May, 2020

• 19 May

  Pier 1 to wind down operations

  

  Bloomberg Pier 1 Imports Inc said it would seek bankruptcy court approval to wind down its retail operations after the coronavirus pandemic made it difficult for the US retailer to find a buyer. The company said in a statement on Tuesday it intends to sell its inventory and remaining assets, including its intellectual property and e-commerce business, through the court-supervised …

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• 19 May

  European stocks turn lower with US futures; oil advances

  

  Bloomberg European stocks turned lower alongside US equity futures on Tuesday as the risk-on mood that kicked-off the week faded. Oil prices rose for a fourth straight session. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index had opened in the green following news that Germany and France have backed a $546 billion, European Union-wide economic recovery fund. But after strong gains on Monday, …

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• 19 May

  Indian stocks rise after vaccine report lifts Asian equities

  

  Bloomberg Indian stocks advanced, tracking a regional rally after early vaccine results sparked speculation economies could rebound quickly. The S&P BSE Sensex added 1.6% to 30,514.44 in Mumbai, while the NSE Nifty 50 Index gained by a similar magnitude. Both measures are set to snap three days of losses, their longest losing streak in a month. “The possibility of a …

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• 18 May

  UAE welcomes Afghanistan power-sharing agreement

  

  ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE on Monday welcomed the signing of a power-sharing agreement in Afghanistan between President Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah while expressing hope that the deal represents a step towards enhancing stability, peace, and security throughout Afghanistan. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire …

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• 18 May

  Oil hits 2-month high as China demand nears pre-virus levels

  

  Bloomberg Oil rose to the highest in two months as demand in China returned to near pre-virus level and output curbs continued in the US and elsewhere. Futures in New York climbed as much as 9.8%. Chinese oil use is at 13 million barrels a day, just shy of the levels of a year earlier, traders and executives said. The …

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• 18 May

  Drydocks World begins work on Bokalift conversion project

  DUBAI / WAM Drydocks World on Monday held a steel-cutting ceremony to mark the start of production on a conversion project for Boskalis B.V. According to a press statement, Drydocks World will convert a drill ship YAN into an offshore installation vessel named Bokalift 2. This vessel is designed to carry out offshore operations for windmill installations in Taiwan. The …

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• 18 May

  Total backs away from ‘Ghana deal’

  

  Bloomberg Total SA abandoned a plan to acquire assets from Occidental Petroleum Corp in Ghana, walking away after a proposal to buy Algerian projects from the US company also collapsed. The breakdown of both sales is a setback for Occidental, which had earmarked the proceeds to help reduce debt after buying Anadarko Petroleum Corp for $37 billion last year. After …

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• 18 May

  New York blocks ‘gas pipeline’ again

  

  Bloomberg New York has again denied a key permit for a controversial $1 billion natural gas pipeline being developed by Williams Cos. The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation rejected Williams’ latest application for a water permit for its Northeast Supply Enhancement project after denying the pipeline the same permit last year. The conduit was at the crux of a standoff …

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• 18 May

  Germany to offer cash sweeteners to revive wind power

  Bloomberg German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government may try to tame growing opposition to onshore wind developments by offering cash sweeteners to local councils and consumers. A plan drawn up by officials in Berlin suggest municipalities could earn as much as 20,000 euros ($21,600) a year for each newly-erected wind turbine in their districts from 2021, according to a copy of …

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• 18 May

  Ryanair taps UK loan plan, digs in for slow recovery

  

  Bloomberg Ryanair Holdings Plc boosted its liquidity with a 600 million-pound ($726 million) loan backed by the UK government and said the coronavirus crisis will reduce passenger numbers by half over the next year. Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier is tapping Britain’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) as it digs in for a slow recovery that’s set to see a price …

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