News

Bloomberg PSA Group has secured the backing of one of its major shareholders, the French government, for its plan to merge with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, according to people familiar with the matter. The French state, which holds roughly 12% in PSA and has board representation, is supporting a binding memorandum of understanding that could be approved this week, said ...

Bloomberg Electrolux AB, the Swedish maker of Frigidaire appliances, said it will incur a bigger-than-expected financial hit from merging fridge-and-freezer factories in the US amid delivery disruptions. The upgrade, combined with destocking at a key US customer and accounting adjustments, will shave $70 million off fourth-quarter operating income compared with a previous estimate of $25 million, according to a statement ...

Bloomberg The euro zone’s private sector is barely growing as 2019 draws to a close, rounding off a year that has seen factories battered by trade uncertainties. IHS Markit’s Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stayed at 50.6 in December, slightly lower than economist estimates of 50.7. The reading signals fourth-quarter output will be the weakest since the region exited a ...

Bloomberg FirstGroup Plc, under pressure from activist investors, is exploring options including a possible disposal of its North American school bus and transit divisions, extending a breakup strategy that already encompasses a planned sale of the iconic Greyhound brand. The Aberdeen, Scotland-based group has appointed Rothschild to help advise on the sale of its First Bus and First Transit divisions, ...

Bloomberg FreeNow, the ride-hailing venture owned by Daimler AG and BMW AG, expects to double revenue this year and next in a fresh challenge to Uber Inc in Europe and Latin America. FreeNow’s so-called gross merchandise volume, which mirrors revenue, is forecast to reach about 2.4 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in 2019, Chief Executive Officer Marc Berg said in an ...

BRUSSELS / WAM During a forum held in Brussels, attended by Omar Ghobash, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Cultural Affairs, European parliamentarians and representatives of various religions called for the continued implementation and monitoring of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. The document was signed on February 4, 2019 in Abu ...

Bloomberg Saudi Aramco shares advance for a third session — though the market valuation remained below $2 trillion — with investors focusing on energy company’s inclusion in major global equity indexes this week. The stock climbed 1.6% in Riyadh, extending gains since it started trading on Wednesday to 17%. The main Saudi index also advanced, along with most peers in ...

DUBAI / WAM Dubai Customs organised a meeting to discuss future of trade and latest trends in the supply chain, following UAE leadership’s ‘2020: Towards the Next 50’ announcement. Next year will witness the biggest national strategy to prepare for coming 50 years on the federal and local level as the country approaches its Golden Jubilee in 2021. In the ...

NEW DELHI / WAM The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has announced plans for developing economic relations with the Arabian Gulf countries. The state government will organise a ‘Mini-Investors’ Meet’ next year in the state capital Bhopal, which will be exclusively focused on enhancing investment ties with the Gulf. This was announced in a report on the outcome of the ...

Dubai / WAM Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), announced pilot operation of the world’s first unmanned cooling plant at Jumeirah Village Circle in Dubai, with a total cooling capacity of 50,000 Refrigeration Tonnes (RT). Empower explained that the highest international standards have been maintained in the construction and building design of the new plant, as it took into account ...