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☆ Rising oil is still the big market risk despite today's pullback, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Markets kept their cool on Monday amid a fast-moving and volatile geopolitical landscape in the Middle East — but the longer-term risk premium has likely risen, while oil prices remain on edge, analysts said. Iran said it was acting in self-defense in response to a strike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month. By Monday, global players including the U.S. and European leaders were seeking to cool tensions, urging Israel to show restraint in its response. Sinha nevertheless added that "the fact that we moved from a proxy confrontation to a direct confrontation, even though that de-escalates in the near term, the longer term risk premium probably goes up." "I think the FX market ultimately will take its cue from oil prices because ultimately, that's the channel through which it spills over to the FX market," he said.

Persons: Adarsh Sinha, CNBC's, Sinha Organizations: U.S . Energy Information Administration, U.S, Asia FX, Bank of America, Iranian, FX Locations: Iran, Israel, Damascus, Syria, Strait, Hormuz, Tehran, Asia, U.S

☆ Iranian currency plunges to record low against dollar after strikes on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Two men are holding Iranian banknotes on a sidewalk in Tehran's business district, in Tehran, Iran, on April 13, 2024. Iran's currency, the rial, briefly plunged to a record low against the dollar on the unofficial market, after Tehran launched an expansive missile and drone attack on Israel on Saturday night, exacerbating tensions in the Middle East. The exchange rate was at 705,000 rials / USD on the open market around 10:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, according to data from foreign exchange monitoring site Bonbast. The government set an official exchange rate of 42,000 rials / USD in 2018. The development marked the first instance of a direct attack on Israel from Iranian territory, and Tehran now runs the risk of being hit with further trade and diplomatic restrictions.

Persons: Joe Biden, Iran's rial, Donald Trump's, Biden Organizations: Israel, . Security Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, Damascus, U.S

☆ ‘A show and propaganda:’ Iran braces for low-turnout election amid silenced dissent, tumbling economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“No, I will not vote,” a 23-year-old Iranian woman told CNN from Tehran. Authorities are nonetheless eager to bring people to the polls, trying to inspire a sense of duty and resistance among Iranians amid Israel’s war in Gaza. Pedestrians pass by a poster featuring Ayatollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic (right) and Ayatollah Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader (left) on February 24 in Tehran, Iran. Hossein Beris/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty ImagesOther officials have directly cited the Gaza war to rally voters ahead of the polling day. An election poster for a female parliamentary candidate apparently plays on the 'Woman-Life-Freedom' protest slogan, replacing it with 'Woman-Wisdom-Greatness' in Isfahan, Iran on February 24.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mahsa, “, ”, Khamenei, ” Khamenei, Khomeini, Ayatollah Khamenei, Hossein Beris, Hamidreza, Alex Vatanka, Foad, ” Izadi, ISNA, Hassan Moslemi Naeini, Morteza, ” Iran’s, hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, Holly Dagres, Jamshid Jamshidi, –, Hassan Rouhani, ” Hengaw, Pedram Soltani Organizations: CNN, Experts, Authorities, Islamic, Getty, Middle East Institute, University of Tehran’s, World Studies, Center for Education, Culture, Research, Atlantic Council, University of Oxford, UN, CNN International, Iran’s Guardian, Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Army Locations: Iran, Tehran, “, Gaza, Islamic Republic, Tehran Times, Washington , DC, Israel, Isfahan, Norway, Sanandaj, Jordan

☆ In Oman, Frankincense Still Tops Gift Lists
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( David Belcher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For Maryam Belhaf, her frankincense products business, called Alshoala, is about sharing her family’s connection with the resin, which dates back at least five generations. “My grandmother and other ladies used to get the frankincense from the trees when they went out with their goats, and then traded it for food from local merchants,” she said. Ms. Belhaf now has 15 employees (and several family members still help extract resin from the trees). She sells frankincense as chunks mixed with lavender, which is burned for its scent; as a perfume mixed with rose and musk; and as various scented lotions and skin toners (from eight to 25 Omani rial, or $21 to $65). It also offers silver incense burners handmade in the region (about 45 rial).

Persons: Maryam Belhaf, “, ”, Belhaf Locations: Aden, Yemen, India, Europe, ”, Salalah, Dhofar

☆ Former CEO of Brazil's Americanas denies knowledge of accounting fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Carolina Pulice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Allegations that Gutierrez and other executives were involved in accounting fraud were first made in June. Several former Americanas directors have testified before the congressional committee in the past few weeks. LTS said his comments "do not provide any proof of his allegations or refute evidence of his participation in the fraud". The holding company described what happened at Americanas as "cunning fraud". ($1 = 4.9373 reais)Reporting by Carolina Pulice Editing by Edwina Gibbs and David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Miguel Gutierrez, Gutierrez, Americanas, Jorge Paulo Lemann, Carlos Alberto Sicupira, Marcel Telles, LTS, Sergio Rial, Edwina Gibbs, David Goodman Organizations: Reuters, Carolina, Thomson Locations: Americanas

☆ Ex-CEO of Brazil's Americanas says he did not expect to lead bankrupt firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 22 (Reuters) - The former head of Brazilian retailer Americanas (AMER3.SA) quit two weeks into the job because he had not expected to take over a bankrupt firm, he told Brazilian lawmakers probing its $5 billion accounting fraud on Tuesday. Former Chief Executive Sergio Rial, who testified in a congressional investigation, resigned on Jan. 11, the same day Americanas revealed accounting inconsistencies that were later found to be fraud. I did not buy into an insolvent project," he told lawmakers, saying he had not expected Americanas' debt to exceed its assets. Rial in March testified before senators saying Americanas' previous management had created difficulties in disclosing information about the company's situation and the succession process. Reporting by Carolina Pulice and Peter Frontini; Editing by Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergio Rial, Rial, Americanas, Carolina Pulice, Peter Frontini, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: SA, Jan, Santander Brasil, 3G, Thomson

☆ Mapping Out Their Future on a Spreadsheet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Rosalie R. Radomsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Sachi Alita Takahashi-Rial and George Carl Gaetano Carollo sent out their online wedding invitations in March, which left some people amused, and others guessing. It said: “You’re invited to the first Investor Offsite for pre-eminent investors worldwide. “Are you getting married or raising a venture capital fund?” asked one friend. After all, Mr. Carollo, 34, is a founder and the chief operating officer of Dover, a job recruiting technology platform start-up. He graduated with distinction with two bachelor’s degrees, one in economics and another in urban studies, from Stanford, from which he also received a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering.

Persons: Sachi Alita Takahashi, George Carl Gaetano Carollo, “ You’re, ”, Carollo Locations: Vacaville, Calif, Dover, Stanford

☆ Ex-CEOs at Brazil's Americanas did not make proper accounting disclosures - regulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, June 5 (Reuters) - Brazil's securities regulator has accused two former CEOs of retailer Americanas of failing to comply with information disclosure requirements following an investigation into the firm's accounting inconsistencies, the agency said. According to a document from securities regulator CVM made public on Monday, the two ex-CEOs, Sergio Rial and Joao Guerra, also failed to meet other obligations on informing investors. Americanas entered bankruptcy protection in January after uncovering around $4 billion in accounting inconsistencies. Americanas said in a statement that it was monitoring the CVM investigation and hoped any irregularities would be "duly clarified". The company did not mention the accusations against Guerra in its statement and he did not respond to a query via LinkedIn.

Persons: CVM, Sergio Rial, Joao Guerra, Rial, Guerra, Americanas, Andre Romani, Carolina Pulice, Jamie Freed Organizations: SAO PAULO, Thomson

☆ From bears to sharks to orcas, here's what to do if you find yourself up against these apex predators
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Here's what to do if you run into a bear, a shark, an orca, or other potentially dangerous mammals. Here's what you should do if you encounter any of these apex predators and how you can avoid an attack. REUTERS/Jim UrquhartThere are two kinds of bears you're likely to run into while outdoors in North America, depending on where you are: grizzly bears and black bears. The park service says you should try to find a safe place like a car or building. Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone, one of the country's most visited national parks, than any other animal, according to the National Park Service.

☆ Powerful Brazilian lawmaker orders Americanas accounting probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, April 26 (Reuters) - The head of Brazil's lower house authorized on Wednesday the creation of a committee to investigate Americanas (AMER3.SA), the retailer at the center of a nearly $4 billion accounting scandal. Arthur Lira gave the green light to create the so-called CPI committee, which will include 27 federal lawmakers appointed by party leaders, the lower house said in a statement posted on its website. The legislative leader's decision comes months after accounting inconsistencies were revealed that forced the firm into bankruptcy. Last month, Americanas' former CEO Sergio Rial spoke at a Senate hearing about the retailer's financial meltdown. The current CEO, Leonardo Coelho Pereira, and the president of Brazil's banks federation Febraban, Isaac Ferreira, also attended.

☆ Factbox: Stampede highlights Yemen's dire humanitarian crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Houthis have faced criticism from humanitarian organisations for impeding aid movement, which has also led to concern from donor states. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCEIn 2023, some 21 million people, or two thirds of Yemen's population, will need humanitarian aid and protection, according to the United Nations. The U.N. humanitarian plan requires $4.3 billion this year to reach the 17 million most vulnerable people. ECONOMYThe conflict has destroyed Yemen's economy and the national poverty rate was estimated at about 80% in 2022, according to the United Nations. Acute food insecurity in Yemen is driven by rising food prices and dwindling livelihoods and economic opportunities.

☆ Egypt's pound is among the worst performing currencies in 2023. And it's expected to plummet further
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A photo of one hundred Egyptian pound, one hundred U.S. dollars against the pyramids of Giza in Egypt on January 17, 2023. Fadel Dawod | Getty ImagesThe Egyptian pound has plunged almost 20% against the greenback since the start of the year — with some analysts predicting that the currency may still have room to plummet further. Egypt's pound currently ranks as the sixth worst performing currency since Jan. 1, extending a decline that saw it lose more than half its value during 2022. Egypt's embattled economyHowever, the economic woes plaguing the Middle East's most populous country means its pound still has a way to plummet, according to the experts. He expects Egypt's inflation to peak at around 36% in the third quarter, if there are no more devaluations.

☆ Bitcoin is poised to blow up Africa's $86 billion banking system
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

Then there's mobile money, which has been around since the early 2000s. Africa's mobile money transactions rose 39% to more than $700 billion in 2021, according to data from the GSM Association, a non-profit representing mobile network operators worldwide. That cash network was extraordinarily difficult and expensive to build, which is why there aren't a lot of direct competitors. Bitnob is SMS-based and piggybacks on the mobile money system, making it easier for people to send money directly into bank accounts and mobile money wallets in African countries. "We're able to settle into bank accounts or mobile money accounts, without the recipients having to interact with bitcoin themselves," Parah tells CNBC.

An exchange-rate board in Tehran last month, when the Iranian rial plunged against the dollar. TEHRAN—Iran’s move to reset diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia was a radical break from years of enmity between the two Middle East rivals, but it hasn’t been enough to prop up its struggling economy. Before China stepped in to broker the deal earlier this month, Iran’s currency, the rial, had lost a fifth of its value over the last two weeks of February to hit a record low, adding to the problems besetting the ruling clerics here.

☆ Brazilian securities watchdog launches new probes into Americanas accounting fiasco
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, March 17 (Reuters) - Brazilian securities watchdog CVM said on Friday it has launched two new probes into retailer Americanas SA's (AMER3.SA) accounting scandal and the firm's reorganization process. CVM said it launched an administrative proceeding to analyze "failures to disclose relevant information by (Americanas) regarding proposals for capitalization and the renegotiation of debts with creditors and the assessment of the sale of assets." Americanas entered bankruptcy protection in January shortly after disclosing accounting inconsistencies worth 20 billion reais ($3.78 billion) and overall debt of more than $8 billion. Earlier this month, the retailer said it had offered a capital injection to its creditors of 10 billion reais ($1.93 billion) which would come from top shareholders. The launch of the probes comes a day after Americanas' former CEO Miguel Gutierrez testified before CVM.

☆ Iran rial plunges to new lows amid unrest, international isolation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. dollar was fetching as much as 601,500 rials on Iran's unofficial market on Sunday, compared with 575,000 on the previous day and 540,000 on Friday, according to foreign exchange site Bonbast.com. The rial has lost nearly half of its value since the start of nationwide protests, the boldest challenge to theocratic rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. With protests in the Sunni-populated areas of Iran persisting, demonstrations in other parts of the country have waned in the past few weeks amid the state's harsh crackdown on protests. Iran denies supplying drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. To calm the market and ease demand for dollars, the central bank on Saturday lifted a ban on private exchange shops selling hard currencies.

☆ Iran's currency slides to record low as savers buy dollars
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Iran's rial currency sank to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Saturday despite central bank measures aimed at cooling demand for foreign currency from savers worried about inflation and the country's economic prospects. The rial was trading at 575,000 on the unofficial free market against the dollar, compared to 540,000 on Friday, according to foreign exchange site Bonbast.com. With annual inflation running at more than 50%, Iranians have been trying to protect the value of their savings by buying foreign currency or gold. Last week, it opened an exchange centre to allow ordinary Iranians to purchase foreign currency, but some market analysts said the move had yet to dampen appetite for greenbacks. The reimposition of U.S. sanctions in 2018 by then President Donald Trump have harmed Iran's economy by limiting Tehran's oil exports and access to foreign currency.

☆ Iran rations euros as fights break out at foreign-exchange offices amid rial's plunge to record lows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Iran will limit the purchase of euros to 500 a year for air passengers. The Central Bank of Iran on Tuesday sharply curtailed the ability to buy euros amid continued weakness in the rial. Iran will limit the purchase of euros to 500 a year for air passengers, according to state-run media cited by Bloomberg. Monday's push to sell rials followed the currency's rapid decline in value, dropping to a record low of 501,300 rials per US dollar. Bloomberg reported that the CBI will also work on stabilizing the rial's value by holding onto foreign currencies brought in by export revenues through industries with access to subsidized fuel.

☆ Saudi Arabia to deposit $1 billion in Yemen's central bank - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RIYADH, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will make a $1 billion deposit in Yemen's Aden-based central bank on Tuesday, a Saudi source told Reuters, as the government there struggles with a weak currency and high fuel and commodity prices. An official announcement is expected later on Tuesday at the closing of a major humanitarian conference hosted by the kingdom's King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Riyadh, the source said. It was not immediately clear whether the $1 billion was part of an existing $3 billion support package pledged last May by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for Yemen's economy. In November, the Arab Monetary Fund signed a $1 billion agreement to support Yemen's economic reform programme. On Tuesday, the rial was trading at 1,225 to the U.S. dollar on the black market in Aden, traders said.

☆ Iran's currency falls to record low as sanctions to continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The reimposition of U.S. sanctions in 2018 by former President Donald J. Trump have harmed Iran's economy by limiting Tehran's oil exports and access to foreign currency. Since September, nuclear talks between Iran and world powers to curb Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions have stalled, worsening economic expectations for Iran's future. Over the last six months, Iran's currency has slumped nearly 60% in value, according to Bonbast.com. Meanwhile, the central bank said it was opening a new foreign exchange centre to ease access to foreign exchange and increase the volume of official transactions. Farzin was appointed in December as governor with the key job of controlling the value of foreign currencies, according to IRNA.

☆ Americanas' billionaire shareholders say they were unaware of accounting problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) three largest shareholders, the billionaire founders of 3G Capital, said on Sunday they had not known of $4 billion in accounting 'inconsistencies' at the Brazilian retailer. "We didn't know of and would never allow any accounting manipulation in the company", the statement said. It said Americanas had been audited by PwC and that the retailer's "banks and auditors never reported any problems". Securities industry regulator CVM has also launched probes into Americanas, which has seen its stock lose more than 90% of its value since the news of the accounting problems emerged. 3G Capital itself has no stake in Americanas.

☆ Iranian currency falls to record low amid isolation and sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DUBAI, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Iran's troubled currency fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Saturday amid the country's increasing isolation and possible Europe Union sanctions against Tehran's Revolutionary Guards or some of its members. Ties between the EU and Tehran have deteriorated in recent months as efforts to revive nuclear talks have stalled. The EU is discussing a fourth round of sanctions against Iran and diplomatic sources have said members of the Revolutionary Guards will be added to the bloc's sanctions list next week. But some EU member states want to go further and classify the Guards as a whole as a terrorist organisation. The European Parliament called on Wednesday for the EU to list Iran's Guards as a terrorist group, blaming the powerful force for the repression of protesters and the supply of drones to Russia.

☆ Brazilian lender Santander's Chairman Rial resigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Brazilian lender Santander Brasil SA said on Friday its chairman and former chief executive, Sergio Rial, is resigning from his position at the firm. The resignation comes just days after Rial quit his short-lived job as chief executive of retailer Americanas SA after finding accounting "inconsistencies" that led the company to file for bankruptcy protection. Rial was Santander Brasil's CEO for six years, as well as the bank's regional head for South America, before transitioning to board chairman in early 2022. He is also chairman of the board at fuel distributor Vibra Energia SA (VBBR3.SA), vice chair at BRF SA (BRFS3.SA) and a board member at Delta Air Lines (DAL.N). Rial will be replaced on an interim basis by his vice chair, Deborah Stern Vieitas, until the bank's next general meeting on April 28.

☆ Brazil's Americanas mulls filing for bankruptcy, shares tank as markets see move as imminent
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Americanas said its current cash position stands at 800 million reais ($154.25 million). "The bankruptcy protection is unavoidable and might be one of the largest ever in Brazil, as complex as Oi's one." Oi SA (OIBR4.SA), a telecom firm, filed in June 2016 for Brazil's then-biggest ever bankruptcy protection and only exited it in December 2022. Last week, chief executive Sergio Rial resigned less than two weeks after taking the job citing the discovery of "accounting inconsistencies" totaling 20 billion reais. "Filing for bankruptcy protection is imminent and necessary," said Fernando Ferrer, an analyst at Empiricus Research, noting there could be a "cascade effect" of banks requesting to withhold money from the firm.

☆ Billionaire-backed Americanas files for bankruptcy protection, shares tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) on Thursday filed for bankruptcy protection, days after uncovering nearly $4 billion in accounting inconsistencies and amid a legal feud with creditors. In the filing, Americanas asks to exclude fintech Ame from the bankruptcy protection, as it is regulated by the central bank, and for authorization to increase its capital. Chief Executive Sergio Rial resigned last week, less than two weeks after taking the job, citing the discovery of "accounting inconsistencies" totaling 20 billion reais. Andre Luzbel, head of variable income at SVN Investimentos, said the bankruptcy protection was unavoidable, noting it would be one of the largest ever in Brazil, "as complex as Oi's one." Oi SA (OIBR4.SA), a telecom firm, filed in June 2016 for Brazil's then-biggest ever bankruptcy protection and only exited it in December 2022.

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