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☆ Intel survived bid to halt millions in sales to China's Huawei, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"No American company, especially those receiving taxpayer funding, should be fueling its innovation," he said, referencing Intel's expected grant from the Commerce Department to expand its U.S. chip production. Republican Senator Marco Rubio called on the Biden administration to revoke Intel's license to sell to Huawei "immediately" following the Reuters report. Intel, Huawei, the Commerce Department and the White House declined to comment. Intel's share of sales of Huawei laptops containing its chips soared during the period from 52.9% to 90.7%, according to the presentation. Meanwhile, Huawei continues to rely heavily on Intel chips for its laptops, its website shows.

Persons: Patrick Gelsinger, Marco Rubio, Biden, Joe Biden, Trump, Donald Trump Organizations: Intel Corp, Intel Innovation, Intel, Huawei, Commerce Department, Republican, Reuters, AMD, Devices, White, Embassy, NPD, GfK, IRI, NIQ, U.S Locations: Intel Innovation Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, U.S, China, Washington, United States, Beijing

☆ European markets set to open mixed after Stoxx 600 closes at all-time high
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European stocks looked set to open mixed Friday, shaking some positive momentum after the pan-European benchmark closed at a record high in the previous session. The Stoxx 600 index ended the session 0.82% higher at 495.1 Thursday, surpassing its previous record close of 494.35 on Jan. 5, 2022, LSEG data showed. Investors will digest earnings from Allianz, BASF and Standard Chartered on Friday, while fourth-quarter gross domestic product data is due from Germany. In Asia-Pacific, markets were mostly higher Friday, with China stocks rising for the ninth straight session as investors digested property prices data. The CSI 300 index was flat by midday trading after rising about 0.4% at the open, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dipped 0.2%.

Persons: Hong Organizations: Allianz, BASF, Standard Chartered, Nasdaq Locations: Germany, GfK, Asia, Pacific, China

Bernstein named Taiwan Semiconductor a "best idea" for 2024, raising its price target on the stock. — Alex Harring 7:01 a.m. In addition to the best-pick honor, analyst Steve Scala has an outperform rating and $86 price target. Analyst Michael Lavery downgraded the stock to neutral from overweight and slashed his price target by $40 to $200. ET: Morgan Stanley hikes PDD price target, calls stock a top pick following earnings Morgan Stanley named Chinese e-commerce name PDD Holdings a top pick following its latest quarterly earnings report.

Persons: Bernstein, Morgan Stanley, LSEG, Bank of America's Tal Liani, Morgan Stanley's Hamza Fodderwala, Alex Harring, Craig Siegenthaler, Blackstone, That's, — Alex Harring, Ken Hoexter, Hoexter, TD Cowen, Steve Scala, Scala, Jefferies, John Colantuoni, bode, Colantuoni, Neil Beveridge, Josh Silverstein, Silverstein, JMP, Baldwin, Mitch Germain, Germain doesn't, Germain, Piper Sandler, Michael Lavery, Lavery, elasticities, HSY's, Hershey, Eddy Wang, Wang, Mark Li, Li, — Fred Imbert Organizations: CNBC, Taiwan Semiconductor, Holdings, Wall, Bank of America, Bank of America's, KKR, Apollo Global Management, Pacific, Transport, AstraZeneca, pharma, Airbnb, Toyota, UBS, Exxon Mobil, Natural Resources, Exxon Mobil's, Hershey, PDD, U.S, LSEG, Commerce, PDD's U.S, Apple, Huawei Locations: Tuesday's, Ivory Coast, Ghana, 4Q23, Taiwan, China

☆ UK consumer confidence jumps despite lingering inflation pain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Suban Abdulla | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Despite lingering cost-of-living pressures, GfK's headline consumer confidence index was stronger than anticipated in November, increasing to -24 from October's three-month low of -30. November's reading was above the -28 forecast in a Reuters poll of economists, and follows a sharp fall the month before. While British consumer price inflation fell significantly from a 41-year high of 11.1% just over a year ago to 4.6% in October, households are still grappling with the highest inflation rate among major rich economies. Official data published last week showed shoppers spent less in October as finances remain stretched. GfK conducted its poll of 2,000 people from Nov. 1 to Nov. 14.

Persons: GfK, Joe Staton, Andrew Bailey, Jeremy Hunt's, Staton, Suban Abdulla, David Milliken Organizations: Bank of England, Thomson

☆ Tim Cook says he's still 'optimistic' about China longterm as questions swirl about iPhone 15 demand as competition heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tim Cook tried to take a cheery note on demand for the iPhone in China during Apple's earnings call. Apple posted its fourth straight quarterly decline in overall revenue, though overall iPhone revenue grew and its services revenue hit a record high. AdvertisementAdvertisement"In the September quarter, we set an iPhone record revenue record in China and we're very proud of that," Cook said. AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd there are already some signs the iPhone 15 may not be performing well in China. Market research firm GfK also told the publication that it estimated sales of the iPhone 15 were down 6% in its first month on the market in China.

Persons: Tim Cook, —, Cook, GfK Organizations: Apple, Huawei, Service, Wall Street, Bloomberg, Huawei Technologies, Counterpoint Research Locations: China, Foxconn

☆ The US economy is surging – but problems elsewhere could still torpedo profits for big companies like Apple and Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Huileng Tan | George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US economy is surging, with growth coming in at a hotter-than-expected 4.9% for the third quarter. But problems elsewhere could still be bad news for big US companies, including Apple and Tesla. China's slowing economy and the war between Israel and Hamas are both potential headwinds, according to analysts. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe China challengeThat's bad news for mega-cap US firms such as Apple and Tesla, which count the Asian nation as a major market. On balance, risks to global growth continue to be skewed to the downside," the International Monetary Fund said in its Global Financial Stability report published last month.

Persons: —, Ukraine — that's, headwinds, Goldman Sachs, GfK, Michael Field, it's, Tom Donilon, Susan Li, Li Organizations: Apple, Service, Nvidia, Intel, Nike, China —, Morningstar Research, stoke, of America, DuPont, Procter, Gamble, International Monetary Fund Locations: Israel, China, Ukraine, Beijing, BlackRock, Iran

☆ 'It's not that Huawei is superior, it's that Apple is inferior': What the Chinese internet is saying about the iPhone 15
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

People in China just aren't that enamored with Apple's iPhone 15. Apple faces stiff local competition from Chinese rival Huawei, which launched its Mate 60 Pro smartphone weeks before the iPhone 15.launched its Mate 60 Pro smartphone weeks before the iPhone 15. As of press time, posts discussing the iPhone 15 have drawn over 100 million views on Weibo, China's version of X. If it were you, would you upgrade to the iPhone 15 just to get USB C charging?" Apple launched the iPhone 15 at its "Wonderlust" event in September.

Persons: — Organizations: Apple, Huawei, Weibo, Service, Bloomberg, Xiaomi Locations: China, Weibo, Hong Kong

☆ The iPhone 15 isn't doing well in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The iPhone 15 is not selling as well as its predecessor in China, per data obtained by Bloomberg. AdvertisementAdvertisementApple's China woes look set to continue as new evidence suggests that the iPhone 15 has seen disappointing sales in the world's largest smartphone market. Data provided to Bloomberg by market researcher GfK found that sales of the iPhone 15 were 6% lower than the iPhone 14 over the same period last year, adding to growing evidence that Apple's latest iPhone has failed to impress Chinese consumers. The slumping sales of the iPhone 15 in China come at a bad time for Apple, with the company facing renewed local competition from Huawei. The Chinese phone company launched its Mate 60 Pro smartphone weeks before the iPhone 15, and it has been a monster hit.

Persons: —, GfK, Tim Cook Organizations: Bloomberg, Apple, Huawei, Service, Jefferies Locations: China

☆ Morning Bid: Risk aversion grips markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An investor sits in front of a board showing stock information at a brokerage office in Beijing, China, December 7, 2018. The sell-off in the bond market continued into Asian hours, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield at 4.949%, its highest since mid-2007. That weighed on regional bond markets in Asia, with Japanese government bonds yields hitting decade highs. Futures indicated that European stock markets are due to open much lower as risk aversion takes hold, while the European economic calendar is bare. Netflix makes many of its shows and movies overseas, which accounted for the bulk of its new sign-ups.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Banerjee, Biden, Jerome Powell, Elon Musk, shrugging, Powell, Ankur Banerjee, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, Netflix, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Israel, Venezuela, France

☆ Israel-Hamas War Unsettles British Consumers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An early-October survey of consumer confidence in the U.K. published Thursday recorded the sharpest decline in a single month since April 2020, when the country was locked down to limit the spread of Covid-19. While Britons have paid more for their housing, car and other loans in recent months, Joe Staton at polling firm GfK said the slump was also due to “the uncertainties posed by conflict in the Middle East.” GfK questioned 2,000 Britons between Oct. 2 and Oct. 13.

Persons: Joe Staton, GfK, ” GfK Locations: Covid

☆ UK consumer confidence tumbles in October as inflation still weighs: GfK
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The GfK consumer confidence index, Britain's longest-running survey of its type, dropped to a three-month low of -30 in October from September's reading of -21. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a modest improvement to -20, and the nine-point drop was the largest since a one-off survey GfK did at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. "This sharp fall underlines that the cost-of-living crisis, and simply not having enough money to make-ends-meet, are still exerting acute pressure for many consumers," Joe Staton, client strategy director at GfK, said. Households' willingness to make major purchases recorded an especially sharp monthly fall, which GfK said would worry retailers in the run-up to Christmas, although the level of the index remained above where it was in October 2022. The poll of 2,000 individuals aged 16 and over took place from Oct. 2 and Oct. 13.

Persons: Joe Staton, Staton, GfK, David Milliken Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: British

☆ Morning Bid: Rate jitters wear down wary markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Asian markets were under pressure as the day progressed, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) sliding to its lowest in 10 months. Futures indicate the sombre mood is likely to continue as Europe wakes, with markets there due to open lower. Congress has shut down the government 14 times since 1981, though most of those funding gaps lasted only a day or two. Meanwhile, tech stocks are likely to be in the spotlight after a long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com (AMZN.O) from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission was filed on Tuesday. It also said the popular game has reached $20 billion in revenue since its 2012 launch.

Persons: Treasuries, Candy Crush, King, Ankur Banerjee, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Ankur, Treasury, Nikkei, Republicans, Congress, China Evergrande, HK, Bloomberg, Amazon.com, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Big Tech, Microsoft, Wall Street, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Europe, Swiss

The preliminary reading of the UK S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the services sector sank to its lowest since the pandemic lockdown of January 2021 and below all forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists. PMIs for the euro zone picked up a little but still suggested a recession was approaching. Official data showed retail sales rose in August, partially recovering from a rain-induced plunge in July, and a measure of consumer confidence climbed to its highest since January 2022. However, data company S&P Global said its survey was consistent with a drop in quarterly economic output of 0.4%. "The disappointing PMI survey results for September mean a recession is looking increasingly likely in the UK," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global.

Persons: Molly Darlington, BoE, Sterling, Martin Beck, Beck, Chris Williamson, Samuel Tombs, Andy Bruce, Toby Chopra Organizations: REUTERS, P, CBI, Bank of England, P Global, U.S, Confederation of British Industry, PMI, Pantheon, Thomson Locations: Altrincham, Britain

☆ British retail sales grow in August after washout in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - British retail sales partially recovered in August after a rainy July washout, official figures showed on Friday, adding to signs that the country's consumers were mostly coping with the cost-of-living squeeze. Sales volumes rose by 0.4% on a month-on-month basis after a sharp 1.1% fall in July, the Office for National Statistics said. "These were partially offset by internet sales, which dropped slightly as some people returned to shopping in person following a very wet July. However, August's data represented the sixth time so far in 2023 that sales volumes rose on a month-to-month basis, suggesting resilience in consumer demand. Retail sales volumes were 1.4% lower than a year earlier, the ONS said, compared with economists' forecasts for a 1.2% decline.

Persons: Phil Noble, Heather Bovill, GfK, BoE, William Schomberg, James Davey, William James, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, National Statistics, Reuters, Office, Bank of England, British Foods, Thomson Locations: Altrincham, Britain

☆ German consumer morale to fall in September -GfK
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Michael Dalder Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Aug 29 (Reuters) - German consumer sentiment is expected to fall in September, due to declining income expectations and propensity to buy, a GfK institute survey showed on Tuesday. "The chances that consumer sentiment can sustainably recover before the end of this year are dwindling more and more," said GfK consumer expert Ralf Buerkl. Persistently high inflation rates are hindering any improvement in consumer sentiment, said Buerkl. The consumer climate indicator forecasts the development of real private consumption in the following month. According to GfK, a one-point change in the indicator corresponds to a year-on-year change of 0.1% in private consumption.

Persons: Michael Dalder, Ralf Buerkl, GfK, Maria Martinez, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany

☆ Lower inflation boosts UK consumer mood: GfK
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO-Shoppers walk past sale signs on Oxford Street, as Britain struggles with the highest inflation rate among the world's big rich economies, London, Britain, 17 July 2023. The GfK consumer sentiment indicator rose to -25 in August from a three-month low of -30 in July, its biggest rise since April although still below the average of -10 for the survey, which has been running since 1974. Consumer price inflation dropped to 6.8% in July, down from a 41-year high of 11.1% reached in October 2022, although still higher than in all other major economies. The improvement in the GfK survey contrasts with other recent downbeat data on consumer spending. The GfK data was based on a survey of 2,001 people conducted between Aug. 1 and Aug. 10.

Persons: Rachel Adams, Joe Staton, David Milliken, Andy Bruce Organizations: Oxford, REUTERS, Reuters, of England, NIQ, Office, National Statistics, Thomson Locations: Britain, London

But signs of a slowdown are mounting, highlighting the BoE's dilemma as it continues to grapple with inflation. But the BoE looks set to keep on raising rates with inflation still more than three times its 2% target. Below are key readings of Britain's economy that the BoE will assess before its next scheduled announcement on interest rates on Sept. 21. But many analysts expect the lagged impact of the BoE's rate rises to hit spending soon, adding to the drag on the economy. Many economists think the delayed impact of higher interest rates and still elevated inflation will hit growth in the coming months.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, BoE, Andrew Bailey, GfK, Sumanta Sen, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Bank, Bank of England, Brexit, P, CIPS, Nationwide, Halifax, Reuters Graphics LABOUR, Employers, European Union, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Britain

Official data showed sales volumes last month were 1.2% lower than in June. Food stores sales volumes fell by a monthly 2.6% while non-food stores sales volumes fell by 1.7%. However, July's data represented only the second time that sales volumes fell on a month-to-month basis so far in 2023, suggesting resilience in consumer demand. Market research firm GfK reported last month that consumer confidence fell in July for the first time since January. Retail sales volumes were 3.2% lower than a year earlier, the ONS said, compared with economists' forecasts for a 2.1% decline.

Persons: Sterling, Heather Bovill, Ruth Gregory, GfK, Samuel Tombs, BoE, Tombs, Spencer, James Davey, Kate Holton, Susan Fenton Organizations: Reuters, Office, National Statistics, Department, Bank of England, Capital Economics, Macroeconomics, Thomson

☆ Bank of England caught between inflation fight and recession risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A woman carrying a Union Flag umbrella stands near the Bank of England in the City of London, Britain, July 30, 2023. Analysts and investors are mostly expecting a quarter-point increase in Bank Rate, taking it to a 15-year high of 5.25%. But they also say they must quash an inflation rate that is the highest among major economies. INFLATION THREATBritish consumer price inflation fell by more than expected in June to 7.9% in annual terms, down sharply from 8.7% in May. Reuters GraphicsHOUSING MARKETThe most obvious impact of the increase in the BoE's Bank Rate from 0.1% in December 2021 to the current 5.0% has been in the housing market.

Persons: Adams, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Bailey, GfK, Sumanta Sen, Kripa Jayaram, Vincent Flasseur, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Flag, Bank of England, City of, REUTERS, Analysts, Reuters, Nationwide, Halifax, insolvencies, Reuters Graphics LABOUR, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, BoE's, England, Wales, Germany

☆ Morning Bid: Markets shrug off upbeat news from Japan and China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

With a Reuters poll pointing to a sharp slowing in Tokyo's core CPI for July next week, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda is likely to remain confident about sticking to Japan's ultra-easy policy settings next Friday, keeping the yen on the back foot. China's latest efforts to boost consumption provided a small lift to mainland stocks, but markets continue to look ahead to the Politburo meeting, expected next week, for bigger stimulus announcements. The piecemeal measures unveiled so far suggest there's plenty of scope for disappointment. Where Beijing seems to be having greater impact is in propping up the Chinese yuan , which was holding the bulk of Thursday's gains after another stronger-than-forecast midpoint setting on Friday. A sharp drop in the July GfK consumer confidence gauge, which came in below the lowest Reuters poll forecast, suggests sentiment remains downbeat after what's expected to be a weaker UK retail sales reading for June.

Persons: Sonali Desai, Kazuo Ueda, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Netflix, Bank of Japan, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Reuters, Thales SA, Bank, American Express, Schlumberger NV, Thomson Locations: Asia, Japan, U.S, Beijing, propping

☆ 'Reality bites': High inflation and rates hit UK consumer confidence
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Suban Abdulla | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Market research firm GfK's headline gauge of consumer confidence fell to -30 this month from -24 in June, the first decline since January, and below the -26 forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. The fall was the biggest month-on-month drop in GfK's confidence measure since March to April 2022 when inflation accelerated after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Staton said the recent slowdown in inflation will do little to improve consumer confidence. The Bank of England has increased interest rates at 13 meetings in a row since the end of 2021, raising its Bank Rate to 5% in June. The resilience of consumer confidence in the first half of this year was helped by low levels of unemployment and separate data published on Friday showed employers still seeking to hire.

Persons: Joe Staton, Staton, " Staton, Neil Carberry, Suban Abdulla, William Schomberg Organizations: Bank of, Confederation, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Bank of England

☆ UK economy shows strains and gains, complicating Bank of England's job
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But the BoE is also aware that the economic impact of its 18-month campaign of rate hikes has yet to be felt fully. Below is a summary of key measures of the economy that the BoE will be watching before its next announcement on interest rates on Aug. 3. INFLATION THREATBritish consumer price inflation held at 8.7% in annual terms in May, down from a peak of 11.1% last October but the highest among the Group of Seven advanced economies. Reuters GraphicsINSOLVENCIESThere are signs that companies, especially smaller ones, are struggling as borrowing costs rise and the economy barely grows. Reuters GraphicsGraphics by Sumanta Sen, Kripa Jayaram and Vincent Flasseur; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: BoE, GfK, Sumanta Sen, Kripa Jayaram, Vincent Flasseur, Paul Simao Organizations: Bank of England's, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Nationwide, Halifax, Reuters, insolvencies, Wales, Reuters Graphics LABOUR, Thomson Locations: BoE's, Britain, England, Germany

☆ May retail sales bump in Germany not here to stay - analysts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 30 (Reuters) - German retail sales rose more than expected in May from the previous month, data showed on Friday, though analysts said the surprise rise does not indicate a change in depressed spending. The Federal Statistics Office said retail sales were up 0.4% month-on-month in real terms, beating expectations by analysts polled by Reuters that sales would remain unchanged. Compared with May 2022, sales fell 3.6% in real terms. "Even if May surprised us with an increase in retail sales and April also proved robust, the basic constellation of weak private consumption will change little for the time being," said VP Bank chief economist Thomas Gitzel, who predicted that retail sales will fall again in June compared with the month before. Alexander Krueger, chief economist at Hauck Aufhaeuser Lampe private bank, said consumers were still putting the brakes on spending due to real income losses.

Persons: Thomas Gitzel, Alexander Krueger, Hauck Aufhaeuser Lampe, Rene Wagner, Andrey Sychev, Miranda Murray, Maria Sheahan, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: Federal Statistics Office, Reuters, Bank, Thomson

☆ Exclusive: NielsenIQ's GfK deal set for conditional EU antitrust approval
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, June 28 (Reuters) - Advent-owned NielsenIQ is set to secure EU antitrust clearance for its proposed acquisition of German market research firm GfK on the condition GfK sells its consumer panel business, people familiar with the matter said. U.S. consumer market research company NielsenIQ, which is present in more than 90 markets covering more than 90% of the world's population, announced the deal a year ago. GfK's consumer panel business covers 122,500 households and 1,800 retailers, with its data showing patterns, trends and predictions. The European Commission, which is scheduled to complete its preliminary review of the deal by July 4, declined to comment. The list includes French peer Ipsos, the UK's Kantar, YouGov, Dynata, Circana, Omnicon Group, Publicis Group, Cision and private equity firms such as H.I.G.

Persons: Ipsos, Foo Yun Chee, Jan Harvey, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Commission, EU, Omnicon, Publicis, Equity, Bregal, Oakley, Symphony Technology, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, TowerBrook, Equistone

☆ Businesses criticise new EU data rules, consumer group sees missed opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 28 (Reuters) - Businesses and Big Tech on Wednesday criticised European Union data rules agreed between EU countries and lawmakers, saying they could hinder data flow and contractual freedom, while a pan-European consumer group said they did little for Europeans. The Data Act, agreed on Tuesday, sets out rights and obligations for how Big Tech and companies use European consumer and corporate data, focusing on that generated in smart devices, machinery and consumer products. Revelations by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden in 2013 of mass U.S. surveillance have led to EU concerns about data transfers. Tech lobbying group Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) said the new rules disadvantage Big Tech -labelled as large online platforms under separate newly adopted EU tech legislation - and hence limits consumers' choice. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) lamented the agreement as a missed opportunity to do more for users.

Persons: Edward Snowden, Cecilia Bonefeld, Dahl, CCIA, Ursula Pachl, Foo Yun Chee, Alex Richardson Organizations: Big Tech, European Union, EU, Airbus, Google, Nokia, Qualcomm, Philips, SAP, Siemens, Sony, Tech, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Digital Markets, European Consumer Organisation, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, EU

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