Indications for Factorization and $Re V_{ub} < 0$ from Rare B Decay Data

Abstract

Surveying known hadronic rare B decays, we find that the factorization approximation can give a coherent account of $K\pi$, $\pi\pi$ and $\rho^0\pi^+$ data and give predictions for $\omega^0\pi^+$, $\rho\pi$ and $K^*\pi$ modes, {\it if ${Re}V_{ub}$ is taken as negative} (in standard phase convention) rather than positive. As further confirmation, we expect a lower $\sin2\beta$ value at B Factories as compared to current fits, and $B_s$ mixing close to LEP bounds at SLD and CDF.