Bloomberg An independent panel backed an African Development Bank (AfDB) probe that found no evidence of wrongdoing by its president, Akinwumi Adesina. The finding enables Adesina, 60, to seek re-election next month as head of the continent’s biggest multilateral lender for another five years. It’s also a rebuff to US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, whose rejection of the AfDB ethics ...
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Credit Suisse expects windfall on $100 million Ant investment
Bloomberg Credit Suisse Group AG invested nearly $100 million in Ant Group during its last funding round, according to people familiar with the matter, setting the Swiss bank up for a potential windfall as the Chinese internet giant prepares to go public. The Zurich-based lender, a frequent adviser on deals across Jack Ma’s empire, made the equity investment during Ant’s ...
Read More »RBC inks solar power deal
Bloomberg Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) will buy solar power from BluEarth Renewables Inc. under a renewable-energy contract that’s a first of its kind for a Canadian financial firm. Canada’s largest bank and partner Bullfrog Power, a unit of Spark Power Group Inc., will each purchase 31,500 megawatt-hours a year — enough electricity for almost 2,600 homes — in an ...
Read More »Indonesia’s direct financing is test case for emerging markets
Bloomberg Bank Indonesia’s unprecedented move to buy about $27 billion in bonds directly from the government may prove to be an exception rather than the norm in emerging markets. With the world economy in crisis and Modern Monetary Theory gaining attention, governments are being pressured to spend more and turn to their central banks to print money to foot the ...
Read More »Queen’s banker stops EU mortgages as Brexit looms
Bloomberg Coutts & Co., the private UK bank that counts Queen Elizabeth II among its clients, has warned customers within the European Economic Area (EEA) that it can no longer offer them mortgages due to Brexit. The lender, owned by Natwest Group Plc, will lose so-called passporting rights that allow it to operate freely within the EEA if the current ...
Read More »Nordic banks plan job cuts
Bloomberg The biggest Nordic banks are taking a long hard look at their compliance units after a recent hiring spree. Mikael Bjertrup, the head of financial crime prevention at Nordea Bank Abp, says banks initially ramped up compliance so fast they weren’t able to focus on efficiency in those departments. Nordea has been working on the issue for a while, ...
Read More »European stocks advance as gold rally cools below $2,000
Bloomberg European stocks climbed on the back of strong earnings reports. Gold stabilised below $2,000 an ounce and US futures fluctuated. Games Workshop Group Plc led gains in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index after posting an increase in full-year profit. Peugeot maker PSA Group climbed 3.8% after sticking to its outlook. Silver retreated alongside base metals. The dollar traded near ...
Read More »Indian mutual funds facing first monthly withdrawal in 4 years
Bloomberg Equity mutual funds in India may witness their first monthly net outflows in more than four years as investors continue to cash out to tide over the pandemic-related credit crunch, while others hold off adding more in a rising stock market. Net withdrawals from stock plans may top 10 billion rupees ($134 million) in July, said Nilesh Shah, managing ...
Read More »South African stocks drop as gold frenzy pauses
Bloomberg South Africa’s main stock index erases gains of as 0.3%, to decline 0.6% by 9:54 am in Johannesburg, with gold shares retreating the most in more than a month as the rally in bullion cools. Luxury retailer and market heavyweight Richemont weighs on the benchmark index after earnings from French peer LVMH disappoint analysts. Globally, investors are betting setbacks ...
Read More »Mohamed orders AED2.78b in housing loans for 1,976 Emiratis
Abu Dhabi / WAM Upon the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi has ordered the disbursement of housing loans worth AED2.78 billion to 1,976 ...
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