News

Bloomberg A gauge of activity at China’s manufacturers posted its first gain since November, as factories recovered from a seasonal dip at the start of the year and export demand shrugged off threats of a trade war. The manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 51.5 in March versus the 50.6 estimate in Bloomberg’s survey and 50.3 in February. The non-manufacturing ...

Bloomberg China’s government is working on a plan to combine its two biggest shipbuilders to create an industrial giant that would dwarf its South Korean rivals, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The state council, China’s cabinet, has given its preliminary approval to merge China State Shipbuilding Corp. with China Shipbuilding Industry Corp., the people said, asking not ...

BAGHDAD / Reuters Iraq plans to award oil and gas exploration and development contracts in 11 new blocks on April 15, oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said. Iraq had initially set June 21 as the date to open the bids for the new blocks, located in border areas with Iran and Kuwait, and in offshore Gulf waters. Bidding documents will ...

Bloomberg The European Union distanced itself from the idea of reviving talks on a broad free-trade agreement with the US as part of EU efforts to gain a permanent exemption from President Donald Trump’s controversial import tariffs on steel and aluminum. A day after US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the Trump administration is willing to restart negotiations on the ...

Bloomberg Tesla Inc. is recalling all Model S cars built before April 2016 to retrofit a power-steering component as the company caps its worst one-month performance in the stock market since December 2010. The issue, which the carmaker said has not led to any accidents or injuries, impacts only the flagship Model S sedan, not the Model X sport utility ...

Bloomberg Telegram Group Inc., an encrypted messaging app seeking to create its own cryptocurrency, has increased the proceeds from the world’s largest initial offering to $1.7 billion, according to a regulatory filing. Telegram raised $850 million from 94 investors in March in addition to $850 million it gained in February, and “may pursue one or more subsequent offerings,” the British ...

Bloomberg Facebook Inc. pays female staff in Britain just 0.8 percent less on average than male employees, but womens’ bonuses are almost 40 percent lower. The mean average disparity in pay at Facebook is an improvement compared to Google’s UK arm, where women are paid on average 17 percent less than men. Google’s average bonus for female staff is 43 ...

HARVARD / WAM The International Conference on Humanitarian Crises, which was held at Harvard Club of Boston, has hailed the UAE’s pioneering role in humanitarian field. The participants praised HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, for her role ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM Following the launch of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), First Gulf Properties, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank, has changed its name to ‘FAB Properties’. The real estate service provider, which specialises in end-to-end property solutions, has launched a new logo, inspired by the look and feel of the FAB brand identity. FAB Properties’ mission and ...

SHARJAH / WAM Gulftainer, a privately-owned independent port operator, headquartered in the UAE, has announced that its subsidiary GT USA has inked an agreement on terms with the State of Delaware, USA, which would grant GT USA exclusive rights to operate and develop the Port of Wilmington for 50 years. Terms of the agreement are to be formally approved by ...