LONDON / Reuters State oil giant Saudi Aramco signed a preliminary deal to pursue international gas opportunities with Royal Dutch Shell as part of top crude exporter Saudi Arabia’s diversification drive before the listing of Aramco. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in London between the two companies was during the official visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman …

Bloomberg The leaders of France and India reiterated their intention to start work by the end of this year on what could become the world’s largest nuclear power plant, advancing talks that have continued for nearly a decade. French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Electricite de France SA and India’s monopoly atomic energy producer, Nuclear …

Bloomberg A global coalition aimed at supporting the use of solar power is expected to announce a slew of projects worth about $700 million during its inaugural conference this weekend in New Delhi, according to government officials familiar with the matter. The International Solar Alliance, an initiative launched at the Paris climate talks in 2015, plans to unveil 20 projects …

Bloomberg Sunrun Inc., the largest US residential-solar company, is seeking about $500 million to fund more rooftop-power systems, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. South African bank Investec Plc is leading the five-year deal, according to the people, who declined to comment because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The funds would refinance and expand an existing credit …

Bloomberg Short-selling is creeping back into the oil market as fears increase that the US will be awash with oil again. Hedge funds boosted bets on falling West Texas Intermediate crude prices by the most this year after American production surged to record levels. While OPEC this week reaffirmed its commitment to rebalancing the market, US fields are forecast to …

Bloomberg As the auto industry prepares for an age of zero emissions, it’s the flashy coupes and gas guzzlers that will pave the way. At the Geneva International Motor Show this week, BMW AG unveiled the high-performance M8 Gran Coupe concept, and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz showcased the AMG GT four-door coupe, sporting a V-8 engine that emits more than twice …

Bloomberg Apple Inc.’s AirPods earphones have been a surprise hit. Now, the company is planning a push into the high end of the market. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is working on noise-canceling, over-ear headphones that rival headsets from market leaders like Bose and even the company’s own Beats by Dre brand, according to people familiar with the product’s development. …

Bloomberg Sony Corp. held preliminary talks to acquire a majority stake in EMI Music Publishing, according to people with knowledge of the matter, as its Abu Dhabi-based owner seeks to cash in on the booming market for streamed music. Mubadala Investment Co. has begun reaching out to potential suitors for the catalog of more than 2.1 million songs, which includes …

Dubai / Emirates Business Samsung Gulf Electronics Co. introduced to the UAE the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, the smartphones that reimagine the way people communicate, share and experience the world. The launch event took place at The Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa. Made for an age in which consumers increasingly communicate and express themselves more with images, …

Bloomberg European Central Bank President Mario Draghi turned a spotlight on banks’ riskiest assets when he said they need to reduce their holdings of hard-to-value investments. A decade after the financial crisis, lenders in the region are still sitting on billions of dollars of illiquid holdings that could include the kind of mortgage-backed bonds and bespoke derivatives that sank lenders …