Bloomberg Amazon founder Jeff Bezos participated in a $87 million Series B funding for Indonesian startup Ula, marking his first-ever investment in Southeast Asia’s e-commerce space. Bezos Expeditions, Northstar group, AC Ventures and Citius joined the round co-led by Prosus Ventures, Tencent and B-Capital, the e-commerce marketplace Ula said. The previous fundraising included $10.5 million seed round in June 2020 …

Bloomberg Tesco will announce a share buyback program this week when it reports first-half results, the Sunday Times reported. The retailer will maintain its normal dividend along with the buyback plan, although a special payout is not thought to be on the cards, according to the report. Tesco will be disciplined in its approach to buybacks, the report cited unidentified …

Bloomberg European stocks and US index futures declined as concerns about slowing growth and persistently high inflation kept investors on the edge. Contracts on the S&P 500 Index fall 0.5% after the underlying gauge posted the biggest weekly loss since February. Iron ore to aluminum rallied as a global supply crunch turned commodities into a sellers’ market. West Texas Intermediate …

Bloomberg Makers of vaccines and other coronavirus treatments dropped in Asia after Merck & Co. said its experimental pill cuts the risk of hospitalization and death from Covid-19 in half. The declines followed a slump in shares of BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc. in New York after Merck delivered the news on its drug, which is seen by some as …

Bloomberg China Evergrande Group and its property-services arm were halted in Hong Kong stock trading amid a report that the developer agreed to sell a controlling stake in the unit to raise much-needed cash. Trading of Evergrande was suspended pending an announcement on a “major transaction,” the developer said in a stock exchange filing. Evergrande Property Services Group said it …

Bloomberg Vitol Group, the world’s biggest independent oil trader, is jumping into the electric-vehicle fleet business. The Rotterdam-based trading house formed a $250 million joint venture with BYD Co, a Chinese EV and battery maker, it said in a statement. The new service will offer electric-car fleet services and charging infrastructure to cities, companies and other organisations. It’s the latest …

Bloomberg India’s coal power giant NTPC Ltd expects to raise $2 billion through initial public offerings in three units including its renewables business, and the paring of a joint venture stake, according to a company official familiar with the plans. The state-run generator plans to sell shares in NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd within a year, the official said, asking not …

Bloomberg Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) LLC won a months-long battle for WM Morrison Supermarket Plc, beating out private-equity rival Fortress Investment Group in a rare auction with a knockout $9.5 billion offer for Britain’s fourth-largest grocer. The final offer of 287 pence a share “represents excellent value for shareholders while at the same time protecting the fundamental character of …

Bloomberg Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd will double the number of services it operates to the US, adding back six routes suspended at the start of the coronavirus crisis as the Biden administration relaxes border curbs. The UK carrier restored flights from London Heathrow to San Francisco, which will be followed by links to Orlando, Florida, and Las Vegas next month, …

Bloomberg Air France-KLM is deep in negotiations with Airbus SE, Boeing Co and engine-makers vying for a massive narrow-body order and plans to make a decision on suppliers within months, Chief Executive Officer Ben Smith said. The deal will include at least 80 firm orders and 60 to 80 options, Smith said at an event in Paris. The purchase could …