International News

Uber makes deal to protect S African drivers

Bloomberg Uber Technologies Inc. is partnering with security and insurance company Chubb Ltd. to cover its South African drivers in case of death or injury as violent attacks plague the country’s cities. The new deal will pay out a lump sum to the family in case of death, or to the driver if he or she is permanently disabled, the ...

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Factories from Asia to Europe put on brakes amid trade spats

Bloomberg Manufacturers in some of the world’s biggest economies are putting the brakes on production as they watch trade disputes with the US unfold. Reports showed factory activity from the Asia Pacific region to Europe slowed last month. With companies issuing warnings about the impact of tit-for-tat battles over import tariffs on their profits, the data suggest that protectionist threats ...

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BMW plans first EU plant in two decades amid trade tensions

Bloomberg BMW AG is building its first factory in Europe in nearly two decades, strengthening its footprint close to home as growing protectionism adds to the cost of shipping cars around the globe. The carmaker is investing $1.17 billion in a new production plant in Hungary to produce 150,000 vehicles annually, according to a statement. It’ll be BMW’s first new ...

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Vodafone seen ripe for activist investors

Bloomberg A weak share price, a fragile dividend and a switch of chief executives: conditions at Vodafone Group Plc may be ripe for a shake-up by US activist investor Elliott Management Corp. A report that Elliott has taken a stake in the world’s second-largest wireless carrier comes at a critical time for Vodafone, which is battling intense competition in Europe ...

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Euro-area economy gets higher inflation and weaker growth

Bloomberg A bumper day of euro-area economic releases showed the region’s vital signs remain good, if not great. The region’s economic expansion entered a sixth year but growth slowed to just 0.3 percent, the weakest in two years. Inflation accelerated further above the European Central Bank’s goal, though that was largely driven by stronger energy prices. Unemployment remained at the ...

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Glencore sees big jump in cobalt supply from Congo

Bloomberg Glencore Plc increased cobalt production by almost a third after restarting output at its Katanga unit in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Swiss commodity giant is seeking to double its production of cobalt in the next two years, tightening its grip on the market for the key battery material in electric vehicles. First-half cobalt output jumped 31 percent ...

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US consumer confidence rises

Bloomberg US consumer confidence increased modestly in July as Americans grew more upbeat about the economy and labor market, figures from the New York-based Conference Board showed. US confidence index rose to 127.4 (est. 126) from 127.1 in June (prev. 126.4). Present conditions measure increased to a 17-year high of 165.9 from a revised 161.7. A currently healthy labour market ...

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Heatwave affects Thomas Cook as North Europeans shun beach trips

Bloomberg Thomas Cook Group Plc said unusually hot weather is making its north European customers far less enthusiastic about booking last-minute beach holidays, weighing on the tour operator’s earnings. Summer bookings for the UK company’s package breaks were unchanged from last year through July 21, compared to a 3 percent gain through May, according to a statement on Tuesday, indicating ...

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Honda joins rivals predicting challenges for auto industry

Bloomberg Honda Motor Co. joined the list of carmakers projecting challenges for the global auto industry hit by a trade war — though a weaker yen is helping the Japanese brand weather some of the storm. The Japanese company lowered its revenue forecast for the fiscal year as it shaved 75,000 vehicles off its sales projection for North America, citing ...

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Sony raises revenue outlook as PlayStation console sales brighten

Bloomberg Sony Corp. raised its outlook for the current fiscal year, thanks to robust sales of the PlayStation console and a stake in recently listed Spotify Technology SA. Net income will be 500 billion yen ($4.5 billion) on sales of 8.6 trillion yen through next March, the Tokyo-based company said. The prior forecast called for 480 billion yen and 8.3 ...

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