Thursday , 12 February 2026

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Chinese stocks extend losses on lockdowns, weak economic data

Chinese shares extended losses following last week’s selloff as a ramp-up of Covid-19 restrictions and poor economic data worsened the outlook for the market. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index ended on Monday’s volatile session with a 1.8% loss, closing at its lowest since November 2005. Property shares plunged, while tech shares bucked the downtrend following BYD Co.’s record earnings. …

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Dovish FOMC would see traders scrambling to catch up, says survey

For months, investors have been eagerly awaiting a Federal Reserve policy pivot. But now, at least for some, it might come too soon. The latest MLIV Pulse survey suggests that if the Fed Chair Jerome Powell gives any dovish Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) signals during this week’s press conference, he might send investors scrambling. Almost half of 250 respondents polled …

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Nigeria redesign of naira bank notes to help ease inflation, says Buhari

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari said the central bank’s plan to replace high-value currency notes will help the economy deal with currency counterfeiting, excess cash in circulation and address inflation, which climbed to a 17-year high in September. The central bank has Buhari’s support to launch the new currency designs and he “is convinced that the nation will gain a lot …

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Africa’s largest bank open to acquisitions in Nigeria, Kenya

Standard Bank Group Ltd. is open to acquisitions in Nigeria and Kenya as Africa’s biggest lender by assets expands its presence in key markets on the continent. The lender is also keen to bolster its businesses in Ethiopia — where it has a representative office — and its home-market South Africa, Standard Bank Chief Executive Officer Sim Tshabalala said. In …

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Japan spent $42b in October to prop up yen, says ministry

Japan spent a record 6.3 trillion yen ($42.4 billion) in October to counter the yen’s sharp slide against the dollar, as it tried to limit speculative moves adding to pressure on the currency. The finance ministry disclosed on Monday data for the period between September 29 to October 27. Central bank figures and market estimates of money flows with the …

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Airbus sticks to delivery target despite supply chain problems

Airbus SE maintained its year-end delivery target for aircraft, while cautioning that production disruptions could last into next year amid persistent shortage in labour and raw materials at suppliers. The planemaker said it still strives to hand over 700 aircraft this year, and the company is working towards boosting output of its bestselling A320 family to 75 by 2025. Airbus …

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Nigeria to open bidding for deep offshore oil blocks

Nigeria plans to auction deep offshore oil and gas licenses for the first time in 15 years, according to a senior government official. The West African country will launch a bidding round for seven deep-water blocks in November, the chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, said by phone. The government issued dozens of such permits …

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UK banks park $1.5b to cover bad loans as recession looms

Some of the UK’s biggest high street banks are bracing themselves for trouble. Barclays Plc, Lloyds Banking Group Plc and NatWest Group Plc have together put aside nearly £1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) to cover bad loans, earning reports this week showed. HSBC Holdings Plc, which makes most of its money in Asia, also set aside $200 million “in respect of …

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