Bloomberg Germany’s central bank has decided to include the Chinese yuan in its own reserves, in a further boost to the international status of the currency. Speaking at an event in Hong Kong on Monday, Bundesbank board member Andreas Dombret said the decision was taken last year following an investment of 500 million euros ($611 million) by the European Central …
Read More »Morocco to loosen currency peg to attract investors
Bloomberg Morocco will loosen its currency peg in a long-awaited move aimed at strengthening its economy and avoiding financial imbalances that forced a slew of emerging nations into sharp devaluations. Bank al-Maghrib, as the central bank is known, will allow the dirham to fluctuate 2.5 percent above or below its official rate, significantly widening the band from 0.3 percent each …
Read More »India to split its flag carrier into four parts ahead of sale
Bloomberg India will break up its debt-burdened flag carrier into four separate companies and offer to sell at least 51 percent in each of them as part of a disinvestment proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The core airline business comprising Air India and Air India Express—the low-cost overseas arm—will be offered as one company, and the process will be …
Read More »Airbus stakes future of A380 jumbo on new order from Emirates
Bloomberg Airbus SE publicly questioned the future of the A380 for the first time, saying its flagship aircraft risks being shut down if the manufacturer fails to win a crucial order from the planemaker’s main backer, Emirates of Dubai. Emirates is the only airline with enough capacity to take enough planes to keep the programme alive, Airbus sales chief John …
Read More »Montblanc sports watches now in Rolex price range
Bloomberg Montblanc, the penmaker that began making Swiss watches two decades ago, is shoring up its credentials as it expands with sports models near the price range where Rolex Group and Breitling AG timepieces start. The brand, owned by Geneva-based luxury-goods maker Richemont, is introducing a line of Timewalker sports watches with a mountain-climbing theme this year after entering the …
Read More »â€˜Consumer boom’ proves real as holiday retail tops estimates
Bloomberg The final numbers are in, and the past holiday season was indeed one of the best since the last recession—even if everyone didn’t partake in the good fortune. Sales rose 5.5 percent to $691.9 billion during November and December, the National Retail Federation said. The results exclude spending on cars, gas and restaurants. E-commerce and other sales that occur …
Read More »Stock momentum gets historic on eve of big earnings season
Bloomberg The New Year’s rally has pushed the S&P 500 Index to its best start since the administration of George W. Bush. Now it’s bumping against speed barriers that marked the upper limits of bull markets for decades. Up eight times in the first nine days of 2018, the S&P 500 has broken away from a trend line, its 200-day …
Read More »Pound’s post-EU vote high vulnerable to fragile Brexit sentiment
Bloomberg The pound’s rally, spurred by hopes of a soft Brexit, may be vulnerable this week to heightened sensitivity to comments from European Union leaders on the prospects of such a deal. Sterling rose to its highest level since just after Britain’s EU referendum after signs emerged that some countries want a Brexit deal that keeps the UK as close …
Read More »Rig-count chaos: US shale oil drillers are confusing analysts
Bloomberg For US shale drillers who have seen prices climb almost 50 percent in six months, it’s been largely a rig-less recovery, a conundrum for traders seeking to forecast the future. Normally, you’d expect the rigs to return to the field in significant numbers as producers flush with added cash looked to boost output. But the weekly Baker Hughes tally …
Read More »BP to pay $102mn to settle California suit
Bloomberg A BP Plc unit will pay $102 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of overcharging California for natural gas, the state’s attorney general said. The accord spared BP from facing a jury trial that was scheduled to start this week in San Francisco. A lawyer for the ex-employee who initially filed the complaint as a whistle blower …
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