June, 2021

• 8 June

  Lufthansa may help revive one of Africa’s oldest airlines

  Bloomberg Lufthansa Consulting GmbH is in talks with Sudan’s government over a role in restructuring one of Africa’s oldest airlines. “If not through a joint venture, they can help to restructure Sudan Airways so that it can be competitive,” Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim said in an interview. He didn’t give more details or say at what stage the discussions were. …

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• 8 June

  Reckitt to sell China baby formula unit

  Bloomberg Reckitt Benckiser Group has agreed to sell its Chinese baby formula business to Primavera Capital Group in a deal with $2.2 billion enterprise value. Reckitt will retain an 8% stake and sees net cash proceeds of about $1.3 billion, which the company plans to use to reduce debt. The household products maker expects to record a net loss of …

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• 8 June

  Japan lenders’ $3trn dilemma puts focus back on riskier bets

  

  Bloomberg Japanese banks are in a bind — again. Sitting on record levels of excess cash, lenders are turning to riskier investments that need complex foreign exchange hedges, such as US Treasuries, to make a return on deposits that ballooned during the pandemic. Many will be seeking to avoid past mistakes. The surplus, calculated by subtracting bank loans from deposits, …

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• 8 June

  Analyst optimism hits 17-year high for India’s largest bank

  

  Bloomberg Market watchers haven’t been this bullish on State Bank of India in almost two decades, as they bet on the lender’s improving asset quality to help it weather the pandemic. Among 48 analysts who cover the stock, 47 recommend buy and only one has a hold rating — a ratio of 98% that’s the highest since June 2004, according …

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• 8 June

  Hong Kong to explore issuing digital currency

  

  Bloomberg Hong Kong has started a project to explore issuing a digital currency that is anticipated to last over the next 12 months. “This is essentially a research study similar to what is being undertaken by many other jurisdictions,” the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said on Tuesday. It remains open minded and hopes to offer “initial thoughts” in 12 months, …

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• 8 June

  BOJ’s first ETF-free month under Kuroda wins over some investors

  

  Bloomberg Some investors are cheering the Bank of Japan’s withdrawal from the stock market, even as they brace for more volatility. Japan’s central bank (BOJ) didn’t buy any exchange-traded funds for an entire month of May, the first time since Governor Haruhiko Kuroda kicked off his easing campaign in 2013. That’s prompting some in the market to believe the BOJ …

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• 8 June

  BOE unveils new climate test of banks, insurers

  

  Bloomberg The Bank of England (BOE) started a major new stress test of the country’s biggest banks and insurers to judge how resilient they are to climate change. The assessment, delayed last year because of the pandemic, requires HSBC Holdings Plc, Barclays Plc and other lenders to scrutinise the impact of global warming on everything from real estate to corporate …

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• 8 June

  ECB seen pushing ahead with faster bond buying

  

  Bloomberg The European Central Bank (ECB) will extend its phase of faster bond-buying through the summer to ensure the economic rebound after coronavirus lockdowns morphs into a sustained recovery, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists. The majority expects the ECB to keep purchasing about 20 billion euros ($24.4 billion) worth of debt a week until September before slowing down. …

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• 8 June

  China bond-selloff fears grow as liquidity begins to tighten

  

  Bloomberg China’s sovereign bonds have defied expectations for a selloff all year but their day of reckoning may be getting closer. The amount of cash in the banking system has been shrinking, while local government debt sales are set to double this week, hoovering up more funds. As a result, the overnight interbank interest rate rises to the highest level …

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• 8 June

  Treasuries, dollar gain amid inflation caution

  

  Bloomberg Treasuries rise with the US dollar as investors debated the impact of resurgent inflation on monetary policy, while US index futures stalled with stocks near record highs. The 10-year yield falls back to 1.56% area with focus turning towards Thursday’s consumer-price data that may offer clues on how far the Federal Reserve can postpone a tapering of stimulus. Futures …

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