DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ UniCredit raises investor reward goal after profit tops forecast
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Italian international banking group UniCredit stands on the facade of the group headquarters, located in the Porta Nuova district, as seen from the viewpoint of Palazzo Lombardia on September 29, 2023 in Milan, Italy. UniCredit raised on Tuesday its investor reward guidance for the year, after posting a much higher net income than expected and further boosting capital levels. Italy's second biggest bank said net profit for the January-March period was 2.6 billion euros ($2.8 billion), above the average of 2.13 billion forecast in a company-compiled analyst consensus. In the full year, net income is expected to be above 8.5 billion euros, it said, having previously guided for a 2024 net profit "broadly in line" with a 2023 result of 8.6 billion net of a tax asset writeup. UniCredit said it was raising its distribution guidance for 2024 to stand in line with 2023, when it paid out net profit to shareholders in full.

Persons: UniCredit, Andrea Orcel Organizations: UBS Locations: Porta Nuova, Lombardia, Milan, Italy, UniCredit

☆ Wall Street gets its biggest investment-banking shakeup in years. Here are the key players making moves.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWall Street experienced a big shakeup on Monday when two big banks announced new leaders for their investment-banking units. Citi's hire comes just weeks after JPMorgan promoted Raghavan to the sole head of its deals business, forcing America's biggest bank by assets to regroup. Under Raghavan, JPMorgan rose to No. For the last decade, the 59-year-old has been CEO of the bank's commercial bank, dedicated to corporate lending, including to Silicon Valley startups and real-estate investors. In an internal memo announcing his new role, bank executives said he's "significantly" grown revenue in the region since he took over the region in 2019.

Persons: —, Viswas Raghavan, Raghavan, Jamie Dimon, Filippo Gori, Doug Petno, Filippo Gori —, Jane Fraser, Fraser, Merrill Lynch, Andy Sieg, Patrick T, Fallon, Raghavan Raghavan, Doug Petno Petno, Jennifer Piepszak, Troy Rohrbaugh, Piepszak, Marianne Lake, Rohrbaugh, he's, He'll, Sjoerd Leenart, Mary Erdoes, Reed Alexander Organizations: Service, Citigroup, America's, Business, JPMorgan, Citi, Financial Times, Banking & International, Citi Foundation, EMEA, Financial News, JPMorgan's, Corporate Banking Locations: Hong Kong, London, Europe, Africa, Fraser, EMEA, Silicon, Filippo Gori Gori, JPMorgan's Asia, Pacific

☆ Judge Engoron’s ruling: What will it mean for Donald Trump’s businesses?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

There is still a lot to parse from the ruling and its potential impact on Trump’s business empire, but here’s what we know so far. And Trump himself might have been permanently barred from the New York state real estate industry, something James had requested. The ruling extended the monitor’s role “for no less than three years.”That new governance structure is the reason Judge Engoron cited for not cancelling the Trumps’ business certificates. “The court’s decision to impose governing requirements [on Trump’s businesses] makes the injunction more likely to survive appeal,” Thomas said. First, at the Appellate Division and then at the New York State Court of Appeals.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Donald Jr, Eric, — Trump, Judge Arthur Engoron, Letitia James, “ Trump, ”, Will Thomas, Ross, James, David Cay Johnston, Engoron, “, ” Thomas, can’t, It’s, it’s, recently, Jean Carroll, Thomas, he’s, Johnston Organizations: New, New York CNN, Trump Organization, New York, New York State, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Trump, Independent Monitor, Appellate Division, of Appeals Locations: New York, New York State, ”

☆ ASML and more: BofA just got more bullish on these 3 chip stocks, says AI spending is heating up
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

European semiconductor equipment stocks are likely to outperform as spending on artificial intelligence chips rises over the next decade, according to Bank of America. The continent's chip stocks produce the high-tech machines needed to manufacture the latest generation of chips. ASML ASML , the dominant supplier of lithography equipment used to manufacture advanced logic and memory chips, remains Bank of America's "top pick in EU Semicaps." The bank forecasts strong demand from leading chipmakers using ASML 's extreme ultraviolet lithography machines required to produce next-generation AI accelerators and high bandwidth memory modules. The investment bank said ASM 's exposure to new transistor architectures called "gate-all-around" appears to be critical for improving AI chip performance.

Persons: Didier Scemama Organizations: Bank of America, AMD, Nvidia, EU, America's, Analysts, ASM International Bank of America, ASM International, ASM, BE Semiconductor Industries, HB, Intel, Micron Locations: Europe

☆ Societe Generale posts sharp profit drop as net banking income slides
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Societe Generale on Thursday reported a sharp decline in fourth-quarter net profit on the back of weaker net banking income, but launched a new 280 million euro ($302 million) share buyback program. The French lender posted a group net income of 430 million euros, slightly above a consensus analyst forecast of 404 million euros, according to LSEG data, but well below the 1.07 billion euros recorded for the final quarter of 2022. It comes after the bank posted posted a group net income of 295 million euros for the third quarter, as resilient investment bank performance offset a sharp downturn in its French retail business. Thursday's result took France's third-largest listed bank's annual net profit to 2.49 billion euros, slightly above analyst expectations of 2.15 billion euros. However, quarterly net banking revenue dropped 9.9% year-on-year to 5.96 billion euros, which the bank attributed largely to a decline in net interest income in French retail, and its private banking and insurance division, along with the negative impacts from unwinding hedges.

Persons: Slawomir Krupa, Krupa, BoursoBank Organizations: Generale, SocGen, Global Banking, Investor Solutions, Retail Banking, Soc Locations: France

☆ A Russian Bank Account May Offer Clues to a North Korean Arms Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Motoko Rich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The White House said last month that it had evidence that North Korea had provided ballistic missiles to Russia, and that the North was seeking military hardware in return. Pyongyang also appears to have shipped up to 2.5 million rounds of ammunition, according to an analysis by a British security think tank. While it is unclear whether Russia has given North Korea the military technology it may want, new banking ties would be another sign of the steady advancement in relations between the two countries. The expanding partnership has most likely emboldened the North, as it has issued a stream of belligerent threats in recent months, U.S. officials say. Russia has allowed the release of $9 million out of $30 million in frozen North Korean assets deposited in a Russian financial institution, according to the intelligence officials, money that they say the impoverished North will use to buy crude oil.

Organizations: Ukraine Locations: Russia, Moscow, American, Korea, Pyongyang

☆ Iraq Bans 8 Local Banks From US Dollar Transactions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Timour AzhariBAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq has banned eight local commercial banks from engaging in U.S. dollar transactions, taking action to reduce fraud, money laundering and other illegal uses of U.S. currency days after a visit by a top U.S. Treasury official. The banks are banned from accessing the Iraqi central bank's daily dollar auction, a main source of hard currency in the import-dependent country that has become a focal point of a U.S. crackdown on currency smuggling to neighbouring Iran. A central bank document verified by an official at the bank listed the banned banks. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesThey are: Ahsur International Bank for Investment; Investment Bank of Iraq; Union Bank of Iraq; Kurdistan International Islamic Bank for Investment and Development; Al Huda Bank; Al Janoob Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance; Arabia Islamic Bank and Hammurabi Commercial Bank. Banks banned from dollar transactions are allowed to continue operating and are allowed to engage in transactions in other currencies, the central bank says.

Persons: Timour Azhari, Al Huda, Ashur, Hammurabi, ”, Banks, Brian Nelson, Mohammed Shia, Giles Elgood Organizations: Treasury, Ahsur, Bank for Investment, Investment Bank of Iraq, Union Bank of, Kurdistan International Islamic Bank for Investment, Development, Al, Al Huda Bank, Islamic Bank for Investment, Finance, Arabia Islamic Bank, Hammurabi Commercial Bank, Central Bank of, U.S . Treasury, Huda Bank, Reuters, Iraqi Locations: Timour, Timour Azhari BAGHDAD, Iraq, U.S, Iran, United States, Israel, Gaza, Union Bank of Iraq, Kurdistan, Central Bank of Iraq, Washington, Baghdad

☆ Man pleads guilty in $1 billion scheme to dodge money laundering rules in New York
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A man described as an "experienced anti-money laundering specialist" pleaded guilty on Wednesday to illegally funneling more than $1 billion in lucrative, high-risk transactions through small financial institutions, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The man, 56-year-old Gyanendra Asre of Greenwich, Connecticut, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to one count of failing to maintain an anti-money laundering program in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, meanwhile, on Wednesday assessed a $100,000 civil penalty on Asre and banned him from participating in any financial institution's affairs for five years. He had previously been employed as a senior vice president at a domestic bank, and was "experienced in international banking and trained in anti-money laundering compliance and procedures," the DOJ said. Asre "represented to the NYSEFCU that he and his businesses would conduct appropriate anti-money laundering oversight as required by the Bank Secrecy Act," according to the DOJ.

Persons: Asre, Attorney Breon Peace Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, DOJ, U.S . Department, Network, U.S, Attorney, New York, Employees Federal Credit Union, Bank Locations: Greenwich , Connecticut, Brooklyn

The Swiss government on Wednesday selected Stefan Walter, a 59-year-old German national who was director-general of the European Central Bank for the last decade, to head the Swiss financial authority known as FINMA. Swiss authorities feared the collapse of such a major lending institution could further roil global financial markets following the failure of two U.S. banks last year. The troubles at Credit Suisse threatened to unhinge Switzerland's position as a leading financial market, and the takeover left the country with only one internationally important bank: UBS. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesA parliamentary panel created after the government-orchestrated merger has been looking into the origins of the deal. Walter, who has a master's degree in international banking from Columbia University in New York, will start the job on April 1, the Swiss government said.

Persons: Stefan Walter, Walter, Urban Angehrn, Angehrn, Mark Branson, Marlene Amstad, ” Amstad, SRF, FINMA Organizations: GENEVA, UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss, European Central Bank, Federal Council, Columbia University Locations: Swiss, U.S, British, New York

☆ Most Gulf markets fall on weak oil; Saudi gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view shows the Dubai Financial Market after Joe Biden wins U.S. presidency, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates November 8, 2020. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 3 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Sunday, in response to Friday's fall in oil prices, although the Saudi index bucked the trend to close higher. Oil prices - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - slumped more than 2% on Friday on investor scepticism over the depth of OPEC+ supply cuts and concern about sluggish global manufacturing activity. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) gained 0.4%, with oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) rising 0.5% and Arabian Pipes Co (2200.SE) advancing 5.4%. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) lost 0.7%, with Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA) declining 2%.

Persons: Joe Biden, Christopher Pike, Jerome Powell, Ateeq, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Dubai Financial, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Qatar Islamic Bank, Saudi Aramco, Arabian Pipes, Federal, Gulf Cooperation Council, U.S ., Commercial International Bank, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Saudi, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Ateeq Shariff, Bengaluru

A pedestrian carrying an umbrella walks along the River Thames in view of City of London skyline in London, Britain, July 31, 2023. Finance executives, consultants and headhunters interviewed by Reuters predict subdued deal flows, modest bonuses for most and heavy job cuts in 2024. "2023 will ultimately be one of the lowest corporate finance fee pools in modern history," said Fabrizio Campelli, head of Corporate Bank and Investment Bank at Deutsche Bank. JOB CUTSBanks have already turned to cost cuts to try to weather the downturn, which in a people-intensive business means job losses. And although some bankers expect a tough 2024, others sense an opportunity for European banks from the Basel Endgame.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Fabrizio Campelli, Banks, Ronan O'Kelly, Oliver Wyman, O'Kelly, Dominic Hook, Goldman Sachs, Vis Raghavan, JP Morgan, Morgan McKinley's, Stephane Rambosson, headhunter, Rambosson, Ana Botin, Morgan's Raghavan, there's, Oliver Wyman's O'Kelly, Deutsche's Campelli, Anousha Sakoui, Carolyn Cohn, Jesus Aguado, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, LONDON, Finance, Reuters, Corporate Bank, Investment Bank, Deutsche Bank, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, Barclays, Lloyds, Challenger Metro Bank, UBS UBSG.S, Citi, Workers, Global Investment Banking, Employment, European Union, Santander, Global, Basel, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Ukraine, West, China, United States, India, Madrid

☆ Israel's First International Bank Q3 profit dips, default provision jumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FIBI, Israel's fifth largest bank, also said on Wednesday it would keep unchanged its dividend policy of paying out 50% of annual net profit. Net profit for the July-September quarter was 455 million shekels ($124 million), down from 467 million shekels a year earlier. FIBI said it had 165 million shekels in credit loss expenses in the quarter, versus 43 million the previous year. FIBI recorded a non-interest financing expense of 1 million shekels in the quarter versus income of 48 million the year before. FIBI said its board approved a dividend distribution of 90 million shekels.

Persons: Baz Ratner, FIBI, Smadar Barber, Steven Scheer, Mark Potter Organizations: International Bank of Israel, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Bank of Israel

☆ Argentina's Milei taps ex-central banker Caputo to fix economy in crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Jorgelina Do Rosario | Thomson Reuters | Jorgelina Do Rosario Is Emerging Markets Correspondent At Reuters Based In London | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former governor of Argentina's central bank, Luis Caputo, speaks alongside Economy Minister Nicolas Dujovne during a news conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Argentina President-elect Javier Milei will appoint Luis Caputo as his economy minister, he said in a radio interview on Wednesday in Buenos Aires, after a two-day trip to the United States. "The minister of economy will be Luis Caputo," Milei told Radio La Red, although his office has yet to officially confirm the nomination. This will not be the first time for Caputo, a former Wall Street banker, as a government official. The economist was later appointed as central bank governor in 2018.

Persons: Luis Caputo, Nicolas Dujovne, Marcos Brindicci, Javier Milei, Caputo, Milei, elect's, Mauricio Macri's, Jorgelina, Adam Jourdan, Bernadette Baum, Mark Porter Organizations: REUTERS, Radio La, Monetary Fund, Wall Street, IMF, Thomson Locations: Argentina's, Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, United States, dollarizing Argentina, Milei, Washington, Rosario

☆ China economy: PBOC governor says focus will be on ‘high-quality, sustainable’ growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“High-quality, sustainable growth is far more important.”The country is moving away from manufacturing and real estate, its traditional drivers of growth, towards a newer economic model driven by consumption and services, he added. “I’m confident China will enjoy healthy and sustainable growth in 2024 and beyond.”His remarks come at a time when China is battling a protracted recession in its vast real estate sector. But the country’s real estate sector is still struggling with sluggish sales and falling home prices. “China’s real estate market is experiencing some adjustments,” he said. The regulators have also introduced a raft of measures to stabilise the real estate industry, including reducing mortgage rates for home buyers.

Persons: Pan Gongsheng, “, Pan, “ I’m, ”, Stringer Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of, “, Getty Locations: Hong Kong, “ China, People’s Bank of China, China, “, Fuyang, China's, Anhui, AFP, Wuhan, Hubei

One Russian banking source close to the Russian central bank said receiving revenue in a non-convertible currency with little value outside India was "pointless". They said, however, the problem remained of finding a viable alternative to the dollar, and that the problems affect buyers in Africa, China and Turkey which have become top buyers of Russian oil. The biggest issue, however, concerns India, which has been buying more than 60% of Russian seaborne oil, according to LSEG data and Reuters calculations. India's top refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS) is struggling to settle some payments, mainly for the purchase of Russia's light, sweet Sokol grade from the Sakhalin 1 project. From October, several UAE banks have tightened control over Russia-focused clients to ensure compliance with the price cap, according to five oil trading and bank sources.

Persons: Yang Mei Hu, Tatiana Meel, Ivan Nosov, Sokol, YUAN, Barbara Lewis Organizations: COSCO Shipping, REUTERS, U.S ., UAE, Reuters, Indian Oil Corp, Sokol, IOC, UAE dirhams, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka, Russia, Ukraine Russian, MOSCOW, DELHI, Ukraine, India, Russian, Hong, Africa, China, Turkey, Washington, Moscow, United States, Russia's, Sakhalin, UAE

☆ Most Gulf markets in the red on falling oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Ateeq Shariff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A trader looks on near electronic boards showing stock market data at Bahrain Bourse after Joe Biden won the U.S. presidency, in Manama, Bahrain, November 8, 2020. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 26 (Reuters) - Stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Sunday in response to Friday's fall in oil prices, although the Saudi index bucked the trend to trade higher. Oil - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - fell on Friday as the release of some hostages in Gaza reduced the geopolitical risk premium. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) declined 0.8%, with top lender Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA) losing 2%. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) edged 0.1% higher, ending two sessions of losses, helped by a 1.2% rise in Elm Company (7203.SE).

Persons: Joe Biden, Hamad I Mohammed, Ateeq, Louise Heavens Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, U.S, REUTERS, Stock, Qatar Islamic Bank, Industries Qatar, Commercial International Bank, Elm Company, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, Saudi, Gaza, Qatar, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Ateeq Shariff, Bengaluru

[1/2] Former governor of Argentina's central bank, Luis Caputo, speaks during a news conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 4, 2018. In the meeting, however, Caputo declined to confirm that he would be the new economy minister, two of the sources said. The roadmap is orthodox and without crazy things," Caputo told the assembled bank representatives, according to a senior banking source who attended the meeting. Earlier on Friday, though, he said shutting the central bank was "non-negotiable". The second bank source said Caputo had discussed the need to fully attack inflation and lower the Leliq pile, though did not have details on how this would be done.

Persons: Luis Caputo, Marcos Brindicci, Javier Milei, Caputo, Milei, Mauricio Macri's, Javier Bolzico, ADEBA, Milei's, " Caputo, Jorgelina, Jorge Otaola, Adam Jourdan, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, La, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Argentina's, Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Rosario

☆ Bankrupt WeWork enters financing agreements with certain lenders
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A WeWork logo is seen outside its offices in the Queens borough of New York City, U.S., November 7, 2023. WeWork, once the most valuable U.S. startup, struggled to achieve profitability as a rise in work-from-home trends following the pandemic soured demand for its shared office spaces. The financing could be as much as $682.5 million but it could also be smaller than that depending on other conditions, WeWork said, adding that the parties have agreed to provide the financing individually and not jointly. The company also said the financing agreement was dependent on fulfilling certain conditions, including the approval of the Bankruptcy Court. WeWork entered bankruptcy with about $164 million of cash on hand, according to court filings.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, WeWork, Bhanvi, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Goldman Sachs International Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, SoftBank, Thomson Locations: Queens, New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Most Gulf markets gain on rising oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Ateeq Shariff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Christopher Pike Acquire Licensing RightsNov 19 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Sunday in response to Friday's rise in oil prices, with the Saudi index rising for a fourth consecutive session. Oil prices - often a catalyst for the Gulf's financial market - jumped more than 4% on Friday, rebounding from a 4-month low, with U.S. sanctions on some Russian oil shippers lending support. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) gained 0.5%, with oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) gaining 0.3% and the country's biggest lender Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) advancing 1.5%. In Qatar, the index (.QSI) closed 0.2% higher, helped by a 1% rise in the Gulf's biggest lender Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA). Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) advanced 2.1%, buoyed by a 3.8% jump in Commercial International Bank (CIB) (COMI.CA).

Persons: Joe Biden, Christopher Pike, Kristalina Georgieva, Ateeq, Alex Richardson Organizations: Dubai Financial, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Saudi, Saudi Aramco, Saudi National Bank, Qatar National Bank, Gulf Cooperation Council, U.S . Federal Reserve, International Bank, CIB, Egypt's, European Bank for Reconstruction, Monetary Fund, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Saudi, Qatar, Israel, Ateeq Shariff, Bengaluru

☆ Morgan Stanley CEO says his firm is ready for 'Basel III endgame' — the sweeping new global rules on banking
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

James Gorman, chairman and chief executive of Morgan Stanley, speaks during the Global Financial Leader's Investment Summit in Hong Kong, China, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. The de-facto central bank of the Chinese territory is this week holding its global finance summit for a second year in a row. Photographer: Lam Yik/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesSINGAPORE — Morgan Stanley Chairman and CEO James Gorman said his firm will be able to cope with "any form" that new banking regulations end up taking, but added he expects some watering down before the final rules are confirmed. U.S. regulators on Tuesday defended their plans for a sweeping set of proposed changes to banks' capital requirements, speaking in front of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. These proposed changes in the U.S. seek to incorporate parts of international banking regulations known as Basel III, which was agreed to after the 2008 crisis and has taken years to roll out.

Persons: James Gorman, Morgan Stanley, Lam Yik, Getty Images SINGAPORE — Morgan Stanley, it's, Gorman, Morgan, I've Organizations: Financial, Investment, Bloomberg, Getty Images SINGAPORE, U.S . Senate Banking Committee, Basel III, CNBC, Pacific, Federal Reserve, Fed Locations: Hong Kong, China, U.S, Basel, —, Morgan Stanley's, Asia, Singapore, New York

☆ EFG shares jump 3% following record profitability
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of EFG International bank is seen at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland February 28, 2018. The bank's share price has risen more than 11% this year, and hit a year-high of 10.98 Swiss francs on Nov. 1. This is on top of its existing commitment to repurchase up to 6 million shares by Sept. 11, 2024 . At 144.1 billion Swiss francs, assets under management were only slightly higher than the 143.1 billion francs at the end of 2022. According to EFG, the growth in net new assets was largely offset by negative currency effects.

Persons: Arnd, Giorgio Pradelli, Zuercher, Michael Klien, EFG, Noele Illien, Sharon Singleton Organizations: International, REUTERS, Rights, EFG, Thomson Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Swiss

☆ Gulf bourses mixed as China pessimism offsets higher oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 12 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets put in a mixed performance on Sunday as higher oil prices were offset by worries of faltering demand from China, the world's top crude importer. Oil prices - a major driver of Gulf financial markets - rose about 2% on Friday as Iraq voiced support for OPEC+ oil cuts ahead of a meeting of the group on Nov. 26. The retailer reported a third-quarter net loss of 202.9 million riyals ($54.1 million) compared to a net profit of 21.1 million riyals a year earlier. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) fell 1.7%, with Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA) down 2.5% and Misr Fertilizer (MFPC.CA) losing 4.6%. However, Credit Agricole Egypt (CIEB.CA) gained 3.7% as the lender reported a 121% jump in third quarter consolidated net profit.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hamad I Mohammed, Brent, Masraf Al Rayan, Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co, Md Manzer Hussain, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, U.S, REUTERS, OPEC, Qatar, Saudi Telecom, Human Resources, Commercial International Bank, Misr, Agricole Egypt, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, China, Iraq, Saudi

☆ Gay Games: Sporting and cultural LGBTQ event faces a conservative backlash in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I have no idea how it managed to reach Hong Kong,” he said. Gay Games organizers hit back at the opposition from Hong Kong lawmakers and have vowed the event will be a proud, non-political, celebration of inclusivity. A spokesman did not answer the first part and replied on the latter: “Any activity that takes place in Hong Kong must not contravene any laws of Hong Kong. One of Hong Kong leader John Lee’s top advisers and also a lawmaker, Ip has been one of the few Hong Kong politicians vocally supportive of the games. Meanwhile Chan Kwan-on, one of the Gay Games ambassadors in Hong Kong, urged critics not to jump to conclusions and come see for themselves.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, –, ”, Junius Ho, Peter Shiu, Lisa Lam, Alan Lang, Hong, Tyrone Siu, Xi Jinping, Hong Kong, ” Wayne Morgan, ‘, Lang, Regina Ip, John Lee’s, Ip, Chan Kwan, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Gay Games, Wednesday, firebrand, Beijing, CNN, Reuters, Gay, Valencia, Hong, Gay Sports and Movement Association, China’s Communist Party, ’ Gay Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Mexican, Guadalajara, Beijing, China, Hong, Australian, Taiwan

☆ Most Gulf markets end higher after US job market softens
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A trader looks on near electronic boards showing stock market data at Bahrain Bourse after Joe Biden won the U.S. presidency, in Manama, Bahrain, November 8, 2020. Most Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including the UAE, peg their currencies to the U.S. dollar and follow the Fed's policy moves closely. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) gained 0.8%, with oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) rising 0.5% and Lumi Rental Co (4262.SE) finishing 1.7% higher. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) closed 2% higher, led by a 2.1% rise in Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA). On Friday, the lender reported third-quarter net income of 8.35 billion Egyptian pounds ($270.66 million), up 89% year-on-year.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hamad I Mohammed, Detroit's, Jerome Powell, Ateeq, David Goodman, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, U.S, REUTERS, Federal, United Auto Workers, UAW, Gulf Cooperation, U.S ., Saudi Aramco, Lumi, Reuters, Industries Qatar, Commercial International Bank, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, U.S, Gulf, UAE, Saudi, Ateeq Shariff, Bengaluru

☆ World Bank Eyes Speeding up Loan Approvals Amid Bold Overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Disbursements currently take an average of 27 months from the time the bank gets a loan request. Adding resources to the implementation stage of projects backed by the bank is another way of reducing the timeframe of disbursements, Mountfield said. The World Bank has launched a broader reform process that includes stretching its balance sheet as international threats from geopolitical tensions to global warming pile pressure on vulnerable nations. The United States, the bank's largest shareholder, has been urging the bank for months to take bolder and faster steps to free up resources. The study, carried out by international finance analytics firm Risk Control, found the bank's two main lending arms, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), have "significant headroom" to boost lending.

Persons: Rosario, Elisa Martinuzzi, Ed Mountfield, Mountfield, Disbursements, Jorgelina, Christina Fincher Organizations: Elisa Martinuzzi LONDON, Bank, Operations, Country Services, World Bank, Reuters, AAA, Rockefeller Foundation, International Bank for Reconstruction, International Development Association, IDA Locations: London, United States

Search resuls for: "International Bank"

25 mentions found