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Business & Finance - 2021-04-14
ECB's Lagarde says euro zone economy still on crutches
Money & Banking

ECB's Lagarde says euro zone economy still on crutches

  • "Think of a patient which is out of a deep crisis but still on two crutches," Lagarde said.
  • "You don't want to remove either crutch, the fiscal or the monetary, until the patient can actually walk fine, and to do that means support well into the recovery."
Published 14 Apr, 2021 08:54pm
Sterling recovers to hit one-week high vs dollar
Forex

Sterling recovers to hit one-week high vs dollar

  • The pound on Tuesday hit a six-week low against the euro and extended losses against the dollar after the announcement of Andrew Haldane's resignation.
  • It was 0.1% higher to the euro at 86.77 pence, off a six-week low of 87.11 pence after the Haldane announcement.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 08:47pm
Ireland sees 2-4 year implementation of any OECD corporate tax deal

Ireland sees 2-4 year implementation of any OECD corporate tax deal

  • After the new US administration threw its weight behind a push for a global corporate minimum tax rate last week, Dublin said that how quickly an agreement will be implemented depends on where it comes from and the nature of it.
  • "If that agreement is led by (US) President Biden, that change could be legislated for by this year and they are working to get an agreement on such a package," Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told a news conference.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 08:45pm
Russia's Rusal to upgrade technology for 35pc of smelter capacity to cut emissions
Commodities

Russia's Rusal to upgrade technology for 35pc of smelter capacity to cut emissions

  • The new cells will have the same total annual production capacity - of 1.4 million tonnes of aluminium. These four smelters in total produced 2.7 million tonnes of aluminium in 2020, or 71% of the company's output.
  • The 10-year project will start this year, and investments, which the Hong Kong-listed Rusal is yet to disclose, will peak in 2022-2027.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 08:41pm
Instagram launches test where users can choose to see likes

Instagram launches test where users can choose to see likes

  • The photo-sharing site, which is owned by Facebook Inc , said this latest test came after seeing mixed responses to its experiments in which it removed likes, commonly used as a measure of popularity.
  • Users in the Instagram test will still be able to privately see their own like count. The test will involve a small percentage of global users, but the company declined to say how many.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 08:32pm
US crude stockpiles fall as refiners ramp up output: EIA
Energy

US crude stockpiles fall as refiners ramp up output: EIA

  • Crude inventories fell by 5.9 million barrels in the week to April 9 to 492.4 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 2.9 million-barrel drop.
  • Oil prices rallied on the report. US crude futures were up $2.50 a barrel, or 4.1%, at $62.68 a barrel, while Brent rose 4% to $66.17 a barrel.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 08:22pm
Dollar at three-week lows as Treasury yields subdued
Forex

Dollar at three-week lows as Treasury yields subdued

  • "Until the bond market gets the heebie-jeebies over the inflation fears again I think the long dollar position remains under assault," he said.
  • Treasury yields have also fallen this week after the Treasury Department saw solid demand for new sales of three-, 10- and 30-year debt on Monday and Tuesday.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 08:18pm
Qatar leads major Gulf markets higher; Egypt retreats
Stocks

Qatar leads major Gulf markets higher; Egypt retreats

  • Brent crude futures rose $1.01, or 1.59%, to $64.68 a barrel.
  • Saudi Arabia's benchmark index reversed earlier losses to close 0.1% higher, supported by a 0.8% increase in Al Rajhi Bank and a 2% rise in Riyad Bank.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 08:14pm
Wheat up 7-9 cents, soy up 6-9 cents, corn up 5-8 cents
Commodities

Wheat up 7-9 cents, soy up 6-9 cents, corn up 5-8 cents

  • CBOT wheat gained overnight, boosted by strength in corn and soybeans as concerns over dryness in Europe and US spring wheat planting regions continue to provide support.
  • CBOT's most-active wheat contract climbed above its 100-day moving average overnight, nearing its 50-day moving average of $6.40.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 06:19pm
Fitch Ratings gets UAE regulator license
Industry

Fitch Ratings gets UAE regulator license

  • The license, effective as of April 6, allows Fitch to provide credit ratings for "onshore" entities listed in SCA-controlled stock exchanges, including the Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Fitch said in a statement.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:52pm
Abu Dhabi's Etihad in talks to divest Air Seychelles stake
Companies

Abu Dhabi's Etihad in talks to divest Air Seychelles stake

  • The move would leave the Seychelles government as the sole shareholder of Air Seychelles as the Abu Dhabi carrier further unwinds its failed strategy of investing in other airlines.
  • "It's been formalised as we speak. It's happening right now," said Althius, a former Etihad executive, during an online event by aviation consultancy CAPA.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:49pm
Ford to offer hands-free driving in some car, truck models later this year
Companies

Ford to offer hands-free driving in some car, truck models later this year

  • The automaker said its BlueCruise technology will be offered on its 2021 model year F-150 pickup trucks and the Mustang Mach-E electric crossovers equipped with its Co-Pilot360 driver assistance package.
  • Rivals General Motors Co and Tesla Inc also offer similar driving assistance technologies called the 'Super Cruise' and 'Autopilot', respectively.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:45pm
Lebanon's Central Bank calls for swift action to curb subsidies
Money & Banking

Lebanon's Central Bank calls for swift action to curb subsidies

  • The bank said it had been forced to sell dollars in recent months to prevent inflation, which has already reached 84%, from spiralling as high as 275%, and the remaining reserves needed to be protected.
  • The Central Bank said the government should act quickly because of "the danger of the situation and the economic and social impact of any delay."
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:35pm
Dollar General to hire up to 20,000 workers as economy rebounds
Industry

Dollar General to hire up to 20,000 workers as economy rebounds

  • But the number was lower than the more than 50,000 workers the company hired around the same time last year, which was nearly double its normal hiring rate, to support a surge in sales at its stores at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns.
  • The discount retailer said in a statement on Wednesday that it would host hiring events from this month to fill positions in its stores, distribution centers and corporate offices.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:29pm
South Africa's retail sales up 2.3pc year on year in February

South Africa's retail sales up 2.3pc year on year in February

  • Retail sales rose 2.3% year on year in February following a revised 3.7% contraction in January. On a monthly basis sales were up 6.9%, but were down 0.9% and in the three months since December.
  • The food and beverages category showed the biggest turnaround, expanding 8% after contracting a 32.3% contraction in January.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:18pm
India's Infosys posts 17.5pc fourth-quarter profit jump
Industry

India's Infosys posts 17.5pc fourth-quarter profit jump

  • The company won large deals worth a total of $2.1 billion in the quarter and added 130 clients, up from 84 additions in the same period last year.
  • Infosys posted consolidated net profit of 50.76 billion rupees ($675.39 million) in the three months to March 31, up from 43.21 billion rupees a year earlier.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:15pm
Wells Fargo profit beats estimates as credit costs stabilize
Money & Banking

Wells Fargo profit beats estimates as credit costs stabilize

  • The fourth-largest US lender said profit rose to $4.74 billion, or $1.05 per share, in the three months ended March, from $653 million, or 1 penny per share, a year earlier.
  • Since then, an ultra-loose monetary policy, trillions in stimulus support and an accelerated vaccination program have largely put the world's largest economy on a more solid footing.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:13pm
Goldman profit smashes expectations on booming investment banking
Money & Banking

Goldman profit smashes expectations on booming investment banking

  • Overall investment banking revenue rose 73% to $3.77 billion, its highest since 2010, while equities trading surged 68% as a jump in trading by ordinary investors fed stock market volatility.
  • Global investment banking fee hit an all-time record of $39.4 billion during the March quarter, according to Refinitiv data.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 05:11pm
Supply angst propels aluminium to multi-year high
Commodities

Supply angst propels aluminium to multi-year high

  • Benchmark aluminium on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 1% at $2,315 a tonne.
  • Aluminium, which is used in transport, packaging and construction, earlier touched its highest since June 2018 at $2,323.50 to stand more than 15% up from the start of this year.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 04:51pm
Uganda central bank holds rates as recovery takes hold
Money & Banking

Uganda central bank holds rates as recovery takes hold

  • "Economic recovery is proceeding and is stronger than was projected," the bank said in a statement. The economy contracted 1.1% last year, better than a forecast of -2%.
  • Some of Uganda's tight anti-coronavirus measures -- a night- time curfew, bar and partial school closures -- remain, keeping a lid on economic activity in those sectors.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 04:47pm
Controversial Toshiba CEO steps down, shares jump on bidding war expectations
Companies

Controversial Toshiba CEO steps down, shares jump on bidding war expectations

  • Satoshi Tsunakawa, who led the company before Kurumatani and until Wednesday was chairman, will once again assume the helm.
  • The offer sparked a strong backlash from Toshiba managers, prompting them to lobby against it to the government, said one of the sources. The sources declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 04:44pm
TSMC suffers power outage at southern Taiwan plant
Companies

TSMC suffers power outage at southern Taiwan plant

  • It cited Alice Cheng, an executive at the science park administration, as saying that most companies there have backup systems in the event of power failure.
  • The operations of TSMC, whose clients include Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc, are being closely watched by its customers and investors due to a global shortage of chips for everything from cars to washing machines.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 04:42pm
JPMorgan profit surges on trading, investment banking boost
Money & Banking

JPMorgan profit surges on trading, investment banking boost

  • Net income rose to $14.3 billion, or $4.50 per share, in the quarter ended March 31, from $2.9 billion, or 78 cents per share, a year earlier. During the quarter, JPMorgan released reserves of $5.2 billion.
  • Goldman Sachs, Wall Street's premier investment bank, is expected to report results later on Wednesday, followed by Wells Fargo.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 04:39pm
India's Infosys posts 17.5pc fourth-quarter profit jump

India's Infosys posts 17.5pc fourth-quarter profit jump

  • Bengaluru-based Infosys said its consolidated net profit climbed to 50.76 billion Indian rupees ($675.39 million) in the three months to March 31, from 43.21 billion rupees a year earlier.
  • Revenue for the quarter rose to 263.11 billion rupees from 232.67 billion rupees.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 04:30pm
German Bund yields dip as euro zone industrial output declines
Financial

German Bund yields dip as euro zone industrial output declines

  • Euro zone bond yields, which had been rising in line with US Treasury yields on hopes for a strong economic recovery later this year and increased inflation, dropped 1-3 basis points.
  • "The global picture is that the manufacturing sector is in rude health and is the sector that is leading the recovery, so perhaps there's a bit of a reaction to that," said ING rates strategist Antoine Bouvet.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 04:24pm
Hammad stresses on to strengthen business ties with KSA

Hammad stresses on to strengthen business ties with KSA

  • Hammad said that the Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia is a great asset for the country, and the government has taken initiatives such as Roshan Digital Accounts to facilitate non-resident Pakistanis for making investment in Pakistan.
Published 14 Apr, 2021 01:07pm