Bloomberg The leader of Sweden’s Social Democrats, Stefan Lofven, will seek to form a new government via a parliamentary vote after enough parties promised not to block his comeback attempt. The 63-year old former union boss, who was forced to resign as prime minister after losing a confidence vote last month, said he has now secured sufficient agreement among lawmakers ...
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Corporate France urges Macron to delay disputed pension reform
Bloomberg France desperately needs pension reform, just not right away. That’s the message for President Emmanuel Macron from a chorus of top business leaders, days before he’s set to announce whether he’ll attempt change before the 2022 election. “There’s already a great deal of worry and uncertainty. It would be a gamble to add more,†Stephane Richard, chief executive officer ...
Read More »Germany’s Altmaier spurns French push for permanent EU debt
Bloomberg German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier poured cold water on a French proposal to give the European Union a lasting tool to raise common debt. France intends to push for a permanent mechanism on joint EU debt issuance to drive investment in innovation that member countries can’t finance on their own, according to Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. The comments ...
Read More »Brookfield starts sale of $2.8bn UK ports group
Bloomberg Brookfield Asset Management Inc. has kicked off the sale of PD Ports, a deal that could value one of the UK’s oldest port operators at more than $2.8 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The Canadian investment firm is working with advisers and has reached out to potential bidders. Brookfield expects to close a sale of PD ...
Read More »Job worries, poor mental health afflict pandemic-hit UK youth
Bloomberg Young people in the UK are emerging from the coronavirus crisis blighted by poor mental health and worried about their financial future, reports published on Monday warned. The separate analyses, by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Resolution Foundation, underscore the huge challenges facing millions in their late teens and early 20s as the country returns to normality ...
Read More »US average mortgage rates decline
Bloomberg Mortgage rates in the US fall, dipping back below 3%. The average for a 30-year loan was 2.98%, down from 3.02% last week, Freddie Mac said in a statement. Borrowing costs, which hit a record low of 2.65% in January, have seesawed within a few basis points of 3% since mid-April. Investors are anticipating Friday’s release of the June ...
Read More »European firms push up prices as supply disruptions lift costs
Bloomberg European companies are pushing up prices as supply disruptions lift costs and hamper their ability to match surging demand, according to executives gathered for a conference this weekend in southern France. The bosses of industrial firms, including tire company Michelin and construction materials producer Saint-Gobain, say they’re facing scarce supplies, transport bottlenecks and staff shortages in the wake of ...
Read More »Beijing’s blocking of Didi app sends peers tumbling in HK
Bloomberg Shares of Chinese technology companies slid in Hong Kong as investors stepped back to gauge the impact from Beijing’s move to block ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing from app stores due to data security issues. Tencent Holdings Ltd, which has a stake in Didi, slumped 3.6% in Hong Kong to erase its year-to-date gain. Meituan, ordered by China’s antitrust watchdog ...
Read More »Global investors don’t see an end to record breaking equity rally
Bloomberg As stocks around the world continue to smash one record after another, some of the world’s biggest money managers have a simple message: Get used to it. The likes of BlackRock Inc, State Street Global Markets, UBS Asset Management and JPMorgan Asset Management expect equity markets to keep rising in the second half of the year, with many investors ...
Read More »WHO hails Sheikh Mohamed’s support in fight against polio
ABU DHABI / WAM The World Health Organisation’s EMRO Regional Subcommittee on Polio Eradication and Outbreaks commended the unwavering support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in working to eradicate polio and the funding he provides for this work. The committee also praised ...
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