Bloomberg The European Union defended its airport slots rule following complaints by some airlines including Deutsche Lufthansa AG that the requirement forces it to fly empty planes. Lufthansa last week launched an onslaught against the EU’s use-it-or-lose-it rules that stipulate flights must take place or takeoff and landing slots will be forfeited. The carrier, whose units include Swiss, Brussels …

  Bloomberg Several of China’s largest banks have become more selective about funding real estate projects by local government financing vehicles, concerned that some are taking on too much risk after they replaced private developers as key buyers of land. At least five state-run banks have imposed new restrictions this year on loans to weaker local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) …

  Bloomberg Visa Inc joined its rival Mastercard Inc. in offering central banks a way to test retail applications for digital currencies they might issue. The card payment provider will begin piloting a program this spring with ConsenSys Inc, a blockchain software company, after discussions with roughly 30 central banks about goals related to government-backed digital currencies. Governments across the …