & Kissel.

Yellen Says Fed on Track to Raise Rates ‘in Coming Months’
The Fed chief said evidence of a rebound was mounting, but did not suggest that a June rate increase was a foregone conclusion.

Verizon and Unions Reach Accord to End Strike, U.S. Says
The Labor Department said the company and two unions were nailing down contract language to submit to nearly 40,000 workers on strike since mid-April.

Chinese Detergent Ad Draws Charges of Racism
In the commercial for the Qiaobi brand, a black man is turned into a pale Asian man in a washing machine.

Curbs Are Lifted, but Water Issues Remain for California
After a relatively wet winter that eased fears of shortages, drier conditions may return to the state, both for the short and long term.

Tech Tip: Fixing Microsoft Office for Mac Update Errors
Some OS X versions of the popular business suite need a little extra help to be updated properly.

Wealth Matters: Renovations That Add Value to a Home: Think Shingles, Not Marble
Even when updates increase a home’s price, the increase may not line up with the costs of the changes. Certain changes may even lower a home’s value.

They Tilt Right, but Top C.E.O.s Don’t Give to Trump
An analysis of political donation from chief executives shows broad support for Republican candidates. Except for the presumptive nominee.

Fair Game: Where More Women Are on Boards, Executive Pay Is Higher
An analysis by Equilar last year found that among 100 large companies, those with greater gender diversity on their boards paid their chief executives about 15 percent more.

Top C.E.O. Pay Fell — Yes, Fell — in 2015
While the top-paid chief executives at the nation’s largest companies received an average of $19 million last year, that figure was down from 2014.

Midday Report: Wall St. Rises on Strong Bank and Consumer Stocks
Vanda Pharmaceuticals stock climbed after the Food and Drug Administration granted a new marketing approval for its schizophrenia drug Fanapt.

Mediator: Behind the Scenes, Billionaires’ Growing Control of News
Today’s quiet maneuvering by the ultrawealthy is very different — and can be more dangerous — than the undisguised views of moguls like William Randolph Hearst.

Corner Office: Shirley Ann Jackson: Keep Your Eye on the North Star
Dr. Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, says that understanding why you chose a career path can help you deal with forces of change.

The Workologist: Left Speechless by a Superior’s Hateful Comment
A stunned employee wonders how, or even whether, to respond after a superior makes an offensive and bigoted remark.