Bloomberg Societe Generale SA gave an upbeat outlook for the year as the economic recovery allows it to set aside less for soured loans and a rebound in equities trading fueled earnings that beat analysts’ estimates. The Paris-based lender expects to set aside 10 basis points less — equal to about 500 million euros ($593 million) — for souring debt …

Bloomberg Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc is nearing a deal for Westpac Banking Corp’s life insurance unit that could value the business at about $1 billion, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Dai-ichi Life is in exclusive talks with Australia’s second-largest bank and an announcement could come as soon as this month, the people said, asking not to be …

Bloomberg July was a brutal month for the Philippine peso and there appears to be little respite on the horizon. After capping its steepest monthly decline in over three years, the currency could extend losses due to a worsening virus outbreak and the risk of a sovereign rating downgrade. It may drop towards 51 per dollar, a level last reached …