All posts filed under: Writing Archive

Columns and blog posts, written over the years on a variety of websites.

The stock market’s dependence on tech giants is at a record high

January 30, 2024
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on January 30th, 2024. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. Ten trillion dollars in market cap is reporting its quarterly results this week — and just five tech companies account for all of it. The stock market’s dependence on the tech giants has never been greater. In 2011, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen wrote the now-famous […]

Beats expectations with old tricks

January 24, 2024
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on January 24th, 2024. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. Growth was in focus as Netflix crushed market expectations. The key to success spells advertising — and a bet on a well-proven idea: good old-fashioned TV. In 1998, a radical idea was launched: films delivered to your door, to watch whenever you want. Today the […]

Apple’s plan: work around the court ruling

January 17, 2024
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on January 17th, 2024. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. A court ruling on the so-called “Apple tax” looked set to cost the American tech giant billions. But a similar case reveals how the company plans to circumvent the court’s intent. Critics have called it a tax — but one levied by one of the […]

Few options as Viaplay’s fate is decided

January 9, 2024
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on January 9th, 2024. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. When Viaplay convenes for an extraordinary general meeting, the options are very few. Either shareholders approve the board’s plan, or the company risks collapse. The cost, however, is very high — especially for small investors. On Wednesday at 10am, Viaplay’s registered shareholders will gather at […]

Schibsted had to do something

December 11, 2023
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on December 11th, 2023. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. After years of disappointing shareholders, Schibsted’s news operations are to be delisted. What was once a sideline — the marketplaces — has now taken over the company entirely. In 1948, Swedish entertainer Karl Gerhard sang a cheerful little melody with the line: “We make up […]

Two things stand out about the Viaplay crisis

December 1, 2023
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on December 1st, 2023. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. Small investors are being wiped out as major shareholders step in to rescue Viaplay with new money. And one recently arrived owner is conspicuously absent from the new shareholder list: Norwegian media group Schibsted. More than six hours after the deadline, Viaplay’s latest quarterly report […]

The current Viaplay probably won’t exist much longer

November 28, 2023
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on November 28th, 2023. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. Viaplay is pushing back its quarterly figures once again. All focus is now on which owners will step forward and want to reshape the company. When listed companies report their quarterly figures, the conversation usually turns to how they have performed against market expectations. The […]

A trivial conflict — Tesla won’t back down

November 27, 2023
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on November 27th, 2023. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. Two realities collide as Tesla sues the Swedish state. The American challenger is used to going its own way — and is unlikely to yield even to Sweden’s powerful unions. A three-metre inflatable rat is standing on a pavement in San Francisco. It looks, to […]

The giant blow could trigger a new crypto crisis

November 22, 2023
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on November 22nd, 2023. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. The world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance, has been fined 45 billion kronor after admitting that Hamas, ISIS, and al-Qaeda were on its customer list. CEO Changpeng Zhao becomes the next crypto figure forced to resign. Could this trigger another crisis? When things were at their […]

The risk he took has now exploded

November 20, 2023
by Björn Jeffery
SvD Näringsliv

This analysis was first published in SvD Näringsliv, in Swedish, on November 20th, 2023. This piece was translated from Swedish by Claude. Some phrasing may differ from a human translation. The drama around Sam Altman and OpenAI has clearly shaken Microsoft. Now CEO Satya Nadella is taking AI development into his own hands. Our current era of AI development can be traced back to a single decision made around four years ago. It was not […]