Bloomberg Oil fell, paring a weekly gain, as investors weighed improving supply fundamentals against doubts surrounding China’s economic growth. Futures in New York slid 2% but notched a 13% increase for the week. Major producers continue to scale back production. US explorers laid down another 21 oil rigs, bringing the total to the lowest since 2009. Beijing abandoned its economic …

Bloomberg China’s banking regulator is asking big banks to maintain annual growth of at least 5% in outstanding loans to the manufacturing sector, the Shanghai Securities News reported on Saturday. By the end of 2020, the ratio of mid-to-long term loans to the sector should rise by 1 percentage point compared to the start of the year, the newspaper reported, …

NEW YORK / WAM UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has saluted the efforts of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for the 14 May Global Prayer for Humanity, “as inspired by the interfaith leadership of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, and many others.” In a statement following a virtual meeting with the …