News

Bloomberg Most of China’s provinces are expecting slower economic growth in 2020, underlining the nationwide trend which is expected to result in a tweaking of the formal goal when the legislature meets in March. Twenty-two of 31 major cities, provinces and autonomous regions have so far cut their 2020 target for gross domestic product (GDP) expansion, according to their work ...

Bloomberg China Water Environment Group Ltd, backed by the nation’s state-owned investment holding company, is considering an initial public offering in Hong Kong that could raise more than $500 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The water treatment company is working with advisers on a listing that could take place as soon as in the second half of ...

Bloomberg Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump agreed to a truce in their dispute over digital taxes that will mean neither France nor the US will impose punitive tariffs this year. Macron said he had a “great discussion” with Trump on the issue, without giving details.“We will work together on a good agreement to avoid tariff escalation,” he said on ...

Bloomberg Investor confidence in Germany’s growth outlook rose to the highest in more than four years after easing trade tensions bolstered prospects for the country’s ailing manufacturers. ZEW’s index of expectations for the next six months increased to 26.7 in January, exceeding all estimates in a Bloomberg survey. The gauge turned positive last month for the first time since April, ...

Bloomberg The European Union (EU) got a boost in its crackdown on tax breaks for Spanish companies buying stakes in foreign firms after EU judges said a challenge involving Banco Santander SA was inadmissible. The EU Court of Justice rejected a Spanish tax tribunal’s request for guidance on the validity of European Commission decisions that found those tax breaks violated ...

Bloomberg The UK labour market held up in the face of political turmoil in the three months through November, giving Bank of England (BOE) policy makers pause as they weigh whether to cut interest rates. The employment rate hit a record high after the number of people in work surged by 208,000, the most in almost a year and double ...

Bloomberg Alphabet Inc’s chief executive officer urged the US and European Union to coordinate regulatory approaches on artificial intelligence, calling their alignment “critical.” In a rare public speech in Brussels at an event hosted by European economic think tank Bruegel, Sundar Pichai, who is also CEO of Google, said “there is no question in my mind that artificial intelligence needs ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), signed on Monday, a strategic framework agreement with Italy’s energy company (Eni), to explore new opportunities for collaboration in carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), and additional strategic opportunities in research and development across the oil and gas value chain. The agreement brings together two leading energy producers and ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE strongly condemned the Houthi missile attack against a mosque in Yemen’s Marib province, which resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation affirmed UAE’s utter condemnation of criminal act and its firm rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), said that the Fund is keen to expand its development activities in developing countries, especially across the African continent that holds significant potential for growth. Welcoming a visiting high-level delegation from Ethiopia, led by Muferiat Kamil, Ethiopia’s Minister of Peace, at the Fund’s headquarters ...