Bloomberg President Vladimir Putin’s ruling party is set to win a decisive victory in legislative polls despite simmering discontent after sidelining political opponents. While Putin personally retains broad support, according to polls, his United Russia party recorded some of the lowest ratings in nearly a decade earlier this year, scorned by voters angry over stagnant living standards and unpopular policies. ...

Bloomberg Australian PM Scott Morrison said France was aware of Australia’s concerns on the capability of submarines being built by the European nation, defending his government’s decision to sign a new deal for nuclear-powered ones. Australia understands France’s disappointment but the decision was made on “sovereign, national defense interests,” Morrison said. “Ultimately, this was a decision about whether the submarines ...

Bloomberg Ports operating in the US’s biggest gateway for trade with Asia will extend night hours and work weekends to clear port delays amid record volumes. The port of Los Angeles will expand weekend operating gate hours while neighbouring Long Beach will extend the hours during which trucks can pick up and return containers, they said in a joint statement. ...

Bloomberg Italy’s government will spend around 3.5 billion euros ($4.1 billion) to protect consumers from a surge in energy prices that’s hit countries across Europe, according to people familiar with the matter. The disbursement could be approved as soon as next week, the people said, asking not to be named discussing confidential plans. Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s administration is also ...

Bloomberg Used car prices, one of the biggest drivers of US inflation this year, rise again in early September on a monthly basis after idling over the summer. The Manheim US Used Vehicle Value Index, a measure of pricing trends, increased 3.6% in the first half of September compared with a month earlier. That puts it on track for the ...

Bloomberg Hungary plans to offer a range of dollar and euro bonds to shore up its budget as it’s facing a potential delay in accessing European Union funds because of a feud with the bloc over democratic values. The country may sell 10-year and 30-year bonds in dollars, as well as seven-year and/or 20-year bonds in euros. Hungary’s debt management ...

Bloomberg UK inflation surged more than expected to the strongest pace in more than nine years, prompting investors to anticipate a sharper increase in interest rates in 2022. Consumer prices jumped 3.2% in August from a year ago, the most since March 2012, Office for National Statistics said. The reading was up from 2% in July and above the highest ...

Bloomberg Short-sellers have driven big losses in the favourite stocks of South Korean retail investors this month, piggybacking on a campaign by local regulators to rein in the power of Kakao Corp and other internet giants. Kakao, the operator of Korea’s most-used messenger app, is the most-shorted stock in September as lawmakers voiced concerns over its market dominance — a ...

Bloomberg China’s top regulators defended their market-roiling crackdown on various industries in a meeting with Wall Street executives, while reassuring them the stricter rules aren’t aimed at stifling technology companies or private sector. China Securities Regulatory Commission Vice Chairman Fang Xinghai said recent actions were to strengthen regulations for companies with consumer-facing platforms, and improve data privacy and national security. ...

Bloomberg Oil declined amid Russia’s plans to boost upcoming overseas oil sales and as the dollar rallied. Futures in New York ended the session nearly 1% lower. Russia will increase its oil exports 3% in the fourth quarter, according to Interfax. Meanwhile, gains in the US dollar reduced investor interest in commodities priced in the currency. “There’s been demand destruction ...