Bloomberg Cotton supplies at Indian markets dropped by more than half after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise move to withdraw and replace high-denomination banknotes. Prices have already climbed about 4 percent as farmers withhold supplies, Aurobinda Gayan, vice president for research at trader Kotak Commodity Services Ltd., said in an interview on Tuesday. They may climb further through early ...
Read More »Tencent’s profit climbs as WeChat lures ads, paying gamers
Bloomberg Tencent Holdings Ltd. posted a 43 percent rise in third-quarter profit that only just missed expectations, as its consistent ability to attract Chinese gamers and social media mavens fueled advertising growth despite growing competition. Net income climbed to 10.6 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in the three months ended September, the Shenzhen-based company said Wednesday. That compares with the ...
Read More »Finland looks to forestry for economic revival
Äänekoski / AFP Nokia was once the motor of Finland’s economy, but since the demise of the company’s mobile phone business the Nordic country has struggled to find a new engine for growth. But after nine sluggish years and a three-year recession that ended in 2015, could Finland’s centuries-old, if unglamorous, forestry sector, hold the answer? A rare bit of ...
Read More »Mercedes seeks cash boost with Maybach open-top
Bloomberg Mercedes-Benz is rolling out a 300,000-euro ($323,000) limited-edition convertible under its ultra high-end Maybach nameplate, as the German automaker seeks to burnish its luxury image and bankroll its investment in electric cars. With a limited run of 300 vehicles, the Mercedes-Maybach S650 will be available next year and come with quilted leather seats, matching luggage and a device ...
Read More »Google mulls London campus expansion
Bloomberg Google is going ahead with delayed plans to expand its London offices, saying it will build a 10-story building on the site in a move that the UK government called a vote of confidence in the country’s post-Brexit future. The company, the largest unit of Alphabet Inc., said it would be able to house as many as 7,000 ...
Read More »Awash in gasoline, US refiners export fuel at record pace
Bloomberg The US has more gasoline than it knows what to do with. Exports have risen above imports for three consecutive weeks as recurring pipeline outages and higher production levels by refiners caused Gulf Coast inventories to grow. Typically a net importer of gasoline, the US has shipped a record amount of the motor fuel abroad and doesn’t show ...
Read More »EU security check for visitors
Brussels / AFP The EU unveiled plans on Wednesday to charge travellers five euros ($5.30) for security checks to get visa-free travel to Europe’s borderless Schengen area, and confirmed the fee would apply to post-Brexit Britain. The proposal is based on a US system and will allow EU countries to quickly cross check identity documents and other details from ...
Read More »Abu Dhabi stocks rally on bank merger speculation
Reuters Abu Dhabi bank shares surged on Wednesday because of renewed speculation that the government might merge more banks as part of an efficiency drive, while other regional markets rebounded, encouraged by strong global bourses and oil prices. The Abu Dhabi index jumped 2.6 percent, its largest single-day gain since June, but trading volume continued to decline from a ...
Read More »US, European stocks tumble, dollar gains
London / AFP Europe’s main stock markets extended their losses on Wednesday after recent volatile swings and US stocks turned lower after a week-long post-election rally while the dollar surged. “US stocks look set for a lower open with the future Donald Trump presidency still front and centre,†analyst Jasper Lawler, of CMC Markets, said in a note to ...
Read More »Nintendo to release iPhone Super Mario in December
Bloomberg Nintendo Co. will release Super Mario Run worldwide for Apple Inc.’s iPhone and iPad on December 15 in US time zones, a highly anticipated launch that has a high bar for success after this summer’s Pokemon Go phenomenon. The game, the first mobile edition starring one of Nintendo’s most iconic characters, will be free to download initially, and ...
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