Bloomberg European equities kicked off August with a bang, rising to a new record on earnings updates and easing concern about China’s regulatory crackdown. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.6% in London, with cyclicals such as automakers and miners leading a broad advance. Banks also outperformed as HSBC Holdings Plc posted results that beat estimates. Meggitt Plc surged …

Bloomberg Oil posted its fourth straight monthly gain as steady demand and tight supplies calmed concerns that a new wave of Covid-19 infections would cripple energy consumption. Futures in New York ended the week 2.6% higher. While cases of the virus’s delta variant have surged in recent weeks, mobility and other data point to strong demand in key economies that …

Bloomberg Exxon Mobil Corp’s knockout second-quarter results did little to entice investors because much of the extra cash coming from soaring energy and petrochemical prices will be used to pay down debt rather than reward shareholders. The oil giant and rival Chevron Corp swung to their biggest profits since pre-pandemic days, fuelled in large part by stellar performances from their …