Washington A Federal Reserve regional president called for the dismantlement of big banks whose failure could pose serious risk to the global financial system. Neel Kashkari, who took office as president of the Minneapolis Fed on January 1 and was a top Treasury official during the 2008 financial crisis, said in a speech that “bolder, transformational options” must be considered ...
Read More »ANZ Bank warns of Asia volatility as cash profit goes up
Bloomberg Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. said bad debt charges will be higher than analysts expect in the first half amid a slowdown in Asia and increased market volatility, even after profit rose in the first quarter. The lender expects a first-half group credit charge a little above A$800 million ($568 million), compared to the current market consensus ...
Read More »Bankia SA to return retail investors IPO money plus interest
BLOOMBERG Bankia SA is starting a process to reimburse retail investors for losses they suffered in a public offering of shares in Spain’s fourth-biggest bank in 2011, a year before it need a European bailout. Retail investors will recover 100 percent of their investment plus 1 percent annual interest, the Valencia, Spain- based bank said in a filing to regulators ...
Read More »Saudi Arabia, Russia to freeze oil output
Bloomberg Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to freeze output at near-record levels, the first coordinated move by the world’s two largest oil producers to counter a slump that has pummeled economies, markets and companies. It’s the first significant cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in 15 years and Saudi Arabia said it’s open to further action. Oil pared gains after ...
Read More »Iran: Won’t relinquish oil share
Tehran / AFP Iran intends to maintain its oil market share but said on Tuesday “there is room for discussion†on output, announcing talks with Iraq and Venezuela within 24 hours in Tehran. Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh’s comments avoided a specific reaction to reports that Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to freeze production—on condition that other major oil states ...
Read More »UAE Space Agency, NASA discuss coop
ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE Space Agency and the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are discussing future cooperation. A meeting at the UAE Space Agency’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi brought together officials from the two agencies to discuss ways of strengthening partnership and work. The delegation led by Badri Younes, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for the ...
Read More »Etihad’s growth zooms in India
ABU DHABI / WAM Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday announced a 63 percent increase in full-year passenger traffic with partner Jet Airways to and from India, reinforcing the strength of the equity tie-up and the airline’s commitment to one of world’s largest travel markets. Together, the airlines carried a record 3.3 million passengers ...
Read More »Food security echoes at agriculture meet
ALKESH SHARMA / EMIRATES BUSINESS Methods needed to increase the global food production by 70 percent to feed over 9 billion people by 2050; mechanisms best suited to profitably restore land globally; ways to tackle the current worldwide water crisis and steps to bring all economies on a common platform to ensure food security. Participants racked their brains as they ...
Read More »ADIA acquires 36% stake in Peruvian power company
ABU DHABI / WAM Blue Bolt Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has acquired a 36% stake in Fenix Power Peru, a thermoelectric power generation company in Lima, as part of a consortium transaction valued at US$786 million. The Peruvian investment fund SIGMA holds 13% of Fenix. Fenix Power is a power generation company which ...
Read More »UAE, Singapore boost trade
SINGAPORE / WAM A round-table meeting, organised by the UAE Economy Ministry and Executive Directors of 15 of the biggest investment companies in Singapore, was held on Tuesday. The meeting reviewed the importance of expanding economic relations between the UAE and the Republic of Singapore and the need to promote trade and investment establish strong strategic partnerships between the two ...
Read More »