Dec 03, (V7N) - A US judge has upheld her earlier decision to reject Elon Musk's $55.8 billion compensation package at Tesla, dismissing an attempt to restore it through a shareholder vote. Delaware's Court of Chancery Chancellor, Kathaleen McCormick, ruled that Tesla's June vote could not override her January decision, which had struck down the package as excessive and unfair to shareholders. The court found several flaws in the ratification attempt, including "material misstatements" in the documents given to shareholders. Musk, via his social media platform X, stated that Tesla would appeal the decision, arguing that shareholders should control company votes. The court also awarded $345 million in attorney fees, much lower than the $5.6 billion requested by the plaintiff's lawyers. Musk's compensation package, approved in 2018, had been designed to reward his leadership for Tesla's growth, but Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta sued, claiming that Musk's terms were dictated and benefited him unjustly.

Market Update

Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday, following a strong start to the month in the US, where tech stocks led a rally. Investors remain cautious, focusing on upcoming US jobs data that could influence the Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates. The Dow and S&P 500 had a strong performance in November due to expectations of more business-friendly measures under President-elect Donald Trump. However, tensions between the US and China, especially related to semiconductor export restrictions, have sparked concerns in the market. Additionally, concerns over the eurozone's political instability, particularly in France, have weighed on the euro. The euro fell to its lowest point since October last year due to uncertainty surrounding a potential no-confidence vote against French Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

Vietnamese Property Tycoon Appeals Death Sentence

Vietnamese property tycoon Truong My Lan, convicted of embezzling $27 billion from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), has appealed her death sentence. Lan, 68, was convicted earlier this year and sentenced to death for orchestrating one of the largest frauds in Vietnam’s history. In her appeal, Lan described the death sentence as harsh and requested a more lenient approach. The case, which has shaken Vietnam, involves tens of thousands of people who lost money in the fraudulent scheme. Lan controlled more than 90% of SCB, despite owning only 5% of shares on paper. If she repays three-quarters of the stolen assets and cooperates with authorities, she may avoid the death penalty. However, prosecutors argue she has not met these conditions. Lan has also been convicted of money laundering in a separate case and sentenced to life imprisonment.

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