Bloomberg Westpac Banking Corp.’s full-year profit plunged after the lender was hit with a record fine for breaching anti-money laundering laws, and the coronavirus-induced recession swelled bad-debt charges. Cash earnings fall 62% to A$2.61 billion ($1.8 billion) in the 12 months ended September 30, the Sydney-based bank said in a statement. The results include a previously disclosed A$1.2 billion charge …

Bloomberg The pound declined to the weakest level in a month on concern a lockdown across England would deal a painful blow to an economy already reeling from similar measures earlier this year. Sterling fell as much as 0.7% to $1.2855, the lowest since October 7, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the month-long restrictions amid concern that the coronavirus …

Bloomberg Stock markets climbed globally for a second day along with US futures hours before the American presidential election. Currency traders braced for increased volatility. Bank shares including BNP Paribas SA advanced after the French lender joined European peers in posting lower-than-expected bad-loan provisions from the pandemic. Equity markets in Beijing, Hong Kong, Australia and South Korea all surged more …