Bloomberg With just four words, Mark Johnson allegedly passed a secretive signal to fellow HSBC Holdings Plc currency traders to launch a buying spree of pounds: “My watch is off.” The bank’s former global head of foreign exchange alerted the traders around the globe via phone calls and chat messages, prosecutors at Johnson’s fraud trial say. The gambit in December …

Bloomberg The US slapped duties on Bombardier Inc.’s showcase commercial jet for the second time in as many weeks, upholding Boeing Co.’s case that its Canadian competitor sold planes at less than fair value. The Commerce Department imposed a preliminary import duty of 80 percent on Bombardier C Series aircraft based on its finding, according to an emailed statement. The …

Bloomberg Sycamore Partners is betting on the ailing retail sector at a time when other investors are shying away. The buyout firm, which bought Staples Inc. last month, is trying to raise $4 billion for its biggest fund yet, two people with knowledge of the matter said. It’s planning to finish raising the money in January, one of the people …