International News

  Bloomberg China’s factories and services both closed out 2016 on relatively robust notes that signal growth is strong enough for policy makers to keep pushing for economic reforms in 2017. The manufacturing purchasing managers index stabilized near a post-2012 high in December, edging down to 51.4 from 51.7 the prior month. The non-manufacturing PMI slipped to 54.5 from a ...

  Bloomberg China has started an overhaul of its salt industry, easing a monopoly that has existed in some form for more than 2,000 years and predates the Great Wall. New regulations went into effect at the start of this year. Under a plan published by China’s State Council last year, government regulators will allow private companies to enter the ...

  Bloomberg The pace of German inflation more than doubled in December, driven by a surge in oil that is set to mask continued weakness in underlying price pressures in the months ahead. Consumer prices rose 1.7 percent from a year ago, recording the biggest jump on record, the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden said on Tuesday. Economists surveyed by ...

    Bloomberg UK manufacturing grew at the fastest pace in 2 and a 1/2 years in December, helped by the pound’s deprec- iation since the vote to leave the European Union. After dipping sharply in the wake of the Brexit referendum — dropping below the key 50 level in July — the IHS Markit Purchasing Managers Index has since ...

  Bloomberg The outlook for Britain’s labour market is “fairly bleak” amid the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and low levels of productivity, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Slower growth, lower real wages and increasing precariousness in the workforce will be the major challenges for the UK government and businesses over the next 12 months, the CIPD said. ...

  Bloomberg Finland has become the first country in Europe to pay its unemployed citizens a basic monthly income, amounting to 560 euros ($587), in a unique social experiment which is hoped to cut government red tape, reduce poverty and boost employment. Olli Kangas from the Finnish government agency KELA, which is responsible for the country’s social benefits, said Monday ...

  Bloomberg Britain risks losing 40 billion euros ($42 billion) of direct funding from European Union once it leaves bloc, according to UK parliamentary analysis. The European Structural and Investment Funds, which help develop the most deprived regions, and the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund that supports the Common Agricultural Policy are set to provide the U.K. with 17.2 billion euros ...

  Bloomberg Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp., South Korea’s largest automakers, forecast sales to climb 4.7 percent this year as they count on new model introductions to counter intensifying competition amid global uncertainties. Hyundai and Kia are targeting to deliver a combined 8.25 million vehicles in 2017 from 7.88 million units a year earlier, according to regulatory filings. ...

  Bloomberg South Korea banned the sale of 10 models built by Nissan Motor Co., BMW AG and Volkswagen AG’s Porsche after an investi- gation found the automakers fabricated documents related to emission tests. The three manufacturers were slapped with total fines of 7.17 billion won ($5.9 million), which apply to 4,523 vehicles, and the certifications given for these models ...

  Beijing / AP Beijing and other cities across northern and central China were shrouded in thick smog, prompting authorities to delay dozens of flights and close highways. The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau extended an “orange alert” for heavy air pollution for three more days. Beijing’s smog had initially been forecast to lift by Monday. The “orange alert” is ...