International News

Ant-backed Zomato files for $1.1b Mumbai IPO

Bloomberg Zomato Ltd, an Indian food delivery startup backed by Jack Ma’s Ant Group Co, has filed an initial prospectus with Indian market regulator for an initial public offering that could raise as much as 82.5 billion rupees ($1.1 billion). The company plans to issue new shares to raise a maximum 75 billion rupees, while its major shareholder Info Edge ...

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Soaring oxygen demand makes Indian tycoon slash steel output

Bloomberg India’s most valuable steelmaker is cutting output to step up supplies of medical-grade oxygen as the country grapples with a devastating shortage of the life-saving gas amid surging coronavirus infections. JSW Steel Ltd said it is reducing output to augment liquid medical oxygen supply to more than 900 tons a day by April-end, and more than 20,000 tons for ...

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Glacial pace of vaccinations threatens Japan’s Olympics

Bloomberg In the race to vaccinate citizens against Covid-19, Japan should be a front-runner. It has nearly universal healthcare coverage and pharmaceutical prowess, not to mention a pending national election, a large elderly population and the looming Olympics to motivate political leaders to move fast. Yet it has the dubious distinction of being among the worst performers when it comes ...

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Maruti Suzuki India’s profit narrows

Bloomberg Maruti Suzuki India Ltd’s profit narrowed and earnings trailed estimates as a resurgent Covid-19 outbreak hit consumer demand in Asia’s third-largest economy. Net income fell 9.3% to 11.7 billion rupees ($157 million) in the three months ended on March 31, the unit of Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp said in a statement. That’s less than the average analyst estimate of ...

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China broadens its antitrust crackdown with Meituan probe

Bloomberg China’s government has expanded its antitrust crackdown beyond Jack Ma’s technology empire, launching an investigation into suspected monopolistic practices by food-delivery behemoth Meituan. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced the investigation, which began recently, in a statement. The antitrust watchdog is looking into alleged abuses including forced exclusivity arrangements known as “pick one of two.” The company ...

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Hong Kong, Singapore set new date for travel bubble

Bloomberg A quarantine-free air travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore is finally slated to get off the ground with a start date of May 26, following setbacks that led to the plan initially being shelved last November. Largely shut off from the rest of the world during the pandemic, the two sides have been in talks for months to ...

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India’s growth forecast in peril over second wave

Bloomberg Just two weeks ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded India’s economic growth forecast to 12.5% — the quickest rate among major economies. Now, as Covid-19 cases surge the most globally, that bullish view is looking increasingly in doubt. In Delhi, India’s political capital, the streets are mostly empty and the markets nearly deserted with almost all shops closed ...

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China’s CICC fends off Wall Street with hiring, takeovers

Bloomberg As global banks make inroads into China’s $15 trillion asset management market, China International Capital Corp is launching a counter-offensive spanning from overseas acquisitions to hiring. CICC is searching for potential targets among medium-sized, Asia-focused managers including stock houses and hedge funds, said Frank Xu, head of asset management. Without takeovers, the size of his business line is already ...

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Top Glove stock rises to 2-month high

Bloomberg Shares of the world’s largest rubber glove maker rose to a two-month high after the company cut its share sale in Hong Kong by nearly half of its earlier target, a move analysts said will minimise earnings dilution. Top Glove Corp climbed as much as 2.5% in Kuala Lumpur, the highest since February 23. The company, whose shares also ...

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Temasek joins Screwvala on path to next India unicorn

Bloomberg Ronnie Screwvala pioneered cable television in India in the 1980s and then built a unicorn that was acquired by Walt Disney Co. At 64, the entrepreneur’s latest venture UpGrad is speeding towards a landmark $1 billion valuation. The higher education and upskilling startup raised $120 million from Singapore-based investor Temasek Holdings Pte, according to its co-founder. That’s the first ...

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