Business

BLOOMBERG Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is committing more than £360 million to cutting-edge technologies under plans to make Britain a science “superpower” by the end of the decade, as he starts to sketch out his vision in the build-up to next week’s budget. Under a 10-point Science and Technology Framework, a “coordinated cross-government approach” will drive innovation in “trailblasing” technologies …

BLOOMBERG As Covid-19 lockdowns gripped the world in 2020, Bernard Looney, chief executive officer of BP Plc, made a startling admission: He thought that oil demand might never return to its pre-pandemic peak. But recently, Looney has done an about-face. After announcing ambitious plans to cut emissions, BP, one of the world’s top crude producers, is now plowing more money …

BLOOMBERG Chinese markets may come under pressure again on concerns that authorities will withhold stimulus after unveiling a conservative economic growth target that is below many investors’ expectations. The consensus-lagging growth goal of around 5% for 2023, as Premier Li Keqiang outlined in a key address to open the National People’s Congress, suggests strong monetary or fiscal help may be …

BLOOMBERG Thailand spent a total of 444 billion baht ($12.8 billion) on public health during the three years of the pandemic to contain the spread of Covid-19 and vaccinate its population, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The cost of testing and treating people for Covid accounted for more than half the total spending at 260 billion baht, the …

BLOOMBERG Takeda Pharmaceutical Co will sell its dengue vaccine at a steep discount in emerging markets, part of its plan to make sure that people most vulnerable to the life-threatening disease will have access to the immunisation. The cost for Qdenga in Indonesia will be about one-third its European price, far lower than many other innovative vaccines, Takeda Chief Executive …

BLOOMBERG Activity in India’s dominant services sector climbed to the highest level in 12 years, aided by new business orders and moderation in cost pressures amid resilient demand in the economy. The S&P Global India Purchasing Managers Index for services rose to 59.4 in February from 57.2 in the previous month, according to a statement. A number above 50 shows …

BLOOMBERG India approved its largest ever hydropower project in the mountainous northeastern region bordering China as the country seeks to build renewable generation to meet rising power demand. The government approved the estimated investment of 319 billion rupees ($3.9 billion) for the 2,880-megawatt Dibang project in Arunachal Pradesh, state-run hydropower producer NHPC Ltd said. The project is estimated to take …

BLOOMBERG India’s thriving farm sector — the only bright spot in its slowing economy — has become a hostage to warnings of a heat wave, muddling the outlook for policy makers already grappling with sticky inflation. The nation’s economic growth unexpectedly slowed to a three-quarter low of 4.4% in three months to December, data showed. The weather office’s prediction of …

A potential near-term peak in bond yields should help US stocks in the short-run, but risks remain for investors as global central banks raise interest rates at the fastest pace in decades, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Marko Kolanovic. “(Federal Reserve) Chair Powell stated that rates are likely to move higher than previously indicated by the September dots (4.75%) …

Chinese stocks halted a recent rally as a jump in Covid-19 infections and official comments defending Covid Zero dented optimism for a potential reopening. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index slipped 0.6% on Tuesday, following gains of about 14% over the past five days. A separate gauge on Chinese tech shares trading in Hong Kong falls 1.6%. China’s potential exit …