BLOOMBERG Global equities advanced and the pound strengthened toward a five-month high a day before Britons vote on membership in the European Union. Italian and Spanish government bonds rose. The MSCI All-Country World Index gained for a fourth day as bookmakers’ odds implied there’s only about a one-in-four chance that Britons will opt to leave the EU in Thursday’s …

  Bloomberg The biggest oil-industry downturn in a generation has companies collaborating in ways they never thought possible. In this global effort, one of the world’s most expensive oil regions intends to lead the way. Last month companies operating in the North Sea started pooling spare parts and tools, and they are even sharing plans on how to drill wells …

  Bloomberg Elon Musk called the proposed marriage of Tesla Motors Inc. and SolarCity Corp. a “no brainer,” saying his $2.86 billion plan to combine the companies would benefit both. Tesla investors didn’t seem so sure. While SolarCity shares rose 16 percent Wednesday in trading before U.S. exchanges opened, Tesla fell 10 percent. Oppenheimer & Co. analysts including Colin Rusch …