US hits Russian lawmakers, firms with new sanctions

Bloomberg The US announced a new package of sanctions on Russian elites, lawmakers and defense companies, punishments designed to ramp up pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. The measures announced Thursday during summit meetings between President Joe Biden and Nato, as well as the Group of Seven, will be followed by others to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian ...

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North Korea fires first ICBM since days of ‘fire and fury’

Bloomberg North Korea launched what appeared to be its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in more than four years, as Kim Jong-un finally abandoned a testing freeze that had underpinned an unprecedented wave of talks with the US. The missile was launched from the Sunan area outside Pyongyang on Thursday, reaching an altitude of 6,200 kilometres (3,900 miles) and traveling ...

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China’s Yi meets Taliban leaders in Kabul

  Bloomberg Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Kabul unannounced and held talks with the Taliban’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and others leaders, his first visit since the militant group seized power last year. “Important issues” related to joint efforts in alleviating the country’s humanitarian crisis and improving bilateral trade were on the agenda, the Taliban’s deputy spokesman ...

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Ramaphosa defends S Africa’s neutral stance on Russia’s war

Bloomberg President Cyril Ramaphosa defended South Africa’s neutral stance towards Russia’s war with Ukraine, saying it placed him in a stronger position to help mediate an end to the conflict. “Neutrality can cost and fortunately we’re not alone in all this, there are many others that have chosen the same path,” Ramaphosa said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on ...

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SNB tolerates franc strength, keeps up intervention threat

Bloomberg Switzerland’s central bank refrained from sounding the alarm about the exchange rate despite the first breach of parity with the euro since 2015, as it warned that the war in Ukraine could hurt economic growth. Reflecting a restrained reaction to gains in the currency since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) stuck with its description ...

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India’s big banks score poorly on climate challenge

  Bloomberg Banks in the world’s third-biggest polluting nation are poorly prepared to combat rising global warming risks, according to a new study by local research and advisory group Climate Risk Horizons. None of the 34 Indian banks surveyed in the report have a long-term net zero target year with an implementation plan covering so-called scope 1, 2 and 3 ...

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RBNZ cash rate hikes ‘appropriate’ in near term: IMF

  Bloomberg New Zealand’s central bank should continue with the swift normalisation of monetary policy to curb a growing inflation threat, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “Given New Zealand’s strong cyclical position and inflationary pressures, significant increases in the official cash rate in the near term are appropriate,” the IMF said in the Concluding Statement of its Article ...

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Russia central banker wanted out over Ukraine, Putin said no

  Bloomberg Russia’s highly regarded central bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina sought to resign after Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, only to be told by the president to stay, according to four people with knowledge of the discussions. Nominated for a new five-year term last week, Nabiullina’s current views couldn’t be learned. She is left to manage the fallout ...

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Argentina raises key rate to 44.5%

  Bloomberg Argentina’s central bank raised its benchmark rate for the third time this year as the inflation continues to speed up. Officials increased the key, 28-day Leliq rate by 200 basis points to 44.5%, according to a statement. The announcement comes after President Alberto Fernandez declared a “war on inflation” last week, adding days later that the government will ...

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European stocks rise with US equity futures, oil fluctuates

  Bloomberg European stocks ticked higher with US futures, while Treasuries extended their slide as investors weighed the risks of rising inflation and the impact of the war in Ukraine. Oil fluctuated and the dollar edged higher. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.2%, with utilities the best-performing sector and technology the worst. Shares in Russia advanced as they partially ...

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