Saturday , 7 February 2026

Bank of Japan refuses request of traders to work from home

Bloomberg The new normal of remote work has yet to reach the traders who deal with the Bank of Japan (BOJ). Japan’s central bank doesn’t allow home computers to connect to its network for conducting asset purchases and other market transactions, raising concerns at financial firms as coronavirus cases in Tokyo surge. At least three have asked the BOJ whether …

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Westpac first Australian bank to scrap dividend as Covid bites

Bloomberg Westpac Banking Corp. has scrapped its first-half dividend, citing the desire to maintain a strong balance sheet in an uncertain operating environment. The lender had previously deferred any decision on a payout during the height of the first coronavirus outbreak. It will next consider dividends as part of finalising its full-year results. Westpac is the first of the nation’s …

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Intesa is poised for role in Italy bid for Borsa Italiana

Bloomberg Intesa Sanpaolo SpA is likely to play a part in the possible purchase of Borsa Italiana SpA being considered by Italian state-owned lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA and Euronext, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The government and Euronext have been weighing a joint bid for the stock exchange operator, owned by London Stock Exchange Group …

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Citi sues Brigade Capital over mistaken Revlon transfer

Bloomberg Citigroup Inc. asked a federal court to order Brigade Capital Management LP to return its share of more than $900 million that the bank mistakenly wired to Revlon Inc. lenders, some of which are locked in a bitter fight with the struggling cosmetics giant. The bank has recouped less than half of the money, which it blamed on a …

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Goldman boosts S&P 500 target by 20%

Bloomberg Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is the latest firm to boost its year-end price target for the S&P 500, as a relentless rally off the March lows leaves strategist predictions in the dust. David Kostin raised his forecast for the benchmark US gauge to 3,600 from 3,000, joining the likes of Yardeni Research founder Ed Yardeni and RBC Capital Markets’ …

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European stocks drift with US futures as gold advances

Bloomberg European stocks struggled for traction with US equity futures as the Trump administration stoked tensions with Beijing by announcing new restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co. A dollar gauge slid to the lowest since 2018. Jewellery maker Pandora A/S led losses in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index after saying sales may contract as much as 20% this year. Asian chipmakers …

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High yields can’t stop global fund exodus from Indian bonds

Bloomberg Global funds used to clamour for more access to India’s debt markets. The high-yielding bonds are now the least popular in Asia as the nation struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Overseas funds have sold $14.6 billion of Indian corporate and government bonds this year, the most among emerging-Asian nations, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Indonesia has also …

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Oil near $42 ahead of Opec+ review of easing output curbs

Bloomberg Oil fell below $42 a barrel in New York at the start of a week that will see Opec+ gather to assess its supply deal as countries struggle to contain the virus that’s hurt economies and fuel demand globally. The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee — the panel which reviews the deal between the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) …

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Sasol’s loss, funding drive shares lower

Bloomberg Sasol Ltd reported an annual loss after $6.5 billion in asset writedowns and the scheduling of a rights issue as its struggles continued amid the coronavirus pandemic. The shares slumped as much as 9.6%. Lower demand and prices for its products due to the virus, compounded by problems at its US Lake Charles chemical project, is making a bad …

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US’s Chaparral files for bankruptcy protection

Bloomberg Chaparral Energy’s filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in four years, paving the way for bondholders to take control of the Oklahoma driller in the aftermath of sluggish oil prices. The company filed for Chapter 11 in US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware as it seeks to restructure its balance sheet and raise new money. Almost 80% of …

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