September, 2018

• 12 September

  Brent hits $80 for first time since May

  

  Bloomberg Crude climbed to $80 a barrel in London for the first time since May amid signs that global supplies are shrinking. Brent futures rose as much as 1.4 percent on Wednesday, while the US crude benchmark added as much as 2.9 percent. US efforts to isolate Iran have disrupted shipments from OPEC’s No. 3 supplier at the same time …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  Japan starts to restore power after earthquake causes record blackout

  

  Bloomberg Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido began to restore power after a strong earthquake overnight knocked out electricity throughout the entire prefecture of more than 5 million people. The magnitude 6.7 quake that hit on the western part of the island at 3:08 am cut off power to nearly 3 million buildings, and damaged a key thermal plant. One plant …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  Flynas plans soon to hire Saudi Arabian female co-pilots

  

  Bloomberg Flynas said it will soon start recruiting Saudi women to work as co-pilots. The Riyadh-based airline said it will be the first among Saudi carriers to recruit women in senior positions. The move aims to enable Saudi women to have a greater role in supporting the kingdom’s economy, CEO Bandar Almohanna said. Under Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Saudi …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  Florence’s brutal winds to test the Carolinas solar boom

  

  Bloomberg The nation’s second-biggest solar region is facing the first real-time test of its systems, with Hurricane Florence threatening the Carolinas with winds well in excess of 100 miles per hour and torrential rains. The Category 4 storm was packing 130 mile-per-hour winds (210 kilometre-per-hour) as of Wednesday, with landfall expected by the weekend. While most newer systems are designed …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  California smart-grid designer raises $32 million in financing

  Bloomberg AutoGrid Systems Inc., a California company developing software to manage power on the grid, said it closed a $32 million round of financing as it expands in North America, Asia and Europe. The Series D round included new investors CLP Holdings, Germany utility Innogy SE, Danish renewable power developer Orsted A/S and power producer Tenaska, according to a statement …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  Free holidays, rail passes as Hong Kong developers push sales

  

  Bloomberg Developers in Hong Kong are offering perks such as free rail tickets and early move-in dates in a further sign one of the world’s hottest property markets may finally be cooling. In a bid to shift apartments, CK Asset Holdings Ltd. is giving away high-speed rail holiday and travel packages, including accommodation, worth $35,700 for people who agree to …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  Rupee surges as India plans to end rout

  

  Bloomberg India’s rupee rallied the most in 1 1/2 years and stocks recovered after an official said the government may announce measures to support the currency after a planned review of the economy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this weekend. The government is not ruling out an increase in interest rates, the official told reporters in New Delhi, asking not …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  Bank of England may support pound amid brighter data, hopes of Brexit deal

  

  Bloomberg The pound’s fortunes are being dictated by Brexit and recent optimism over a deal could lead to a more hawkish-sounding Bank of England driving the currency higher. Market bets on further BOE policy tightening have receded in recent weeks following August’s quarter-point interest-rate increase, with the next hike not fully priced in until the end of 2019. While this …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  Alantra hires dealmakers from China amid M&A

  

  Bloomberg Alantra Partners SA, a Spanish investment bank, has hired three bankers in Shanghai as Chinese companies increasingly turn to Europe for overseas mergers and acquisitions. Alantra has hired Richard Zhu to head the firm’s China M&A business as managing partner, according to a spokesman for the bank. Zhu, who has more than 15 years’ experience in finance, was previously …

  Read More »
• 12 September

  VTB head warns clients may not get dollars back if ban hits

  

  Bloomberg Russians with bank accounts in dollars may find they can only make withdrawals in other currencies if new sanctions proposed by US lawmakers take effect. “I am sure that all the clients of all banks should receive their money back; that’s the principal approach,” VTB Group Chief Executive Officer Andrey Kostin said. “How, in which currency, is a different …

  Read More »