Business

The operator of McDonald’s restaurants in China has raised about $2 billion in bank loans to free up liquidity that will help operate the business, according to people familiar with the matter, as the country maintains its zero-tolerance approach to fighting Covid-19. Chinese state-backed Citic Ltd., Citic Capital and US private equity firm Carlyle Group Inc. acquired control of the ...

Amazon.com Inc. is freezing staffing levels in its profitable advertising business, according to a person familiar with the matter, showing that the world’s largest e-commerce company is taking more drastic measures to align expenses with slowing sales. The headcount freeze was announced internally, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. Amazon will continue ...

US equity-index futures rose and a bond selloff stalled as some investors bet a period of disinflation has already begun and the midterm election results will be favourable to markets. Contracts on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indexes added at least 0.4% each after dropping earlier. Most Treasuries erased losses, leaving only the two-year yield higher on the day. ...

Starbucks Corp. reported sales that exceeded expectations as US consumers forked over more for their lattes amid higher economy-wide inflation, driving the shares higher in late trading. The key measure of same-store sales rise 7% in the quarter ended October 2 — above the average estimate for 4.1% global growth compiled by Bloomberg. Internationally, same-store sales shrank, but less than ...

Singapore Airlines Ltd. posted a second consecutive quarterly profit as it continues to rebuild from the Covid crisis, which saddled it with record losses in 2021. Net income was S$557 million ($394 million) in the three months through September, compared with a loss of S$428 million a year earlier, Singapore Airlines said in a statement. Revenue was S$4.5 billion, up ...

Abu Dhabi / GULF TIME The China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) announced the C-NCAP 2021 results of EXEED VX. With the advantages in active and passive safety features, EXEED VX won the “five-star” safety rating, and ranked first among all 7-seat medium and large SUVs since the promulgation of the new regulations in 2018 with a comprehensive score ...

Nestlé, one of the top consumer goods suppliers in Indonesia, will avoid raising prices further after a 5% hike this year began to hurt demand. Faltering sales volume amid higher product prices is happening throughout the consumer goods industry, said PT Nestlé Indonesia President Director Ganesan Ampalavanar. He expects commodity costs to fall in the second half of 2023, which ...

Stocks and bonds fall as Jerome Powell’s warning that the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates more than previously anticipated sapped risk appetite. The dollar gained. Futures on the S&P 500 fall 1% in the wake of Wednesday’s 2.5% drop. The selloff spread to Europe and Asia, where China’s affirmation of its Covid-Zero stance dashed hopes of a reopening. Lumen ...

India’s most valuable startup, online-education giant Byju’s, is finalising plans for a $1 billion initial public offering (IPO) of its tutoring business Aakash Educational Services. The company is in talks with at least four foreign banks — JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley — as well as Indian banks including Kotak Mahindra Bank. ...

HSBC Holdings Plc and Standard Chartered Plc raised their main lending rates in Hong Kong again on Thursday, a move that will push borrowing costs higher for property owners as the economy continues to face massive strain. HSBC, the city’s biggest lender, said it is raising its prime rate by 25 basis points to 5.375% after the Hong Kong Monetary ...