Bloomberg Hermes International’s profitability rose to record levels in the first half as the maker of the $10,000-plus Birkin bag became the luxury industry’s standout performer. The French company’s shares soared as much as 8.5% after it said its recurring operating margin reached a historical high of 42%, up from 41% a year earlier. “This set of results confirms that …

  Bloomberg An Airbus SE A320 aircraft operated by IndiGo, India’s biggest airline, slid off the runway onto grass while taxiing for takeoff in Jorhat, the carrier said in a statement. The flight to Kolkata was cancelled and the aircraft is being inspected in Jorhat, a city in the northeastern state of Assam. IndiGo, which is operated by InterGlobe Aviation …

  Bloomberg L’Oreal SA sales climbed as demand for makeup bounced back and the strength of its luxury products offset the negative impact of Covid-19 restrictions in China. Overall sales rose 13% on a comparable basis in the second quarter, the French company said. Analysts expected a gain of 9.7%. The company’s stock rose more than 2% in early trading. …

  Bloomberg Financial firms may be fined and stripped of their regulatory authorisation unless they put their customers’ needs first under far-reaching reforms from the UK City regulator. Banks, insurers and other companies will have to ensure their services are actually good for their clients and that this approach is taken at all levels of the business, Ian Searle, head …

  Bloomberg A strong quarter from Standard Chartered Plc’s traders provided a boost to the emerging market-focused bank despite fears that a slowing global economy could squeeze its lending business. The London-based bank reported underlying pretax profit rises 7% to $1.32 billion in the second quarter, as its traders benefitted from volatility in global markets along with many of its …

  Bloomberg Barclays Plc’s profit fell more than expected in the second quarter after it booked charges and penalties in the US, marring a strong period for the bank’s bond traders. The British lender said a market plunge would increase the cost of buying back US investment products it mistakenly oversold. Barclays also expects to pay $200 million in penalties …

  Bloomberg BNP Paribas SA posted its highest profit on record as lending income rises amid the prospect of higher interest rates and volatile markets lifted securities trading in the second quarter. Revenue at the unit that houses BNP’s retail operations rises 11%, reflecting higher fees, rising rates and gains in specialised businesses, the Paris-based firm said in a statement …

  Bloomberg Spain is seeking to tax banks for windfall profits made from net interest and fees charged to clients, in the boldest move against lenders by any major European Union nation to offset the impact of a worsening cost-of-living crisis. A bill introduced to parliament aims to set a 4.8% tax on Spanish banks. It also seeks to charge …

  Bloomberg The yen catapulted higher against major peers as lowered expectations for rate hikes caused hedge funds to cover short bets from one of the biggest global macro trades of the year. In early trading the yen strengthened more than 1% to 135.11 per dollar, as hedge funds liquidated long positions in the greenback, according to Asia-based currency traders. …

  Bloomberg Chinese stocks plunged on Friday to cap a brutal month which marked the return of almost all the worries that have spooked investors for much of the past one year. From signs of renewed crackdown on the tech sector to an escalation of the crisis engulfing property developers and a rebound in Covid-19 cases, traders have had to …