International News

Bloomberg Thailand said it will explore domestic and foreign funding options for planned borrowing of 1 trillion baht ($30.6 billion) to finance a major economic stimulus programme. The debt is a key element of a 1.9-trillion-baht package to help low-income households, farmers and companies reeling from the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy may contract 5.3% ...

Bloomberg In the villages of India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, even some family members returning home from the cities aren’t allowed in. State officials have told village councils to keep returning labourers from entering the town or meeting people due to fears they may be infected with the coronavirus. Instead, they’re forced to stay in schools or farms ...

Bloomberg European Union (EU) finance ministers agreed on a 540 billion-euro ($590 billion) package of measures to combat the economic fallout of the global coronavirus pandemic. It’s now up to EU leaders to approve the accord, which will require overcoming profound political disagreements. In an emergency teleconference, finance chiefs approved a plan to stave off what’s expected to be a ...

Bloomberg Renault SA Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said the French carmaker is seeking as much as 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in government-backed loans to weather the coronavirus pandemic, while dismissing the possibility of nationalisation. “We are working on the idea of bank loans that would be guaranteed by the state and are destined to be reimbursed,” Senard Friday on RTL ...

Bloomberg Bulgaria is renewing efforts to join the euro area’s waiting room in the hope for easier access to financial aid in the coronavirus crisis. The European Union’s poorest country has been pushing to join the currency zone since 2016 to boost living standards and avoid being sidelined in the bloc’s decision-making. After numerous setbacks, the central bank has signaled ...

Bloomberg Italy extended a national lockdown until May 3, rejecting calls by business leaders to allow a gradual restart of the economy. The decision reflects a pattern playing out in many parts of Europe as health officials and politicians warn against letting up too early on restrictions to stem the spread of the coronavirus and avoid a second wave of ...

Bloomberg The disruption caused by the fallout from coronavirus outbreak is the last thing Spain’s car industry needs. Already under pressure from the shift to electric vehicles, the pandemic risks raising uncomfortable questions for Europe’s second-largest auto producer. As auto bosses plot their course for the years ahead — with less money to spread around — Spain could come up ...

Bloomberg Caterpillar Inc. is in discussions with banks to raise a new $3 billion 9-month revolving credit facility. The deal could be increased to about $5 billion in total and will help boost the construction equipment company’s liquidity, the people said. Representatives for Citibank, which is leading the deal, and Caterpillar declined to comment. Other banks on the deal include ...

Bloomberg The Indian tycoon whose net worth surged the most among peers as the deadly coronavirus roils markets worldwide can thank nation’s hoarders with millions scrambling to stock up on staples amid the world’s biggest isolation effort. The net worth of Radhakishan Damani, who controls Avenue Supermarts Ltd., has surged almost 11% this year to $10.7 billion, singling him out ...

Bloomberg Asian tycoons are looking to snap up assets pummeled by the deadly coronavirus at bargain prices, but they are also facing hurdles as more governments seek to deter foreign takeovers of local firms. Over the past three months, top executives of companies based in mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore have told investors that they are looking for acquisitions. ...