February, 2023

• 18 February

  Biden intends to speak with Xi to defuse tensions over balloon

  

  Bloomberg President Joe Biden expects to speak with Xi Jinping about the Chinese balloon shot down by the US earlier this month, signalling a desire to end a dispute that has highlighted the fragility of relations between the world’s biggest economies. Biden disclosed plans for the call as part of his most extensive remarks yet about the balloon saga, which ...

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• 18 February

  British embassy guard who spied for Russia jailed in UK

  

    Bloomberg A British security guard who spied for Russia at the country’s Embassy in Berlin in exchange for money was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison on Friday. David Smith, 58, who collected a range of highly sensitive information from and about the embassy with the intention of supplying it to Russia, pleaded guilty to multiple breaches ...

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• 18 February

  US to send Pentagon official to Taiwan soon

  

    Bloomberg The US is sending its top China defense official to Taiwan, according to the Financial Times — though it’s unclear how Beijing will respond given the softer tone it has adopted in its diplomacy with the US and allies recently. The deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Michael Chase, will make the trip “in the coming days,” ...

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• 18 February

  Turkey decides how Nato expansion happens: Niinisto

  

  Bloomberg Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto said it’s up to Turkey to decide whether Finland and Sweden join Nato together or not. “We have an understanding with Sweden: both of us should become members as soon as possible. Turkey has its own understanding of the situation and the way forward —that’s entirely in Turkish hands,” Niinisto told reporters at the Munich ...

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• 18 February

  Northern Irish parties hail significant Brexit progress

  

  Bloomberg The UK and European Union have made significant progress towards a deal on new post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland — but more work is still needed to finalise an agreement, the region’s political parties said. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a series of meetings with leaders in Belfast to discuss the status of talks aimed at resolving the ...

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• 18 February

  Risk markets underestimate inflation, says ECB’s Schnabel

  

  Bloomberg One of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) most senior officials said that investors risk underestimating the persistence of inflation, and the response needed to bring it under control. “We are still far away from claiming victory,” Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel said in an interview with Bloomberg, citing the strength of underlying price pressures and faster wage increases. The ...

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• 17 February

  PBOC governor in focus amid leadership rejig

  

    Bloomberg Who will lead the People’s Bank of China’s (PBOC) is back in focus as a leadership reshuffle at government agencies and major financial regulators nears. Two officials previously tipped as favourites by analysts are fading out of the picture, with one just starting a new job while the other is reportedly taking on a new role. Central bank ...

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• 17 February

  Apollo, Goldman plan private credit funds for rich Europeans

  

    Bloomberg Apollo Global Management and Goldman Sachs Asset Management LP are preparing to launch private credit funds aimed at wealthy European investors, trying to capitalise on a burgeoning corner of the credit market. The firms are developing strategies to target affluent individual investors interested in private lending for leveraged buyouts in the region, according to people with direct knowledge ...

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• 17 February

  Riksbank deputy chief sees ‘benign’ inflation outlook

  

    Bloomberg Sweden’s Riksbank has “fairly good” prospects to bring inflation back towards its 2% target and avoid persistent price increases, though there will be short-term economic pain, Deputy Governor Per Jansson said. “Unfortunately there is no way out of this situation that doesn’t entail costs,” Jansson said in a speech in Stockholm. “It will be tough, no question about ...

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• 17 February

  Hosie is Credit Suisse new global equities head

    Bloomberg Credit Suisse Group AG named Neil Hosie to lead the bank’s global equities team, amid ongoing management turnover and restructuring at the investment bank unit. Hosie will be based in London and report to co-head of markets, Michael Ebert, according to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg News that was confirmed by a spokeswoman. Hosie, who has been ...

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