DUBAI / Emirates Business Off-plan real estate transactions in Dubai increased 60% in 2017, compared to 2016, according to the latest Observer: Dubai Q4 2017 report from leading international property company Chestertons MENA. The figures follow a steep increase in the volume and value of off-plan transactions in the second half of the year, with Dubailand, Business Bay and Al …

Bloomberg The global stock declines that have shaped the week showed signs of easing in the US, with all three major equity indices trading higher. The dollar slump deepened in the wake of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. The S&P 500 Index gained for the first time in three days as companies including Xerox Corp., Anthem Inc., …

Reuters Cement shares lifted Saudi Arabia’s stock index on Wednesday while other big bourses in the region were weak, with real estate shares pulling down Dubai. The Saudi index rose 0.3 percent as 13 of the 14 cement stocks climbed in unusually heavy trade. Jouf Cement was up 5.4 percent and Tabuk Cement jumped its 10 percent daily limit. The …

Bloomberg Britain’s five-decade dominance of wing construction for Airbus SE jets is under threat from rival countries playing up the uncertainties surrounding Brexit to pitch for a share of the high-value, manufacturing work. Airbus has been approached by at least seven governments looking to poach future wing production after the company raised concerns about Britain quitting the European Union, stirring …

Bloomberg Hennes & Mauritz AB reported its biggest drop in profit in six years, adding pressure on Chief Executive Officer Karl-Johan Persson, who is trying to right the ailing Swedish clothing chain after recent slipups. Operating profit fell 14 percent to 20.6 billion kronor ($2.6 billion) in the 12 months through November, H&M said in a statement. Analysts expected 20.4 …

Bloomberg Swatch Group AG reported an increase in profit for the first time in four years as Switzerland’s largest watchmaker boosted its share in the intensely competitive low-end timepiece market thanks to growth at Tissot and its namesake plastic brand. Swatch said it has had a “massive gain” in market share in the basic and midrange segments. The company sells …

Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc.’s foray into health care won’t be the first time it has disrupted an entire industry by starting with an effort inside the company. Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos is teaming up with fellow billionaires Warren Buffett and Jamie Dimon to revamp health care for the 2.4 million workers and dependents of the companies they run. The …

Bloomberg Oil’s sinking back down to earth. Euphoria that’s driven the longest monthly rising streak in almost seven years is giving way to concern that US stockpiles will rebound as the rally encourages American drillers. That’s sparked a 3.1 percent drop in New York futures this week, marring crude’s best January since 2013. The sour sentiment is bleeding into equities, …

Bloomberg OPEC-led production cuts will last for the rest of the year, and an early termination in June would be a surprise to the market, the International Energy Agency’s markets division head said. The oil market will move from surplus into a small deficit after the first quarter but it will be fairly balanced overall this year, the IEA’s Neil …

Bloomberg OPEC’s second-biggest producer is relinquishing some control over its prized oil in exchange for better prices. In a rare move, Iraq is allowing buyers to load its crude without saying where the cargo will finally end up. They will only have to let the Middle East producer know about the destination two weeks after the shipment’s bill of lading, …