Bloomberg Attention grocers: Aldi is coming for your customers. The German discount chain that’s blanketing the US with its no-frills stores was the choice of almost one in five shoppers who recently switched grocers, according to Morgan Stanley research. That’s more than Costco, Target, Kroger or Amazon-owned Whole Foods, highlighting Aldi’s growing appeal. Aldi’s US encroachment mirrors what it’s already …

Bloomberg As part of an ongoing $1.2 billion supply-chain upgrade, Home Depot Inc. has started same-day delivery across the US to help it stay relevant with consumers’ need-it-yesterday mentality. The home-improvement chain had already been using trucks to deliver large items such as building materials from stores in a day or so. Now, aided by startups Roadie Inc. and Deliv …

GENEVA / WAM The Arab Federation for Human Rights studied the report by a group of experts on Yemen and considered it highly politicised and not in compliance with the fundamental standards and principles of international human rights reporting. The federation added the report aims to cover up crimes committed by Houthi militias and targets the Arab Coalition, instead of …

ABU DHABI / WAM Aldar Properties on Wednesday announced that its 100% owned subsidiary Aldar Investments has successfully issued its debut fixed rate US dollar denominated sukuk, with a tenor of 7 years, raising a total of $500 million. Aldar Investments is the region’s largest diversified real estate investment company. The new issuance demonstrates Aldar Investments’ ability to raise efficient …

VIENNA / WAM The UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), has signed three Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation, exchange of technical information, capacity building, research and development. The three MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the 62nd IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria. FANR signed a cooperation agreement with the Nuclear Safety Authority of France for the exchange …

Bloomberg Standard Chartered Plc said it will stop financing new coal-fired power plants anywhere in the world as part of its commitment to supporting the Paris Agreement on climate change. The move follows “detailed consultation with a range of stakeholders,” according to a statement from the London-based bank. Environmental degradation, extreme weather and rising seas are among the climate change …

Bloomberg US equities edged higher as markets largely entered a holding pattern before the Federal Reserve’s rate decision. The dollar climbed with Treasuries. Pharmaceutical companies were among the best performers while energy shares lagged behind as Brent oil pulled back from a four-year high. Nike Inc. fell as much as 3 percent after reporting earnings. The pound weakened as Theresa …

Bloomberg Oil dropped as US crude inventories rose for the first time in more than a month. Futures dipped as much as 1 percent on Wednesday in New York. Nationwide, crude stockpiles expanded by 1.85 million barrels last week, the first increase since early August, the Energy Information Administration said. Refiners are buying less crude as post-summer maintenance work ramps …

Bloomberg The head of an industry group representing almost 300 of the world’s biggest airlines slammed an impasse that threatens to ground planes after Brexit as unprofessional and showing disdain for passengers who have bought tickets in good faith. A deal removing the risk of disruption to flights when Britain leaves the European Union on March 29 must be hammered …

Bloomberg The head of Shopify Inc. said Amazon is encroaching on its turf — and it’s confident it can compete. “They are creating products now that help small businesses market their products better which is frankly the space we are in,” Tobias Lutke, chief executive officer of Ottawa-based Shopify, said in an interview with BNN Bloomberg TV at a tech …