Companies cast off their reluctance to invest

COMPANIES' enthusiasm for investment faded after the global financial crisis, and took a huge hit when covid-19 struck. But even those that have been stingy in the past decade, such as miners and shipping firms, are expected to loosen the purse strings this year and next. One exception is oil-and-gas companies, many of which, given the global push to decarbonise, may see little point in expanding capacity.