International News

Bloomberg Singapore pledged it would not be left behind as developed economies reopen, marking an intention to shift away from the strict containment approach that’s helped some Asian places eliminate the virus, but which leaves them increasingly isolated. The country wouldn’t be stuck in a Covid-19 malaise, and tourists will be welcomed, people can go for sports events, even ditch ...

Bloomberg France is ready to start reducing financial support to businesses and workers hit by coronavirus restrictions as its vaccination program offers a route out of the crisis, Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne said. The government has spent more than 40 billion euros ($48.8 billion) in 2020 and 2021 to protect employment, benefiting 2.7 million people on furloughs last month, up ...

Bloomberg UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak wants the US government to sign up to a global tax on technology companies such as Google and Facebook Inc, he said in an interview with the Mail. He urged President Joe Biden’s administration to discuss the new tax in time for Group of Seven meetings next month. The US has indicated ...

Bloomberg A full global deal to overhaul taxation rules and make multinationals pay more in countries where they operate may not be achieved until October, the chief of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Monday. Speaking in Paris, Angel Gurria said a “180-degree change in the position of the US” has accelerated the talks, making an ...

Bloomberg Sweden’s economy returned to its pre-pandemic level in the first quarter as the recovery in the largest Nordic economy is outpacing most of its wealthy peers. The gross domestic product was unchanged in the first quarter from the year-earlier level, on a calendar-adjusted basis, according to the Stockholm-based statistics office. Swedbank’s analysts Pernilla Johansson and Maria Wallin Fredholm said ...

Bloomberg Assicurazioni Generali SpA offered to buy Italian insurer Societa Cattolica di Assicurazioni SC in a deal valuing the smaller rival at 1.5 billion euros ($1.4 billion). Generali, which already has a stake of about 24% in the company, is offering investors 6.75 euros per Cattolica share in an all cash deal, the insurer said in a statement. The offer ...

Bloomberg The US merchandise-trade deficit narrowed for first time this year as the value of exports surged to a record and imports fell from an all-time high. The deficit shrinks to $85.2 billion from $90.6 billion in March, according to Commerce Department data. The median estimate in Bloomberg survey of economists had called for a $92 billion shortfall last month. ...

Bloomberg Chinese food-delivery giant Meituan is working to address regulators’ concerns about its business, changing practices that sparked an antitrust probe while promising better treatment for its millions of drivers and restaurants. The Beijing-based company has set up a dedicated team to work with officials conducting the investigation and vowed strict compliance with new guidelines. It’s also providing insurance for ...

Bloomberg JD Logistics Inc rose as much as 18% on its first day of trading after raising $3.2 billion in Hong Kong’s second-largest initial public offering this year. Shares of the delivery arm of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com climbed to as high as HK$47.75 in Hong Kong, before giving up some of their gains. The stock had been priced at ...

Bloomberg The cost to move goods in a shipping container to Europe from Asia shot above $10,000 for the first time on record, an index showed, underscoring the pain inflicted on exporters and importers struggling with stretched supply chains. The Drewry World Container Index showed the rate for a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Rotterdam rose to $10,174, up 3.1% ...