Reuters Algeria’s government plans to slash spending by 14 percent in 2017, after a 9 percent cut this year, seeking to adjust to lower energy revenues, according to a government official. It is also considering increasing subsidised gasoline and diesel prices for a second straight year to rein in rising domestic consumption and lower the import bill, the official said. ...
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Egypt August inflation driven to 7-year high
Bloomberg Egypt’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 15.5% in August, driven to its highest level in at least seven years by the weakening of the currency and an increase in electricity prices. Consumer prices rose 1.9 percent in the month, according to data published by the state-run CAPMAS statistics agency. Food and beverage prices, which account for the largest ...
Read More »Respite to global steel sector as Chinese exports ease
Bloomberg Steel exports from China slumped last month to the lowest level since February, offering some respite to world leaders just days after they expressed concern over a growing glut of the metal. Shipments from the biggest producer dropped to 9 million metric tons from 10.3 million in July and 9.7 million tons a year earlier, according to China’s ...
Read More »China crude oil imports rebound
Bloomberg China’s crude oil imports increased to the highest in four months, while coal shipments jumped to the most since December 2014 as domestic production of both fuels declines. The world’s biggest energy user imported 32.85 million metric tons of crude in August, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Thursday. That’s about 7.77 million ...
Read More »Japan’s economy growth in Q2 beats expectations
Bloomberg Japan’s economy expanded more than the government initially reported for the second quarter, helped by an upward revision in capital spending, private inventories and public investment. Key Points Gross domestic product expanded by an annualized 0.7 percent in the three months ended June 30, more than the initial reading of 0.2 percent, according to revised data from the ...
Read More »â€˜Australia selling farm to China debunked as myth’
Bloomberg Chinese investors hold just 0.38 percent of Australia’s agricultural land, Treasurer Scott Morrison said, citing a report which he said will allay concern among voters that the Asian nation is buying up farmland on a massive scale. A total of 13.6 percent of agricultural land is held by international investors, with 52 percent of that owned by U.K. ...
Read More »Record Oz iron exports seen presaging drop in prices
Bloomberg Iron ore shipments from the world’s largest bulk-export terminal in Australia swelled to a record, offering fresh evidence of strong supply and underpinning forecasts of lower prices through the year-end. Exports from Port Hedland totaled 42.9 million metric tons in August from 38.7 million in July and 39.2 million a year earlier, data from the Pilbara Ports Authority ...
Read More »Saudi up but volume dwindles, profit-taking hits Qatar
Riyadh / Reuters Petrochemical shares supported Saudi Arabia’s stock index on Thursday, benefiting from a bounce-back in crude oil prices, while Qatar underperformed as investors sold shares which had risen over the past month. Trade in some markets was thinned by the fact that Middle Eastern bourses will close for Eid al-Adha holidays during all or much of next ...
Read More »European shares fall as Draghi says QE extension not discussed
Bloomberg Stocks in Europe fell the most in two weeks after President Mario Draghi said the European Central Bank didn’t discuss an extension to its bond-buying program at its latest meeting. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index dropped 0.8 percent to 347.62 at 2:32 p.m. in London, extending losses as Draghi explained the ECB’s decision to leave interest rates and ...
Read More »Apple updates key iPhone line
Bloomberg Apple Inc. has rolled out updated products and new features that mostly relied on an old strategy. The most-valuable technology company is targeting pent-up appetite for new iPhones to reignite sales growth amid mounting investor concern that its pace of innovation is slowing. The iPhone 7 line includes camera upgrades, a faster processor, longer battery life and a ...
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