For the third year in a row, the search for Alpine snow is on. An ultra-dry December marred the start of the ski season in the mountainous heart of Europe, which draws millions expecting Instagram-ready white peaks and pretty villages. A colder January is improving conditions, but the unpredictable early winter weather cut ticket sales at resorts and confounded holiday planning. “The general discussion in the office after Christmas has been about lack of snow,” said Mark Dowding, portfolio manager at Bluebay Asset Management LLP in London, who’s been checking snow bulletins frantically ahead of a planned February ... (full story)