June, 2018

• 2 June

  Modi govt to review Air India deal after its sale plan flops

  

  Bloomberg Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will review plans to sell Air India after his administration’s most high-profile privatisation offer ended in a whimper with no buyers showing interest in the unprofitable flag carrier. The government will make changes to the plan, if needed, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said. As the deadline to show preliminary interest expired on ...

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• 2 June

  Sears prepares for more store closings as revenue slumps

  

  Bloomberg Sears Holdings Corp. kicked off another fiscal year with declining sales from a dwindling number of stores, and more closings are on the way. The operator of Sears and Kmart stores posted a first-quarter loss of $3.93 a diluted share. Revenue fell due to fewer stores and a 12 percent drop in comparable-store sales. The Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based retailer ...

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• 2 June

  BA suspends A380 talks in test to new Airbus sales chief

  

  Bloomberg British Airways (BA) owner IAG SA has suspended negotiations with Airbus SE over a possible deal for additional A380 superjumbos, a potential setback for the already-struggling program and Airbus’s new sales chief, according to people familiar with the matter. The carrier had been weighing an order for close to 10 of the double-deckers after Airbus managed to secure a ...

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• 2 June

  Madewell continues to help parent J. Crew stay afloat amid retail woes

  

  Bloomberg J. Crew Group Inc. has one persistent bright spot as it tries to revive its business: Madewell. The younger, more casual brand that made its mark in denim said same-store sales, a closely watched measure, skyrocketed 31 percent in the first quarter — nearly triple the 11 percent rise the previous year. Chief Executive Officer Jim Brett is trying ...

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• 2 June

  UK consumers upbeat about spending prospects

  

  Bloomberg British consumers are feeling more upbeat about their spending prospects, though they’re still worried about the economic outlook, according to GfK. An index of confidence increased by 2 points in May to minus 7, the market-research firm said in a report published on May 31, with consumers declaring themselves more optimistic about their personal financial situation. They are still ...

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• 2 June

  Deutsche Bank cut by S&P in latest blow for CEO’s revamp

  

  Bloomberg Deutsche Bank AG’s new chief executive officer, Christian Sewing, suffered a fresh setback in his efforts to reinvigorate Europe’s largest investment bank as S&P Global Ratings cut the lender’s credit rating. S&P reduced the rating by one notch to BBB+, the third-lowest investment grade, citing “significant execution risk” after several management changes and strategy updates in past years. Shares ...

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• 2 June

  UK banks’ $3 billion overdraft business faces FCA overhaul

  

  Bloomberg The UK markets regulator began toughening rules on banks’ 2.3 billion-pound ($3 billion) overdraft business, while leaving more “radical options” for later. Lenders would need to make overdraft fees clearer and alert customers to potential charges under proposals the Financial Conduct Authority. The London-based regulator said it will now consider stiffer measures such as banning fixed fees and tackling ...

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• 2 June

  Draghi’s understudy starts as ECB navigates Italian turmoil

  

  Bloomberg The new man who would step into Mario Draghi’s shoes in an emergency has just taken office. Former Spanish Finance Minister Luis de Guindos started his job as European Central Bank vice president. He replaces Vitor Constancio on the same day that the Frankfurt-based institution celebrates its 20th anniversary, in troubled times. Guindos might find himself in a position ...

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• 2 June

  Scotiabank looks to tap brakes on deals after six-month buying binge

  

  Bloomberg After five deals in six months, Bank of Nova Scotia is taking a breather. “We’ve got a lot of work to do in terms of execution and integrations now, so I think we’ll be fairly quiet on the acquisition front from here on in,” Chief Executive Officer Brian Porter told BNN Bloomberg in a TV interview set to air ...

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• 2 June

  Botswana urges tax reform before diamonds dwindle

  

  Bloomberg Botswana relies on the gemstones for almost a fifth of its gross domestic product and used the revenue generated from sales to transform the nation from an economic backwater into one of the continent’s wealthiest societies. However, their role is set to diminish over the next 20 years and successive governments have struggled to diversify the economy. Although the ...

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