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Bloomberg A $42 billion merger to create what would become the world’s largest gas producer is facing an unexpected hurdle from the US antitrust regulator that could derail the deal. The Federal Trade Commission indicated it wants Germany’s Linde AG and Praxair Inc. to sell more assets before it approves their deal, Linde said in a statement to the markets. …

Bloomberg With Japan regaining its place as the second-biggest stock market amid growing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies, investors expect the nation’s equities to garner more attention. Japanese shares were worth $6.15 trillion compared with just under $6 trillion for Chinese equities, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The markets swapped position behind the US for the …

Bloomberg The ailing pound may need a dose of positive UK data to help it recover from a losing run against the dollar. Traders will watch data due this week in the hope that evidence of a strong economy will help boost the currency. Sterling dropped below $1.30 for the first time in seven weeks as investors looked past the …

Bloomberg Credit Agricole SA’s investment bank and retail business are both benefiting from the thirst for credit. Financing revenue jumped 17 percent in the second quarter after the bank provided advice and arranged debt financing on large deals including Altran Technologies SA’s takeover of Aricent Inc., helping the investment bank beat estimates. The bank’s French LCL retail business also did …

Bloomberg American International Group Inc. fell 2.7 percent after second-quarter earnings came in below estimates as a restructuring expense hurt results. Profit in the period fell from a year earlier as private equity and hedge fund performance weakened, the New York-based insurer said in a statement. Net investment income, which declined 12 percent to $3.1 billion, is on target for …

Bloomberg Wells Fargo & Co. disclosed another round of lapses and potential scandals in a quarterly report, saying it faces a US inquiry into its purchase of low-income housing credits and conceding it may have unnecessarily foreclosed on about 400 homeowners. Government agencies are examining how Wells Fargo negotiated and purchased “certain federal low-income housing tax credits in connection with …

Bloomberg Deutsche Bank AG had the credit rating of a class of debt cut to the lowest-investment grade level by Moody’s Investors Service after a change in German law last month paved the way for a more senior kind of borrowing. Moody’s downgraded the bank’s senior debt to Baa3 from Baa2 and reclassified the bonds as “junior senior” debt. The …

Bloomberg Canada’s economy is gaining strength instead of buckling amid a trade fight with the US. Exports rose to a record high in June even as President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum, and gross domestic product expanded in May at its fastest clip in a year, according to data released this week by Statistics Canada. That has …

Bloomberg Aimia Inc. is leaving the door open to reaching an agreement with the Air Canada-led group that sought to acquire the company’s Aeroplan rewards program, seeking a sweetened offer from the airline. Aimia said it wants at least $347 million for Aeroplan after the Air Canada group boosted its bid to C$325 million from an initial proposal of C$250 …

Bloomberg Bombardier Inc. burned through less cash than expected in its last quarter as the majority owner of the C Series jetliner, buoyed by rising sales of aircraft parts and rail equipment. Revenue rose in the second quarter and Canada’s largest aerospace company reported a surprise profit, according to a statement. Bombardier also reaffirmed its sales, earnings and cash-flow targets …