Business and Economy



Asia stocks up as 'Santa Rally' persists

AFP - 1h ago

Asian stocks rose in thin Boxing Day trade on Thursday, extending a "Santa Rally" with key markets Hong Kong and Sydney …

Taiwan blocks Uber-Foodpanda merger over monopoly concerns

AFP - 23h ago

Taiwan has rejected ride-hailing giant Uber's plan to buy Delivery Hero's Foodpanda on the island, stating on Wednesday …

Global stocks mostly higher in thin pre-Christmas trade

Dec 24 2024

Global stocks mostly pushed higher on Tuesday in thin Christmas Eve trade, as investors waited to see if a so-called …

Panamanians protest 'public enemy' Trump's canal threat

Dec 24 2024

Protesters in Panama on Tuesday burned an image of US President-elect Donald Trump following his threat to demand …

Investors swoop in to save German flying taxi startup

Dec 24 2024

A German flying taxi firm was Tuesday saved from collapse after investors swooped in to take it over, in a case that has …

Global stocks mostly rise in thin pre-Christmas trade

Dec 24 2024

Global stocks were mostly higher on Tuesday, boosted by a tech rally on Wall Street, but gains remained modest in thin …

Global stocks mostly rise after US tech rally

Dec 24 2024

Global stocks were mostly higher on Tuesday boosted by a tech rally on Wall Street, but gains remained modest in thin …

Asian stocks mostly up after US tech rally

Dec 24 2024

Asian stocks were mostly higher on Tuesday after a tech rally on Wall Street, but their gains remained modest in thin …

Panama leaders past and present reject Trump's threat of Canal takeover

Dec 24 2024

The status of the Panama Canal is non-negotiable, President Jose Raul Mulino said in a statement Monday signed alongside …

US panel could not reach consensus on US-Japan steel deal: Nippon

Dec 24 2024

A US government panel failed to reach a consensus on whether US Steel's acquisition by Nippon Steel threatens …

Five things to know about Panama Canal, in Trump's sights

Dec 23 2024

US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal be returned to Washington, …

Mixed day for global stocks as market hopes for 'Santa Claus rally'

Dec 23 2024

European stocks bounced around Monday while US equities shook off early weakness to push higher as investors waited to …

Trump's TikTok love raises stakes in battle over app's fate

Dec 23 2024

President-elect Donald Trump's repeated support for TikTok has sparked speculation about potential solutions to prevent …

European, US markets wobble awaiting Santa rally

Dec 23 2024

European and US stocks bounced around Monday as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally sweeps over the …

US probes China chip industry on 'anticompetitive' concerns

Dec 23 2024

The United States said Monday it is opening an investigation into China's policies for its semiconductor industry, over …

Volkswagen boss hails cost-cutting deal but shares fall

Dec 23 2024

Volkswagen's chief executive welcomed a deal to slash jobs and reduce production capacity in Germany without the need to …

Global stock markets mostly higher

Dec 23 2024

Global stocks mostly moved higher Monday as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally sweeps over the …

UK economy stagnant in third quarter in fresh setback

Dec 23 2024

Britain's economy was stagnant in the third quarter, according to revised official data released Monday, dealing a fresh …

Global stock markets edge higher as US inflation eases rate fears

Dec 23 2024

Global stock markets mostly edged higher on Monday as traders welcomed below-forecast US inflation data that raised …

Honda and Nissan to launch merger talks

Dec 23 2024

Japanese auto giant Honda and its struggling rival Nissan agreed Monday to launch talks on a merger seen as a bid to …

Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate fears

Dec 23 2024

Asian markets rose Monday after big gains on Wall Street, with traders welcoming below-forecast US inflation data that …

Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks

Dec 23 2024

Honda and Nissan were poised Monday to announce the start of talks on a merger to help the Japanese giants catch up with …

Luxury Western goods line Russian stores, three years into sanctions

Dec 23 2024

Despite a barrage of Western sanctions and swathes of brands quitting Russia after the Kremlin launched its Ukraine …

Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries

Dec 23 2024

Asian markets rose Monday after big gains on Wall Street, with traders welcoming below-forecast US inflation data that …

Sweet smell of success for niche perfumes

Dec 22 2024

They don't advertise and they are largely unknown to the general public but niche perfumes are able to command prices of …

Trump threatens to take back control of Panama Canal

Dec 22 2024

Incoming US president Donald Trump on Saturday slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through the …

Stellantis backtracks on plan to lay off 1,100 at US Jeep plant

Dec 21 2024

Stellantis confirmed Saturday it was reversing a decision to lay off 1,100 workers at its Jeep plant in the US state of …

Albania announces shutdown of TikTok for at least a year

Dec 21 2024

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said Saturday the government would shut down social network TikTok for at least a year …

Biden signs funding bill to avert government shutdown

Dec 21 2024

US President Joe Biden signed a funding bill Saturday, averting a Christmastime government shutdown after negotiations …

US Congress passes bill to avert shutdown

Dec 21 2024

The US Congress averted a Christmastime government shutdown early Saturday after weeks of tense negotiations that went …

France's most powerful nuclear reactor finally comes on stream

Dec 21 2024

France on Saturday connected its most powerful nuclear power reactor to the national electricity grid in what leaders …

Google counters bid by US to force sale of Chrome

Dec 21 2024

Google late Friday countered a US call to sell its Chrome browser, suggesting a judge address antitrust concerns by …

Amazon says US strike caused 'no disruptions'

Dec 21 2024

A US strike targeting Amazon in the peak festive period extended into a second day Friday as the retail behemoth said …

Qualcomm scores key win in licensing dispute with Arm

Dec 21 2024

A federal jury in the United States on Friday delivered a key win to mobile commputing titan Qualcomm in a licensing …

US House passes bill to avert shutdown, Senate vote to follow

Dec 20 2024

The US House of Representatives voted Friday to avert a government shutdown with just hours to spare, with Democrats …

US hours from government shutdown over Christmas

Dec 20 2024

US lawmakers raced Friday to stave off a government shutdown set to bite within hours, after Donald Trump and Elon Musk …

Wall Street climbs as markets brace for possible govt shutdown

Dec 20 2024

Wall Street stocks bounced higher Friday following a pullback in US Treasury yields as markets braced for a looming US …

Amazon expects no disruptions as US strike goes into 2nd day

Dec 20 2024

A US strike targeting Amazon in the peak festive period extended into a second day Friday as the retail behemoth said …

EU, Swiss hail 'historic' new deal resetting relations

Dec 20 2024

The European Union and Switzerland announced Friday a new set of agreements aimed at recalibrating relations between the …

US confirms billions in chips funds to Samsung, Texas Instruments

Dec 20 2024

President Joe Biden's administration said Friday that it has cemented deals for billions in funding to South Korean …

Wall Street rebounds despite US inflation ticking higher

Dec 20 2024

Wall Street stocks bounced higher Friday despite data showing an uptick in inflation and a looming US government …

Ex-IMF chief Rato gets four-year jail term in Spain for tax crimes

Dec 20 2024

A Madrid court sentenced ex-IMF chief and Spanish economy minister Rodrigo Rato to more than four years in prison for …

Fed's favored inflation gauge edges higher in November

Dec 20 2024

The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure rose for a second straight month in November, according to government …

Argentina's dollar craze cools under greenback-loving Milei

Dec 20 2024

"Dollars, selling dollars!" a money changer shouts to people streaming past in Buenos Aires' financial district.

'Dark lull' in German energy transition sparks political debate

Dec 20 2024

As Germany heads for February 23 elections the grey winter weather has become a hot campaign topic because of its impact …

Stocks retreat as US inflation ticks higher

Dec 20 2024

Global stock markets slid on Friday as investors grow concerned about the economic outlook for next year and a looming …

Spain orders 25 more Eurofighter jets from Airbus

Dec 20 2024

Spain has ordered another 25 advanced Eurofighter jets from European aerospace giant Airbus in the NATO member's drive …

Russia central bank holds off rate hike after criticism

Dec 20 2024

Russia's central bank kept interest rates at 21 percent on Friday despite surging inflation, a surprise decision that …

Fed's favored inflation gauge rises again in November

Dec 20 2024

The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure rose for a second straight month in November, according to government …

Credit Suisse collapse probe slams banking regulator

Dec 20 2024

Switzerland's financial regulator was ineffective in tackling the scandals at Credit Suisse, where executive …

Brits kindle Christmas spirit with second-hand gifts

Dec 20 2024

Bursting with customers one afternoon the week before Christmas, a second-hand charity shop in London's Marylebone High …

European stocks retreat further before US inflation data

Dec 20 2024

European stock markets slid for a second session running Friday and the dollar dropped as investors grow concerned about …

Markets struggle as traders digest Fed's hawkish pivot

Dec 20 2024

Equities fell Friday while the dollar maintained gains against its peers as investors assessed the fallout from the …

China lifts rock lobster ban, bringing end to Australian trade barriers

Dec 20 2024

China has lifted a ban on imports of Australian live rock lobsters, Canberra said Friday, demolishing the final barrier …

Asian markets struggle as traders digest Fed's hawkish pivot

Dec 20 2024

Equities mostly fell Friday while the dollar maintained gains against its peers as investors assessed the fallout from …

Starbucks workers to start US strike on Friday: union

Dec 20 2024

Workers at Starbucks will walk off the job Friday in three US cities in a strike their union threatened could spread …

Asian markets mixed as traders digest Fed's hawkish pivot

Dec 20 2024

Equities fluctuated Friday and the dollar maintained its gains against its peers as investors assessed the fallout from …

US Fed's caution on rate cuts could cause friction with Trump

Dec 20 2024

Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House and uncertainty about his policy proposals has begun weighing on the …

Japanese inflation jumps to 2.7% in November

Dec 20 2024

Japanese inflation accelerated in November, with prices rising 2.7 percent on-year partly because of higher energy …

US lawmakers reject Republican bill to avert government shutdown

Dec 20 2024

The US House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected a Republican-led funding bill aimed at averting a …

El Salvador plans to sell or shut its crypto wallet

Dec 20 2024

El Salvador will privatize or close the cryptocurrency wallet "Chivo" created by President Nayib Bukele when he made …

New Nike CEO vows turnaround after earnings drop

Dec 19 2024

Nike reported lower profits on another drop in revenue Thursday, with new CEO Elliott Hill vowing to get the slumping …

Republicans push new deal to avert US government shutdown

Dec 19 2024

Republicans in the US Congress agreed on a new funding package Thursday aimed at averting a holiday-season government …

Thousands of US Amazon staff strike days before Christmas

Dec 19 2024

Thousands of Amazon workers on Thursday launched what they called the "largest strike against Amazon in US history" …

Global stocks mostly fall as US Treasury yields climb

Dec 19 2024

Global stocks mostly fell Thursday as markets digested fresh central bank decisions and a rebound effort on Wall Street …

IMF confirms talks with Argentina about new loan agreement

Dec 19 2024

The IMF and Argentina have begun negotiations over a new loan agreement as the current program draws to a close, a …

US govt shutdown looms as Trump, Musk kill funding deal

Dec 19 2024

The United States was staring down the barrel of a holiday-period government shutdown Thursday after a late-hour …

Tariffs could cause 'massive' price increases: Top Biden advisor

Dec 19 2024

Sweeping tariffs under consideration by Donald Trump could cause "massive" increases to the cost of producing everyday …

Turkey's Pegasus Airlines says to buy 200 Boeing 737 aircraft

Dec 19 2024

Turkey's Pegasus Airlines said Thursday it would buy 200 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft in its largest-ever order worth some …

Wall Street stocks rebound despite government shutdown threat

Dec 19 2024

Wall Street stocks rebounded Thursday from sharp losses over the prospect of fewer US rate cuts next year despite the …

Amazon workers in US strike days before Christmas

Dec 19 2024

Thousands of workers at Amazon facilities across the United States went on strike Thursday, the Teamsters Union said, …

BoE holds interest rate after inflation rise

Dec 19 2024

The Bank of England on Thursday kept its key interest rate at 4.75 percent, deciding against a cut in line with the US …

Stock markets decline as Fed eyes fewer rate cuts

Dec 19 2024

European and Asian stock markets slid Thursday following sharp losses on Wall Street as the Federal Reserve signalled …

Portugal, Spain, France bust contaminated seafood ring

Dec 19 2024

A European operation has spared revellers a potential food poisoning nightmare before Christmas, seizing 30 tonnes of …

US-based Friedkin Group complete Everton takeover

Dec 19 2024

The US-based Friedkin Group have completed the takeover of Everton, the Premier League club announced Thursday.

US, European, Chinese firms seek to draw Vietnam arms deals from Russia

Dec 19 2024

Major US weapons manufacturers including Boeing and Lockheed Martin, along with Europe's Airbus and Chinese firms, put …

Markets track Wall St down after Fed forecast, BoJ hits yen

Dec 19 2024

Equity markets sank Thursday following a severe sell-off on Wall Street that came after the Federal Reserve halved its …

Sony buys 10% of 'Elden Ring' owner for $320 mn

Dec 19 2024

Japanese electronics titan Sony said Thursday it had paid more than $300 million for a 10 percent stake in the media …

Asian stocks track Wall St down after Fed forecast, BoJ hits yen

Dec 19 2024

Asian markets sank Thursday following a severe sell-off on Wall Street that came after the Federal Reserve halved its …

Ivory Coast wants bigger share of its mining boom

Dec 19 2024

Ivory Coast's mining industry is booming, driven by foreign investment and the discovery of new deposits, but the …

Taiwan's Foxconn in talks with Renault over Nissan stake: report

Dec 19 2024

Taiwan's Foxconn is in talks with French auto giant Renault to buy its major stake in Japanese carmaker Nissan, a report …

Yen drops as Bank of Japan maintains key interest rate

Dec 19 2024

The yen weakened against the dollar Thursday after the Bank of Japan kept borrowing costs unchanged, extending a retreat …

Asian markets track Wall St rout as Fed pares rate-cut forecast

Dec 19 2024

Asian markets sank Thursday and the dollar held gains following a severe sell-off on Wall Street that came after the …

TikTok's rise from fun app to US security concern

Dec 18 2024

As the US Supreme Court considers whether to uphold a law that could get TikTok banned in the United States, here is a …

US Fed signals fewer cuts, sending stocks tumbling

Dec 18 2024

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut interest rates by a quarter point and signaled a slower pace of cuts ahead, …

US stocks tumble, dollar rallies as Fed signals fewer 2025 rate cuts

Dec 18 2024

Wall Street stocks tumbled and the dollar rallied Wednesday after the Federal Reserve lowered borrowing rates again but …

US Supreme Court agrees to hear TikTok ban case

Dec 18 2024

The US Supreme Court agreed on Wednesday to hear TikTok's appeal of a law that would force its Chinese owner to sell the …

US Fed cuts key rate a quarter point and signals fewer cuts ahead

Dec 18 2024

The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point Wednesday and signaled a slower pace of cuts ahead, as …

Spain targets Airbnb in illegal ads probe

Dec 18 2024

Spain's leftist government on Wednesday opened an investigation into holiday rental platform Airbnb for allegedly …

US Fed cuts key rate a quarter point, signals fewer cuts ahead

Dec 18 2024

The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point Wednesday and signaled a slower pace of cuts ahead, as …

Stocks and dollar edge higher before Fed rate decision

Dec 18 2024

Stock markets mostly edged higher while the dollar rose against main rivals Wednesday ahead of an expected decision by …

UniCredit ups pressure on Commerzbank, fuelling German anger

Dec 18 2024

Italian bank UniCredit said Wednesday it had boosted its stake in Germany's Commerzbank, intensifying takeover …

Stock steady, dollar climbs before Fed rate decision

Dec 18 2024

Stock markets moved sideways while the dollar edged higher against main rivals Wednesday with the US Federal Reserve …

US Fed expected to cut again, despite uncertain path ahead

Dec 18 2024

The US Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by a quarter point Wednesday and signal a slower pace of cuts …

UK electricity grid set for 'unprecedented' £35 bn investment

Dec 18 2024

National Grid unveiled Wednesday a massive plan to nearly double the transmission capacity of the UK's electricity grid, …

Germany criticises UniCredit's 'unfriendly' moves on Commerzbank

Dec 18 2024

Italian bank UniCredit's move to increase its stake in German lender Commerzbank, which further fuelled speculation of a …

After long delay, French nuclear plant coming on stream

Dec 18 2024

France's flagship nuclear reactor at Flamanville in Normandy will finally enter service on Friday after a dozen years of …

Further hike in UK inflation hits rate cut chance

Dec 18 2024

UK annual inflation climbed further above the Bank of England's target rate in November, official data showed Wednesday, …

Pokemon is back with a hit new gaming app

Dec 18 2024

With over 60 million downloads and an estimated $180 million in revenue since late October, a new Pokemon mobile game …

Stock markets, dollar climb before Fed rate decision

Dec 18 2024

Stock markets mostly climbed and the dollar steadied against main rivals Wednesday with the US Federal Reserve set to …

Japanese carmakers Honda, Nissan in preliminary merger talks: reports

Dec 18 2024

Japanese auto giants Honda and Nissan are in preliminary merger talks to help them compete against Tesla and Chinese …

Asian markets mixed ahead of Fed news, Nissan soars on merger reports

Dec 18 2024

Asian markets swung Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's much-anticipated policy announcement, while shares in …