Bloomberg The Bank of England (BOE) pushed back against speculation that a surge in UK inflation means it’s preparing to boost interest rates, saying the economy still needs support to recover from the pandemic. The central bank warned against “premature tightening,” toughening its language on the need to maintain stimulus. The remarks contrasted with a sharp increase in the bank’s …

Bloomberg A $6 trillion boom in US equities to open 2021 is leaving the pandemic’s winners in the dust as investors shift their focus to companies taking advantage of a reopening economy. Americans’ renewed interest in shopping and travel — not to mention meme stocks — helped send the S&P 500 Index to a 14% gain. Losing out were the …

Bloomberg Companies are racing to public markets like never before, cashing in on record-high stock prices. An all-time high of almost $350 billion has been raised in initial public offerings in the first six months of this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, surpassing the previous peak of $282 billion from the second half of 2020 and enriching entrepreneurs …

Bloomberg The International Monetary Fund (IMF) board gave its unanimous support to a proposal to create a record $650 billion of new reserves for its members, bringing the plan to increase resources for nations struggling with the pandemic one step closer to final approval. All members attending the meeting of the executive board — composed of 24 individuals from IMF …

Bloomberg Oil posted its fifth straight weekly gain, the longest winning streak since December, as demand recovers and supplies continue tighten in the US and China. Futures in New York rise 3.4% this week to the highest level since October 2018. Demand continues to rebound while the market expects output will only get a modest increase from the Opec+ alliance, …

Bloomberg The US and Germany want to conclude a deal by August to blunt Moscow’s geopolitical gains once the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is finished, with the two sides exploring ways to shore up Ukraine’s energy sector and deter Russian aggression through the threat of sanctions. The agreement, which some officials hope to have ready for Chancellor Angela …

Bloomberg Royal Dutch Shell Plc said it plans to buy BP Plc’s stake in a North Sea field they share, superseding a deal agreed by the British oil major last month. “Shell UK Ltd has agreed to purchase BP’s interest in the Shearwater gas hub,” a spokesperson for the Anglo-Dutch company said, without disclosing terms. “The move reflects Shell’s strategy …

Bloomberg Southwest Airlines Co will increase its minimum wage to $15 an hour and raise the pay of thousands of airport workers to ensure it retains sufficient staff and can attract new employees to support growth over the next two to four years. The move will affect more than 7,000 employees and take effect from August 1, the airline told …

Bloomberg Kenya Airways Plc‘s head said the government should step in to repay $750 million of state-guaranteed debt to help the East African carrier emerge from the Covid-19 crisis that has battered the industry. The airline is scheduled to resume repayments of the sovereign-backed debt next month, following a moratorium negotiated with lenders following the grounding of most international travel …

Bloomberg 7-Eleven Inc was ordered by US antitrust regulators to sell 293 gas-station retail stores acquired as part of its $21 billion purchase of Marathon Petroleum’s Speedway business. The order disclosed by the US Federal Trade Commission resolves lingering concerns over the transaction. In May, FTC Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and her fellow Democratic commissioner said the agency would …