RIYADH / WAM The government of Saudi Arabia signed a SR995 million contract with China to provide nine million Covid-19 tests for nine million people in the Kingdom. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the decision came “as a result of a phone call made between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud …

Bloomberg India is considering a proposal to guarantee as much as 3 trillion rupees ($39 billion) of loans to small businesses as part of a plan to restart Asia’s third-largest economy, which is reeling under the impact of a 40-day lockdown, people with knowledge of the matter said. Under the proposal, small firms will be eligible to borrow an additional …

Bloomberg BP Plc confirmed its commitment to completing the sale of its Alaska business to Hilcorp Energy Co, but said financial terms had been adjusted to reflect market conditions. The renegotiation of the deal will come as a relief to the London-based oil major, which is leaning on asset sales to rein in its debt and sustain its dividend amid …

Bloomberg Manila Electric Co is slashing its capital spending budget by almost half as the largest Philippine power retailer sees lower demand this quarter, with the coronavirus outbreak shutting many businesses. Capital expenditure for infrastructure projects will be cut to 9.3 billion pesos ($183.38 million) from the 17.8 billion pesos initially planned at the start of the year, Meralco Senior …

Bloomberg At least three Indian brokerages have petitioned the courts to challenge the settlement of crude oil contracts at negative prices. Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd and PCS Securities Ltd are appealing to the Bombay High Court, which was expected to hear on April 27 their case against the decision by Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. Religare Enterprises Ltd …

Bloomberg Malaysia’s state oil company is considering raising this year’s dividend to help the government fund its nearly $60 billion stimulus package, according to people familiar with the matter. Petroliam Nasional Bhd., or Petronas, could increase the payout by as much as $2.3 billion, said one of the people, who asked not to be named as the information is private. …

Bloomberg A narrow waterway off Singapore has become even more congested as oil-laden tankers wait out a slump in global fuel consumption that’s crimped demand and boosted the use of ships to store cargoes. About 60 clean fuel tankers are currently anchored along the busy strait, up from the usual 30-40 ships, according to Rahul Kapoor, head of commodity analytics …

Bloomberg Stocks jumped in Europe and Asia and US equity futures advanced as major economies edged toward reopening, the Bank of Japan boosted stimulus measures and corporate results rolled in. The dollar weakened and oil slumped. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index opened solidly higher amid a number of positive catalysts and after the gauge missed out on a late Wall …

Bloomberg The narrowing group of winners in the S&P 500 doesn’t bode well for the future performance of US stocks, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The US benchmark is around 17% below its February record, but the median stock trades 28% from its peak, Goldman strategists including David Kostin wrote in a note. Meanwhile, the five largest companies make …

Bloomberg South Korea’s equity market has rebounded more than any other since mid-March, even as its two largest stocks have yet to fully join in on the rally. The Kospi index climbed 32% from a decade low on March 19, beating all other major gauges including those from China, Hong Kong and Japan, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. In …