BLOOMBERG The International Monetary Fund called for action over concerns relating to the bail-in of retail investors in Italy, noting that “very high” amounts of non-performing loans and slow judicial processes were straining bank balance sheets. Financial industry reforms “are critical to entrench financial stability and support the recovery,” the IMF said in a statement following its regular review …

  Bloomberg Standard Chartered Plc started its first brokerage business in Japan with 100 employees as institutional investors in the country seek products from emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East and Africa for better returns. The UK bank will deploy 20 salesmen to meet with Japanese life insurers, brokerages, banks and asset managers to sell products that invest in …

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The General Index for Consumer Confidence in Abu Dhabi’s economic performance during Q1 of 2016 recorded about 115 points on average, reflecting continuous optimism among the consumers of different demographic and social segments towards the economic conditions in Abu Dhabi. This further reflects consumers’ confidence in Abu Dhabi’s economic capabilities to accommodate the current economic challenges …