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Bloomberg Japan’s government and businesses are racing to bring a fire-damaged automotive chip plant back online, underscoring how important the component has become in a supply chain already under strain because of booming demand for semiconductors. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is mobilising to help Renesas Electronics Corp., one of the top providers of chips used in car ...

Bloomberg France still sees gross domestic product growth of 6% this year, even after new lockdown measures came into force in Paris and other regions to contain the coronavirus. “I confirm our ambitions to reach 6% growth in 2021,” Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in a radio interview on France Inter. “The moment when we lift the restrictions, our ...

Bloomberg The European Union (EU) took advantage of high demand for its social bonds to accelerate funding for a regional jobs program. The bloc pulled in above 96.5 billion euros of orders for a 13-billion-euro offering of five-year and 25-year notes. This syndication is the second in March and will mean the EU is three-quarters of the way through funding ...

Bloomberg BT Group Plc announced a bonus for 59,000 workers, weeks ahead of a potential strike over Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Philip Jansen’s restructuring plans. Staff such as engineers and call center workers who were on the front line during the pandemic will receive 1,000 pounds ($1,371) in cash immediately, the British phone company said in a statement. It said that’s ...

Bloomberg German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet approved the government’s budget plans for this year and next, including an extra 60 billion euros ($71 billion) in net debt for 2021 to help offset the impact of the coronavirus. The additional borrowing this year takes the total to more than 240 billion euros, as Germany spends freely to support businesses affected by ...

ABU DHABI / WAM In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the UAE has announced that it will invest $10 billion with the Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund – Indonesia Investment Authority. Investments will focus on strategic sectors in Indonesia, ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre’s figures revealed that the UAE’s industrial exports in the first 10 months of 2020 were valued at AED84.2 billion. These figures highlight the key role of the industrial sector in driving national economic development and its ability to maintain its activity despite the negative economic repercussions of the coronavirus (Covid-19) ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Despite a slower and only marginal improvement in business conditions around the world, to the tune of AED35 billion in cash dividends for 2020 have been proposed to date by 51 companies listed in the UAE capital markets, according to data released by the listed firms. Banks are the largest distributors of profits, with nine banks ...

Dubai / WAM Middle East Energy Dubai, a global energy industry event formerly known as Middle East Electricity, has revealed that the 2020 edition of the show generated more than AED18 billion worth of business during the three-day showcase, as registration for the 2021 event goes live on Tuesday. Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin ...

WASHINGTON / WAM The United States welcomed Saudi Arabia’s initiative to end the Yemeni crisis, as well as Yemen’s Government commitment to a ceasefire and political process in the country. Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State Jalina Porter affirmed during a press meeting that discussions in support of peace efforts are ongoing, calling on all parties to commit ...