Tuesday , 16 December 2025

Stocks slip after record rally; oil extends retreat

Bloomberg US futures slipped and European stocks steadied on the last day of the month after record-breaking rally in global equity markets. Oil extended a retreat on signs of discord among Opec+ ministers. The rotation that sent stocks to all-time highs showed signs of a slight reversal, with technology companies holding firm, while small-caps, banks and energy producers were broadly …

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South African stocks fall, paring best Nov gains since 2001

Bloomberg South Africa’s main stock benchmark index dropped for a second day, down 1.1% by 9:42 am in Johannesburg, the biggest intraday decline in more than a week, as market giant Naspers Ltd joined diversified miners and banks in pulling the main gauge lower. Risk-off sentiment was evident in early trade, with 91 of the 141 listed companies declining, while …

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Iraqi minister denies seeking exemption from Opec+ oil cuts

Bloomberg Iraq hasn’t asked for an exemption from Opec+ limits on the country’s oil output for fear that an increase in production might cause crude prices to fall, Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar said, according to state-run newspaper Al-Sabah. The results of the Opec+ coalition’s output-cuts deal have been positive and stabilising for the oil market, given the impact the …

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No tremors felt in UAE after earthquake rocks south Iran

ABU DHABI / WAM A 5.0 magnitude earthquake on Richter scale was recorded in south Iran at a depth of 10 km at 8:24 UAE local time, according to the NCM National Seismic Network. The National Center of Meteorology National Seismic Network affirmed that no tremors were felt in the UAE after an earthquake shook Iran on Sunday morning and …

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Repsol to boost renewables fivefold, cuts dividend for 2021

Bloomberg Repsol SA will reduce its dividend next year after outlining plans to wind down the search for oil and expand its renewable capacity fivefold during the next decade. The Spanish company, which was the first oil major to set a net-zero emissions target a year ago, will put its projects into “harvest mode” as it refocuses on higher-value oil …

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Black Friday gets busted by Covid in sign of retail’s future

Bloomberg Black Friday — once the ultimate US shopping day — is being disrupted like so much else in these Covid-19 times, with consumers largely avoiding malls and instead flocking online. What that means for overall sales for the holiday season remains to be seen, but it’s becoming clearer that the pandemic has only accelerated the move away from big …

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Airbus confident in A320 jet ramp-up amid aviation crisis

Bloomberg Airbus SE is confident in its plan to increase production of the best-selling A320 family of jets to a rate of 47 a month next year, even as the slump in air travel puts pressure on customers, according to people familiar with the matter. The company has extensively stress-tested its backlog of orders for the model, and remains comfortable …

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S African retailers invest in local clothing firms

Bloomberg South African retailers including The Foschini Group (TFG) Ltd and Woolworths Holdings Ltd are increasing investment in local clothing manufacturers — both to reduce a dependency on Chinese imports and secure a supply chain thrown into disarray by Covid-19 restrictions. The companies have signed up to an industry plan that includes a target to source 65% of their goods …

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Airlines’ digital push helps to shed weight, cut fuel costs

Bloomberg The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated airlines’ digital uptake as carriers look for ways to reduce human touchpoints. But that push has had another impact, too. It’s reduced cabin weight, and that can mean big cost savings. Singapore Airlines Ltd’s low-cost carrier Scoot said it’s introducing an inflight system called ScootHub that customers can access via their mobile devices to …

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Mike Ashley to offer lifeline to Arcadia Group

Bloomberg Mike Ashley, the founder of the Sports Direct sportswear chain, is prepared to offer a 50 million-pound ($66.5 million) loan to Philip Green’s Arcadia Group, which is teetering on the brink of administration, Sky News reported. The board of Frasers Group Plc, run by Ashley, has drawn up plans for an emergency loan to Arcadia, Sky reported, citing Chris …

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