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☆ Live Updates: Slovakia’s Prime Minister in ‘Life-Threatening’ Condition After Shooting
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | Pavol Strba | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Slovakia’s populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot and seriously wounded on Wednesday in what the government called an assassination attempt. A post on the prime minister’s official and verified Facebook page said that Mr. Fico was in “life-threatening condition” after sustaining “multiple” gunshot wounds. Local media reported that the attack unfolded in the central Slovak town of Handlova, where Mr. Fico, a veteran politician, had been meeting with supporters. Mr. Fico has aligned with the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, in opposing aid to Ukraine and challenging mainstream opinions within the European Union. On Wednesday, Mr. Orban was quick to send well wishes to Mr. Fico, whom he called “my friend.”“We pray for his health and quick recovery,” Mr. Orban wrote on social media.

Persons: Robert Fico, Fico, “, Zuzana Caputova, ”, Caputova, Viktor Orban, Orban, Mr, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: Local, Facebook, Reuters, European Union, European Commission Locations: Slovak, Handlova, Russia, Ukraine, United States

☆ Some Gazans Say U.S. Campus Protests Give Them ‘Hope’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Hiba Yazbek | More About Hiba Yazbek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Thousands of miles away from the campus protests that have divided Americans, some displaced Palestinians are expressing solidarity with the antiwar demonstrators and gratitude for their efforts. “Thank you, American universities,” read one message captured on video by the Reuters news agency. “Thank you, students in solidarity with Gaza your message has reached” us, read another nearby. The protesters have been calling for universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel, and some have vowed not to back down. “I’ve lived my whole life in Gaza Strip and I’ve never felt hope like now,” said Ms. Owda.

Persons: ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Mohammed al, Akram al, Bisan, “ I’ve, I’ve, Owda, Nader Ibrahim Organizations: Reuters, Columbia University, Al, Azhar University Locations: Rafah, Gaza, United States, Israel, America, London

CNN —A pair of Russian journalists have been detained on “extremism” charges and face accusations of working for a group founded by the late Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny. Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin are accused of producing content for Navalny’s prominent YouTube channel, “NavalnyLIVE,” which publishes videos investigating corruption in the Kremlin that have amassed millions of views. Journalist Sergey Karelin appears in court in Russia's Murmansk region, April 27, 2024. An AP photo showed Karelin, who has dual Russian-Israeli citizenship, sitting in a glass cage in a Murmansk court on Saturday. Navalny’s family and supporters have accused Putin of being responsible for his death, a claim rejected by the Kremlin.

Persons: Alexey Navalny, Konstantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin, Gabov, AP Karelin, ”, Karelin, Vladimir Putin, Sergey Mingazov, Navalny, Putin Organizations: CNN, YouTube, Kremlin, Reuters, AP, Associated Press, Deutsche Welle, DW, Forbes, Novosti Locations: Basmanny, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Russia's Murmansk, Russia’s, Murmansk

☆ Baby Born in Gaza After Her Mother Was Killed Has Died
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Hiba Yazbek | More About Hiba Yazbek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A baby who was born premature after her mother was killed in an Israeli strike died on Thursday, a relative said, less than a week after news of her birth brought a glimmer of hope to war-torn Gaza. The baby, who was born after a strike in southern Gaza that also killed her father and sister, suffered respiratory problems and doctors were unable to save her, said her uncle, Rami al-Sheikh. The mother, Sabreen al-Sakani, was killed along with her husband, Shukri, and their 3-year-old daughter Malak when an Israeli strike hit their home in the city of Rafah shortly before midnight last Saturday. Instead of a name, doctors initially wrote, “The baby of the martyr Sabreen al-Sakani” on a piece of tape across her chest. “The baby was delivered into a tragic situation,” Dr. Salama told Reuters after her birth, adding, “Even if this baby survives, she was born an orphan.”

Persons: Rami al, “, ”, Sabreen, Shukri, Malak, Rouh, Mohammed Salama, Dr, Salama Organizations: Emirati, Emirati Hospital, Reuters Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Rafah

☆ Palestinian Baby Delivered After Mother Killed in Israeli Strike
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Liam Stack | More About Liam Stack | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Doctors in Gaza delivered a baby on Sunday from a Palestinian woman who had been killed alongside her husband and daughter in an Israeli strike in the city of Rafah, where more than one million people have fled during Israel’s war in Gaza. The baby was born 10 weeks premature and weighed three pounds, Dr. Salama told Reuters. Instead of a name, doctors wrote “the baby of the martyr Sabreen al-Sakani” on a piece of tape across her chest. “Hopefully after her respiratory distress improves, she will need to be breastfed,” Dr. Salama said. “She has been denied everything — denied her mother, denied her milk.

Persons: Sabreen, Dr, Mohammed Salama, Salama, Rami al, Malak, ” “, Mr, Sheikh, “, —, ” Organizations: Reuters, Al, Emirati Locations: Gaza, Rafah

☆ Cargo Ship Struck by Houthis Sinks in Red Sea, U.S. Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

She is scheduled to meet with Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet, in Washington on Monday. Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to meet with Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet, in Washington on Monday, according to a White House official and a spokesman for Mr. Gantz. Mr. Gantz, who visited Washington last year, is also scheduled to meet separately with Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, his office said in a statement, as well as with members of Congress and pro-Israeli lobbyists. It was unclear whether Mr. Gantz’s visit had the full backing of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr. Gantz’s office said he had updated the prime minister on his visit so as to coordinate talking points.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Benny Gantz, Gantz, Harris, Biden, Israel, Jake Sullivan, Gantz’s, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Monday, White, White House, United, Reuters, Palestinian, Mr Locations: Washington, Gaza, Israel, court, United States, Rafah

☆ Navalny is the latest in a long line of Putin critics who met an early death
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

CNN —When Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny returned to Russia in 2021, there were many who feared he would face an untimely end. The Kremlin has said it is investigating the critic’s death, the circumstances of which were not immediately clear. After his death, opposition leader Ilya Yashin said his friend had been working on a report about Russian troops and their involvement in Ukraine. Nemtsov’s death came two days before he was set to lead an opposition rally in the Russian capital. Alexander PerepilichnyyOver the years, suggestions have emerged of the possible use of a rare plant poison in the death of Russian financier Alexander Perepilichnyy.

Persons: Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, ”, Navalny, Yegveny Prigozhin Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Reuters Yevgeny Prigozhin, –, Bill Browder, “ Putin, ” Boris Nemtsov, Boris Nemtsov, Dmitry Korotayev, Boris Yeltsin, Ilya Yashin, Nemtsov, Vladimir Putin, Nemtsov’s, Boris Berezovsky Boris Berezovsky, Yelena Gorbunova, Peter Macdiarmid, Boris Berezovsky, Putin, Berezovsky, Alexander Perepilichnyy, CNN Alexander Perepilichnyy, Perepilichnyy, Sergei Magnitsky, ANDREY SMIRNOV, Magnitsky, Browder, Alexander Litvinenko Alexander Litvinenko, Natasja Weitsz, Alexander Litvinenko, Litvinenko –, Robert Owen, Putin “, Litvinenko, Marina Litvinenko, Anna Politkovskaya, JENS SCHLUETER, Lom, Ali Gaitukayev, Politkovskaya, Chechen Republic …, ” Drownings, Prigozhin, Gennady Lopyrev –, “, Lopyrev, Pyotr Kucherenko, Pavel Antov, Vladimir Budanov, Budanov, Alexander Buzakov, Anatoly Gerashchenko, Ravil Maganov, Lukoil, Maganov “, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Sergei Skripal, Skripal, Yulia Organizations: CNN, Putin’s United, “, Kremlin, PMC Wagner, Reuters, Republican Party of Russia, Party, Newsweek, Royal Botanic, Getty Images, Hermitage Capital, KGB, Getty, Authorities, The, Protect Journalists, RIA Novosti, Russia’s, Science, Higher Education, Gazprom, Lukoil, Moscow Aviation Institute, TASS Locations: Russia, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Putin’s United Russia, Ukraine, ” Boris Nemtsov Russian, Kremlin, Moscow, Russian, London's, England, Soviet Union, Britain, Surrey, London, Kew, American, Chechnya, Leipzig, Germany, AFP, The New York, Chechen Republic, Washington, Gelendzhik, ”, Cuba, India, United States

☆ Pharma giants are hiking prices on over 500 drugs for 2024, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-02 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Read previewPharmaceutical giants Pfizer, Sanofi, and Takeda Pharmaceutical are due to raise prices on more than 500 drugs in the US from January, according to the Reuters news agency. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. It comes as the pharmaceutical sector prepares for the Biden Administration's release of discounted prices for 10 high-cost drugs in September. AdvertisementFurther in the future, the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act includes new provisions to allow the government's Medicaid health program to directly negotiate drug prices with their makers — but only from 2026. It said that three companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, are poised to lower prices in January across at least 15 drugs.

Persons: —, Takeda, Biden Organizations: Service, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Reuters, Business, Biden, GlaxoSmithKline

☆ Central bank blunders undermine tough rate talk
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Francesco Guerrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Comments by central bankers underline their desire to keep interest rates high until price growth quiesces. Policymakers’ recent mistakes mean they will struggle to convince investors their tough talk is real. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell says his fellow policymakers are “not thinking about rate cuts at all”. In May, after another U.S. regional bank failure, markets concluded that the Fed’s rate hike at the beginning of that month would be its last. Respected central bankers might be able to convince markets that these numbers don’t portend imminent rate cuts.

Persons: Jay Powell, Christine Lagarde, Andrew Bailey, Powell, backtrack, –, Lagarde, Treasuries, BoE, Bailey, Ben Bernanke, Jacob Frenkel, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Traders, U.S . Federal, European Central Bank, Bank of England, titans, Deutsche Bank, Treasury, Reuters Graphics Reuters, LSEG, Silicon Valley Bank, Fed, ECB, Bank of Israel, Federal Reserve, European, Thomson Locations: Silicon, Bailey, United States, Ukraine, Central

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLITTLETON, Colorado, Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. electricity generation from wind power is on course to surpass coal-fired electricity generation, potentially by 2026, as wind supply growth expands at a record pace just as coal-fired generation is cut across the country. U.S. wind power generation on track to surpass coal-fired generationBut with wind power generation rapidly rising in most regions while utilities steadily cut coal capacity, wind output is on track to eventually overtake coal output within the U.S. electricity generation mix, which will mark a significant milestone in U.S. energy transition efforts. In 2015 - before U.S. power producers accelerated renewable power development - coal-fired electricity generation was nearly 700% greater than electricity output from U.S. wind farms. PEAKS AND TROUGHSU.S. wind generation already briefly surpassed total coal-fired power output in April this year, when wind electricity generation totalled 42.85 terawatt hours compared to the 39.8 TWh generated by coal plants, according to Ember. That means that within the current decade U.S. wind power will be able to surpass coal-fired power in the electricity generation mix, and help accomplish a major U.S. energy transition target.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Gavin Maguire, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Institute for Energy Economics, U.S, P Global, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Latimer , Iowa, U.S, LITTLETON , Colorado, United States

☆ London stock market trading resumes after small cap outage
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Signage for the London Stock Exchange Group is seen outside of offices in Canary Wharf in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. "Impacted securities are now in regular trading," LSEG said in a notice published on its website. FTSE 100 (.FTSE), FTSE 250 (.FTMC) and International Order Book securities - shares listed in London by overseas companies - had continued to trade normally, the exchange said. It is the second time LSEG has flagged a disruption to trading in smaller stocks on the London market in less than two months. In 2019, the London Stock Exchange suffered an almost two-hour outage that hit FTSE 100 and midcap stocks, which LSEG said was caused by a “technical software issue”.

Persons: Toby Melville, LSEG, Thomson, Danilo Masoni, Alun John, Amanda Cooper, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: London Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Tullow, CMC, FTSE, Thomson Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain, LSEG

☆ Kuwait rings up small bill in tower merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A three-way partnership deal will enable Qatar’s Ooredoo (ORDS.QA) to offload capital-intensive infrastructure but only by offering Kuwait’s Zain (ZAIN.KW) favourable deal terms. Ooredoo and Zain are creating a regional powerhouse with an estimated enterprise value of $2.2 billion to be managed by Zain-backed TASC Towers Holding. The $8.9 billion Ooredoo and $6.9 billion Zain will own 49.3% each, with the rest going to TASC. But Zain is paying an average price of $73,000 per tower, 9.5% less than the average price per tower in previous deals, according to JPMorgan analysts. The Kuwaiti group will also call the shots as the founders of Dubai’s TASC Towers Holding – which Zain controls with an 83.47% stake – will manage the new entity.

Persons: Qatar’s, Kuwait’s Zain, Zain, Ooredoo, Dubai’s, Pamela Barbaglia, Neiman Marcus, Francesco Guerrera, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, TASC, Bloomberg, JPMorgan, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi, Kuwaiti, Hong Kong

☆ Morning Bid: Small caps pick up baton, China rating hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 26, 2023. The likes of Microsoft (MSFT.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Nvidia (NVDA.O) and Amazon (AMZN.O) fell back over 1%, pressured by a modest bounceback in U.S. Treasury yields. China's blue-chip stocks slumped to their lowest since February 2019 amid fears of a possible cut to China's sovereign credit rating cut after Moody's outlook reduction. By Mike Dolan, Editing by Bernadette Baum; <a href="mailto:mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com" target="_blank">mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com</a>Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Mike Dolan, Russell, that's, Moody's, Isabel Schnabel, Michael Gibson, Christine Laggard, Mongo, Zero Fox, Bernadette Baum Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Reserve, Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Treasury, Reserve Bank of Australia, Central Bank, Reuters, ECB, Barclays, Qatar, P Global, Federal, Division, Supervision, Financial Innovation, Descartes Systems, Health, Powell Industries, Dave, Buster's Entertainment, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Global, York, Treasuries, Europe

☆ Purdue mess pits drug victims against due process
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

That’s the dilemma currently facing the parties involved in the case regarding Purdue Pharma, including states, individuals, and the company’s founding Sackler family. According to the lawsuit, the family withdrew $11 billion from Purdue, but only contributed $6 billion to the settlement. Side with the DOJ, and the Supreme Court could clean up the bankruptcy process that often shields individuals and companies. For now, though, either the victims of the opioid epidemic will have to wait, or those wanting to end bankruptcy shields will. Follow @rob_cyran on XCONTEXT NEWSThe Supreme Court heard arguments on Dec. 4 over whether to approve the Purdue Pharmaceuticals bankruptcy agreement.

Persons: Sackler, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Kagan, Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, They’ve, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Supreme, Purdue Pharma, U.S . Department of Justice, Purdue, Liberal, DOJ, Purdue Pharmaceuticals, Thomson

☆ AI Davids ride coattails of industry Goliaths
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

New York, Dec 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Artificial intelligence Goliaths like OpenAI continue to open the door for what might become the industry’s Davids. With a low-cost approach and data privacy focus, it may be able to eventually carve out a solid European business. Mistral has whiffs of what OpenAI, eyeing a mooted $86 billion valuation and eight years old, once was, but with tweaks. Mistral has also focused on “open sourcing” its models, which means they can be downloaded and used for free. As a Paris-based company, Mistral could build out its business with a specific focus on complying with AI rules being finalized by the European Union.

Persons: industry’s Davids, eyeing, Anita Ramaswamy, Neiman Marcus, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Reuters, Mistral, Bloomberg, European Union, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: York, Paris, Kuwait, Hong Kong

☆ Subsidies are crucial to the green transition: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Andrew Forrest, Chairman and Founder, Fortescue Metals Group speaks at the Global Energy Transition 2022 conference in New York City, New York, U.S. June 14, 2022. REUTERS/David Dee Delgado Acquire Licensing RightsMUMBAI, Dec 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The world is short not of capital, but of projects to fund and sovereigns willing to share risk. In this Exchange podcast, Fortescue’s (FMG.AX) Andrew Forrest discusses why all countries need an IRA and the lessons of leading the world’s fourth-largest iron ore miner through change. Listen to the podcastFollow @ugalani on XSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Andrew Forrest, David Dee Delgado, Thomas Shum Organizations: Fortescue Metals, Global, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S

HONG KONG, Dec 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Why would the world’s largest battery maker want to sell shares when it’s already flush with liquidity? It ended June with 102 billion yuan ($14 billion) in net cash, Moody’s calculates. CATL has just started production at a new facility in Germany and is building a plant in Hungary, its first forays West. The company’s long-term loans have increased more than tenfold to more than 70 billion yuan and its long-term bonds by around a third to nearly 20 billion yuan since 2020, per Visible Alpha. But as Zeng’s electric dreams accelerate, he’ll want to be sure CATL’s own batteries are fully charged.

Persons: it’s, CATL, Robin Zeng, Breakingviews, Tesla, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Hong, Thailand’s, Ford Motor, Technology, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Switzerland, CATL, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China, Europe, Germany, Hungary, Fitch, Indonesia, Swiss

☆ Roche’s late obesity punt offers wider market cure
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Roche’s (ROG.S) foray into the prospective $100 billion obesity market can bring wider benefits. On Monday, the $224 billion Swiss pharma group said it had agreed to take over weight-loss drug developer Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion. Market leader Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) is already selling obesity drugs in the U.S. and parts of Europe. Still, Schinecker’s obesity bet could turn successful if it ends up undercutting obesity pioneers on prices. With over 1 billion people globally classed as seriously overweight, other drugmakers will follow Roche on the obesity bandwagon.

Persons: drugmaker Roche, Arnd, Eli Lilly’s, Thomas Schinecker, Eli Lilly, Eccogene, Roche, Aimee Donnellan, Neiman Marcus, Lisa Jucca, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Swiss pharma, Carmot Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, AstraZeneca, Novo, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Basel, Switzerland, U.S, Europe, Hong Kong

A worker is reflected in a wall of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) head office in central Sydney, Australia, March 1, 2016. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 5 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. The relative U.S. interest rate outlook right now fits the weaker dollar narrative - futures markets have the Fed cutting rates next year more than any major or emerging market central bank. And even if the Fed does go that far, other central banks are sure to lower their policy rates more than markets are currently predicting. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Tuesday:- Australia interest rate decision- Japan - Tokyo inflation (November)- South Korea inflation (November)By Jamie McGeever Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Michele Bowman's, Philip Lowe, Jamie McGeever, Josie Kao Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Reserve Bank of, Reuters, Bank of Japan, U.S, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Asia, masse, Tokyo

☆ Evergrande’s Hong Kong court ruling is big reprieve
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A Hong Kong court on Monday adjourned to next month a hearing over a petition for the liquidation of China Evergrande (3333.HK). It lobs the ball back to Beijing: the judge told Evergrande to hold direct discussion with “relevant authorities” on the revamped terms. Options are limited following the detention of the company’s Chair Hui Ka Yan in September on suspicion of unspecified crimes. It also defers a high-profile test on whether Hong Kong liquidation rulings over mainland companies would be implemented across the border more efficiently following the introduction of a limited mutual recognition pact in 2021. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Chan Ka, Neiman Marcus, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Hong, HK, X, Saks, Barclays, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Beijing

☆ Brookfield’s energy M&A loss is teachable moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Brookfield Asset Management (BAM.TO), has some wounds to lick. On Monday the Canadian investment firm’s joint $13 billion offer with MidOcean Energy for Australian power generator and retailer Origin Energy (ORG.AX)failed after the bidders secured backing from 69% of voted shares, below the required 75% threshold. It could target smaller local energy firms, like Alinta Energy and EnergyAustralia, owned by Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and CLP (0002.HK) respectively. Brookfield has made other investments from its $15 billion global transition fund, including to co-buy Westinghouse Electric. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Bruce Flatt, Chow, Brookfield, Antony Currie, Neiman Marcus, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Brookfield Asset Management, MidOcean Energy, Origin Energy, Alinta, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, CLP, HK, Westinghouse, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Hong Kong

☆ Private equity double-dips are a tasty faux pas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Private equity groups are trying something similar in the capital markets: successfully listing a company, then coming back for a second bite by buying it back once its stock craters. Take Synlab (SYAB.DE), listed at the height of a Covid-19 boom in testing by investment group Cinven. European companies listed by private equity groups since 2020 are trading, on average, at a 22% discount to their IPO price, according to data from Dealogic and Breakingviews calculations. The message from such deals, however, is that it’s better to buy a private equity-owned company after it has listed. Follow @aimeedonnellan on XCONTEXT NEWSPrivate equity firm Cinven on Sept. 29 offered 10 euros a share to take Covid test maker Synlab private.

Persons: Russell Boyce, Synlab, Cinven’s, Cinven, Sweden’s, Dr Martens, Elliott, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Revenue, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Cinven, France, Dealogic, Permira, Synlab

But that came after they had sold petroleum in eight of the previous nine weeks, reducing their position by a total of 342 million barrels. In the premier NYMEX WTI contract, funds had amassed bearish short positions amounting to 116 million barrels by Nov. 28, up from 20 million barrels eight weeks earlier. Funds purchased the equivalent of 10 million barrels split between U.S. gasoline (+2 million), U.S. diesel (+4 million) and European gas oil (+4 million). Funds held a net long position in gasoline of 66 million barrels (72nd percentile) up from 26 million barrels (19th percentile) six weeks earlier. Related columns:- Record U.S. oil output challenges Saudi mastery (December 4, 2023)- Investors bet against OPEC+ raising oil prices (November 28, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: de Wouw, John Kemp, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Port, REUTERS, ICE, Fund, U.S, . Funds, U.S ., Funds, Saudi, OPEC, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Rotterdam, Netherlands, Brent, Saudi Arabia, United States, U.S

A truck lines up to be loaded with soybeans in a farm in the city of Primavera do Leste in the central Brazilian state of Mato Grosso January 29, 2013. The crop-heavy northern section of Brazil’s top soy and corn state Mato Grosso experienced the driest October-November period in at least a quarter century. October-November precipitation in North Mato Grosso BrazilMato Grosso grows about 27% of Brazil’s soybeans and accounts for almost 30% of the country’s soybean export program, the world’s largest. The delay in the 2020-21 soybean crop reduced Mato Grosso’s second corn yields since it pushed the sensitive development period back into a historically drier time frame. Mato Grosso accounts for two-thirds of all Brazilian corn shipments.

Persons: Mato, Brazil Mato, Karen Braun Organizations: Mato Grosso, Brazil’s, European, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Primavera, Mato, NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Mato Grosso, Brazil

☆ Morning Bid: Buoyant markets hold near year's highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Wall Street sign is pictured at the New York Stock exchange (NYSE) in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 9, 2020. Fed futures markets think a first cut may come as soon as March - with a quarter-point easing by then already two-thirds priced. Two-year Treasury yields hit their lowest since June on Friday and 10-year yields their lowest in three months, although they edged higher on Monday. U.S. crude hit its lowest in two weeks and is tracking year-on-year losses of almost 10%. But that is widening into yearend as peak rate hopes encourage some rotation to smaller cap stocks.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Mike Dolan, Jerome Powell, Powell, Goldman Sachs, Jan, Fitch, Bitcoin, Christine Lagarde, Joann, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Spelman College, Fed, Tech, HK, Central Bank, Treasury, PMI Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Atlanta, Europe, Gaza, China, Hong Kong, WuXi, Evergrande, RGC Resources

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