Bloomberg The European Central Bank started buying corporate bonds on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter. Purchases included €3 million ($3.4 million) of bonds sold by French utility Engie SA, along with 10-year notes from Telefonica SA, Spain’s biggest telecommunications company, and securities sold by Assicurazioni Generali SpA, Italy’s biggest insurer, said the people, who aren’t authorized ...

Bloomberg French business confidence fell its lowest level in more than a year in May as strikes hampered refinery output and limited petrochemical supplies. A gauge of sentiment among manufacturing executives dropped to 97 in May, its lowest since March 2015 and down from 99 in April. The central cut its Q2 growth forecast to 0.2% from 0.3%. Workers at ...

  Bloomberg Denmark’s biggest bank is telling clients to hedge against currency losses that will affect more markets than just the pound as Britain’s June 23 referendum on its European Union membership draws closer. Clients of Copenhagen-based Danske Bank A/S are being advised to hedge for a weaker pound against the euro and a weaker euro against the dollar and ...