Bloomberg National Australia Bank Ltd’s (NAB) first-half profit beat analyst estimates as Australia’s largest business lender saw the fastest growth in loans to companies since 2008. Cash earnings rose to A$3.48 billion ($2.5 billion) in the six months ended March 31, topping the A$3.41 billion estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. National Australia will pay an interim dividend …

  Bloomberg Sweden’s central bank raised its interest rate and signalled more increases to come, completing a U-turn in monetary policy to join global peers in the fight against inflation. The krona jumped as the Riksbank raised its policy rate to 0.25% from zero, and said it will enact another two or three hikes in 2022. Officials also pledged to …

  Bloomberg Exxon Mobil Corp tripled its share-buyback programme to as much as $30 billion after profits surged amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a rally in worldwide energy prices. The repurchases will be made through the end of next year, Exxon said in a statement. The oil giant more than doubled first-quarter adjusted net income to $8.8 billion, or …