Bloomberg Denmark’s prime minister says he feels “deceived” and “let down” after backing free-market policies that helped make life easier for a financial industry now mired in scandal. Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who leads a center-right coalition, told lawmakers in the Danish parliament that his country’s banks “didn’t behave at all,” leaving him feeling “completely let down.” Denmark is trying to …

Bloomberg Interest-rate hikes are still on the table in Asia as market volatility returns, with Sri Lanka unexpectedly increasing its benchmark rate. Sri Lanka’s central bank raised the standing lending facility rate to 9 percent from 8.5 percent on Wednesday, and almost half of the analysts surveyed are calling for another increase in the Philippines on Thursday. A hike could …

Bloomberg Karan Dua, an electronics shop owner in south-central Mumbai, placed his hope of crackling sales on Diwali — the Hindu festival of lights when Indians splurge on everything from clothes to cars and jewellery to houses. It hardly lit up business for the 35-year-old shop owner. Businesses like Dua’s are seeing sluggish sales this festive season in part because …