Bloomberg Crude soared above $75 a barrel in New York for the first time since 2014 on signs global supply outages outweigh OPEC’s pledged production rise. Futures in New York jumped as much as 1.7 percent. Even as US President Donald Trump — facing sky-high retail gasoline prices ahead of midterm elections — urges to boost output more than it ...
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China verbally props up yuan as trade, growth fears spike
Bloomberg Two top Chinese central bank officials vowed to keep the yuan stable on Tuesday, stoking speculation that policy makers are prepared to take tougher actions to arrest the plunge in the currency. Using standard language to describe the stance on the currency, People’s Bank of China Governor Yi Gang said China will “keep the yuan exchange rate basically stable ...
Read More »S African central bank seeks Capitec fee probe
Bloomberg The South African Reserve Bank has written to the National Credit Regulator requesting a probe into loan- origination fees charged by Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd., according to a person familiar with the matter. The referral came after the issue was raised in a report by short-seller Viceroy Research in January, said the person, asking not to be identified because ...
Read More »SocGen buys Commerzbank markets unit
Bloomberg Societe Generale SA is acquiring the Commerzbank AG business that includes the German lender’s exchange-traded products and market-making operations as it seeks expansion in Europe’s largest economy. The French bank will take over investments products, flow products and asset management businesses based in Frankfurt, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Zurich, according to an e-mailed statement on Tuesday. While it ...
Read More »Challenges mount in Philippine central bank chief’s 2nd year
Bloomberg Philippine central bank Governor Nestor Espenilla faces mounting challenges as he begins his second year in office. The 59-year-old central banker is set to miss his inflation target, the peso is wallowing near a 12-year low, and he is facing criticism he took too long to raise interest rates. He ends the first year of his six-year term in ...
Read More »US banks weak after worst reversal in 3 years
Bloomberg US financials are still nursing their June hangover. The Financial Select Sector SPDR exchange-traded fund is trading to the downside yet again in early trading, weighed down by Citigroup and Bank of America. The drop follows the KBW Bank Index’s dramatic day that delivered the biggest intraday reversal — from up as much as 2.1 percent to ending in ...
Read More »Australia holds rate as currency drop offers export support
Bloomberg Australia left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low on Tuesday as the currency’s recent decline aids the economy by offering exporters some insulation against global trade ructions. Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe kept the cash rate at 1.5 percent, as expected by all economists and where it’s stood since August 2016. The Australian dollar this week ...
Read More »Flights in Argentina could soon be much cheaper
Bloomberg Travellers are about to get cheaper flights in Argentina as President Mauricio Macri curbs price floors that have propped up domestic airfares. In an effort to boost tourism, the government will allow airlines to drop prices as low as they want for domestic service as of August 15. The rule change only applies to round trips, and customers must ...
Read More »Pentagon hyped $1.2bn F-35 savings claim, say senators
Bloomberg Senators have chided the Pentagon’s F-35 program office for claiming $1.2 billion in purported savings from buying parts and equipment for Lockheed Martin Corp.’s fighter jet in bulk after an independent analysis found the benefit is likely to be half that. Program office officials sought and won congressional approval last year to spend $661 million as a down payment ...
Read More »Macy’s plans 60 new Bluemercury stores
Bloomberg Macy’s Inc., pleased so far with the performance of Bluemercury, is pushing for more. The cosmetics brand, acquired by Macy’s for $210 million in 2015, will open about 60 new standalone stores through 2019 — maintaining the chain’s pace of expansion. More will open inside existing Macy’s locations, underscoring how Bluemercury has become a key part of the department ...
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