Bloomberg Vietnam set its reference rate for the dong at a record low, setting the stage for more weakness in the country’s currency The State Bank of Vietnam set the currency fixing at 23,281 dong per dollar, the weakest since at least 2005, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s after the dong fell to the lowest in more …

Bloomberg UBS Group AG has abandoned its plan to acquire US robo-adviser Wealthfront, unwinding what would have been the Swiss bank’s first major acquisition under Chief Executive Officer Ralph Hamers. The companies together decided to terminate their January merger agreement, valued at $1.4 billion, according to statements from both of them that didn’t specify a reason. UBS will purchase a …

  Bloomberg The world’s biggest banks are on track to make a killing in commodities this year, surpassing the record sums they made in the financial crisis. The 100 biggest banks by revenue are set to make $18 billion from commodities trading in 2022, according to data and estimates from Vali Analytics in London. That would be the highest in …

  Bloomberg Investors are rushing out of US equities as the likelihood of an economic downturn increases amid a myriad of risks, according to Bank of America Corp (BofA) strategists. The nation’s stock funds had outflows of $10.9 billion in the week to September 7, according to EPFR Global data cited by the bank. The biggest exodus in 11 weeks …

Bloomberg Stocks and US equity futures advanced on Friday as investors assessed whether monetary tightening to tackle inflation in the US and Europe is getting closer to being priced in. A gauge of dollar strength dropped the most in a month. Europe’s Stoxx 600 Index jumped as miners rallied on optimism over Chinese demand. Gains in S&P 500 and Nasdaq …

BALMORAL / WAM Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday, Reuters reported. With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms.

  GENEVA / WAM The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced passenger data for July showing that the recovery in air travel continues to be strong. Total traffic in July (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was up 58.8 percent compared to July 2021. Globally, traffic is now at 74.6 percent of pre-crisis levels. Domestic traffic for July 2022 …

Bloomberg The UK Treasury and Bank of England launched a £40 billion ($46 billion) fund to provide energy traders liquidity to deal with massive margin calls, joining a list of European states taking dramatic action to prevent the energy crisis becoming a “Lehman” moment. The so-called Energy Markets Financing Scheme will provide stability for energy and financial markets, and help …

  Bloomberg Retail sales growth slowed last month as shoppers tightened their purse strings in the face of Britain’s escalating cost-of-living crisis. Sales were just 1% higher than in August 2021, the British Retail Consortium and consultancy KPMG said in a report. Clothing sales were “sluggish” for the first time in recent months and parents curbed their back-to-school spending. With …

  Bloomberg The Pentagon has halted deliveries of Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 after finding an alloy used in magnets for pumps on the fighter jet were made in China. The F-35 program office “temporarily paused the acceptance of new F-35 aircraft to ensure the F-35 program’s compliance” with defense regulations “pertaining to specialty metals,” Defense Department spokesman Russell Goemaere said …