Tuesday , 16 December 2025

ECB intensifying its scrutiny of banks’ response to energy crisis

Bloomberg The European Central Bank (ECB) is intensifying discussions with bank executives over their readiness for a potential surge in company defaults and a drying-up of energy-market liquidity, amid the worsening stand-off over Russian gas supplies. The Frankfurt-based bank watchdog wrote to lenders last month, telling them to analyse the impact of a gas stoppage on their businesses, according to …

Read More »

Argentina’s Uala eyes Mexico remittances

  Bloomberg Argentine fintech Uala will allow clients in Mexico to receive money from abroad starting as it taps the fast-growing remittances market, which is expected to reach $60 billion in this year. The new service will be operated by Mexican bank ABC Capital, whose acquisition by Uala was announced in November, with the aim of expanding its financial services …

Read More »

Bitcoin gains most since July, breaks trading range

  Bloomberg Bitcoin rallied the most since July, breaking out of the narrowest trading range in about two years, as a drop in the dollar renewed demand for battered risk assets worldwide. The largest cryptocurrency by market value advanced as much as 10.1% to $21 in New York. The increase was the most since July 19. Bitcoin is outperforming most …

Read More »

India’s Tata in talks to join club of iPhone makers

Bloomberg Tata Group is in talks with a Taiwanese supplier to Apple Inc to establish an electronics manufacturing joint venture in India, seeking to assemble iPhones in the South Asian country. The discussions with Wistron Corp are aimed at making Tata a force in technology manufacturing, and the Indian salt-to-software conglomerate wants to tap the Taiwanese company’s expertise in product …

Read More »

Tesla’s EV battery supplier in China operating under Covid restrictions

Bloomberg The world’s biggest maker of batteries for electric cars said its largest plant in China is now operating a factory bubble as the city where it’s located is locked down to comply with Beijing’s zero-tolerance pandemic curbs. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co’s factory in Yibin has imposed a so-called closed loop system that will enable it to operate “in an …

Read More »

BMW touts ‘tech leap’ of longer-range, faster-charging batteries

Bloomberg BMW AG plans to buy electric-vehicle batteries from six new factories to be set up and run by companies including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd and Eve Energy Co as the world’s biggest luxury-car maker attempts to overhaul its supply chain. Two plants each in Europe, China and North America will produce round lithium-ion cells that enable longer ranges …

Read More »

Porsche mulls entry into F1 racing series

  Bloomberg Porsche said it’s still mulling an entry into the Formula 1 racing series after ending months of talks with Red Bull GmbH as a potential partner. Discussions faltered after the pair couldn’t agree on an “equal footing” on engine collaboration and team partnership, Porsche said. The stalling of the sports-car maker’s F1 aspirations come within weeks of Volkswagen …

Read More »

Gazprom to shift gas sales to China to rubles, yuan from euro

Bloomberg Gazprom PJSC said it will shift its contract to supply gas to China to rubles and yuan from euros, as the Kremlin steps up efforts to move trade out of currencies it considers “unfriendly” amid US and European sanctions. The state-run gas giant signed an additional agreement to its existing contract with China National Petroleum Corp on the issue, …

Read More »

Soaring petrol prices in UK see millions of Britons driving less

Bloomberg Soaring petrol prices in the UK caused millions of people to avoid driving this summer, according to the country’s Office for National Statistics. About 44% of people experiencing a cost of living squeeze took fewer non-essential car trips, according to an ONS survey. The figures — combined with Visa credit card data showing people put less fuel in their …

Read More »

Portugal to cut VAT rate on electricity bills to 6%

  Bloomberg Portugal plans to lower the value-added tax rate to 6% from 13% for a certain amount of electricity use as the government tries to help consumers face rising costs for energy and other goods. The decision will take effect in October, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said at a press conference in Lisbon on Monday evening. Other steps presented …

Read More »