Bloomberg Winter storms that delivered cold rain and ice to much of the Northeast and snow to the Midwest left more than 100,000 homes and businesses without power and caused more than 500 flight delays. The storms also produced treacherous road conditions, reduced visibility and knocked down power lines in an area that stretched from North Dakota, Minnesota and northern …

Bloomberg Oil rose for a fifth session, the longest run of gains since July, as a bigger-than-forecast decline in US crude stockpiles eased oversupply concerns. Futures climbed 0.6% in New York after closing at the highest level in three months. American crude supplies fell by 5.47 million barrels in the week ended December 20, more than three times the median …

Bloomberg The US merchandise-trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed for a third month in November to the smallest shortfall in three years as exports increased and imports declined, the latest sign that economic growth is holding up at the end of the year. The gap decreased to $63.2 billion from $66.8 billion the prior month, according to Commerce Department data released on …

Bloomberg Gulf borrowers raised more than $100 billion in bond placements this year, a record amount that marked a shift from the more private funding route offered by loans. Saudi Aramco was the biggest issuer, while Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia also tapped international bond markets. Syndicated loans dropped 39% this year as sovereigns and companies sold notes in dollars …

Bloomberg The Hinduja Group is preparing a bid to buy grounded carrier Jet Airways India Ltd., according to people familiar with the matter. The UK-based group, run by brothers Gopichand Hinduja and Ashok Hinduja, plans to submit an expression of interest by the January 15 deadline, signaling its intent to make a formal offer. Hinduja is seeking a partner to …

Bloomberg After a fairly abysmal 2019 for US energy mergers and acquisitions, investors are signalling to oil executives and investment bankers that the days of big-premium deals are over. Some of the year’s most notable mergers, including Occidental Petroleum Corp’s blockbuster takeover of Anadarko Petroleum Corp, were met with investor criticism and the sustained selling of the acquirer’s stock. Shareholders …

Bloomberg Rio Tinto Group is resuming operations at its South African mine that was shuttered earlier this month because of escalating violence in surrounding communities. The Richards Bay Minerals unit should be back at full operations in early January, leading to regular production in early 2020, Rio said in a statement on Monday. The decision was taken after discussions led …

Bloomberg US equity futures drifted and stocks mostly slipped in Europe and Asia on the penultimate day of a blockbuster year for markets. The dollar weakened, and Treasuries extended their declines. Contracts on three main US stock indexes were steady, signalling the gauges may open near their record highs in the countdown to the New Year’s Day holiday on Wednesday. …

Bloomberg Indian stocks were little changed as investors watched for signs that a record-breaking rally could broaden out beyond a handful of large companies. The S&P BSE Sensex fell 0.04% to 41,588 at the close in Mumbai. The NSE Nifty 50 Index advanced 0.1%. While the Sensex has recovered from a mid-year slump to deliver a roughly 15% return in …

Bloomberg The African Securities Exchanges Association has started a project that will link seven bourses on the continent by the first quarter of 2021 as part of efforts to increase trading in securities. The move would enable brokers on the Casablanca Stock Exchange, the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières in Abidjan, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the …