There’s a general feeling of optimism about Africa these days. And the good news, which runs deeper than rapidly improving health and quality-of-life indicators, deserves a closer look. Perhaps most significant, a relatively high proportion of sub-Saharan Africa is at peace today. It is more stable and less prone to conflict, relative to previous decades. Violence in the Congo region ...

Bloomberg Banks from Greece to Italy that are struggling to get rid of a mountain of bad loans may soon get some help from European Union lawmakers. A bill that’s nearing the finish line in Brussels would soften the capital hit banks usually face when they sell non-performing loans at a loss. That could give a boost to Italian lenders, ...

Bloomberg UniCredit SpA paid a high price to close a $3 billion bond sale in a stressed market and the big winner looks to be Pacific Investment Management Co. Pimco was the sole buyer of the bank’s surprise sale of five-year bonds, two people with knowledge of the transaction said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. ...