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☆ Bud Light maker Anheuser-Busch to lay off hundreds of corporate staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An employee adjusts bottles of Bud Light beer at an Anheuser-Busch InBev facility in Virginia, Aug. 8, 2018. Beverage giant Anheuser-Busch InBev announced it will lay off hundreds of corporate employees as sales of its flagship lager Bud Light falter. Bud Light sales have sagged following a conservative boycott over its March Madness partnership with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light had 7% market share during that same period, the data found. The firm also found Bud Light sales dropped 28% for the week ending June 24 when compared with the same period last year.

Persons: Bud Light, Busch, Brendan Whitworth, Bud, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Mulvaney, Bump Williams, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Bud Light's, —, Kevin Breuninger Organizations: Anheuser, Busch InBev, Beverage, CNBC, Busch, Constellation Brands, Modelo, Bud Light, Florida Gov, State Board of Administration, Mulvaney Locations: Virginia, U.S, Florida

LONDON, July 27(Reuters Breakingviews) - The world is getting hotter, but when it comes to achieving net zero investors are cooling. Glencore (GLEN.L), the $75 billion Swiss group that is one of the world’s biggest coal miners, makes an interesting case study for what’s changed. Either way, the plan raises the prospect of Glencore bulking up in coal before offloading some or all of the enlarged business. True, a listing of Glencore’s enlarged coal business might not happen for a few years. While prices have now more than halved, Glencore‘s coal business would still make $9 billion in EBITDA in 2023 if they averaged $200 a tonne.

Persons: what’s, Glencore, Gary Nagle, Nagle, Teck, wouldn’t, There’s, Wael Sawan, Larry Fink, underwhelmed, ” Nagle, Glencore’s, George Hay, Karen Kwok, Peter Thal Larsen, Aditya Munjuluru Organizations: Reuters, Resources, Teck Resources, Bluebell Capital Partners, Investment, International Energy Agency, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Rio Tinto, BHP, GQG Partners, Capital Research Group, BlackRock, Vanguard, Services, Saudi, Aramco, United Nations, of, Pensions, Shell, Financial Times, “, Melbourne Mining, Capital Partners, Thomson Locations: Glasgow, Ukraine, EBITDA, American, U.S, Glencore, London, New York, Europe, Melbourne

☆ Australia’s $2.5 trln pension stash is one to envy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Sure, mining giant BHP (BHP.AX) has its headquarters in Australia’s second-most populous city, it’s a self-anointed coffee capital and boasts top-notch restaurants. Two other factors have capital-hungry institutions knocking on super funds’ doors. This is especially true of so-called industry funds that are mutually owned and initially catered to specific sectors such as higher education employees or hospitality workers. Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria, has earmarked industry super funds as minority investors in a state-run plan to build renewable energy plants. Recent ructions in real estate have prompted some super funds to reassess whether the risk and complexity are justified.

Persons: dwarfing, AustralianSuper, California’s CalPERS, London’s, Paul Schroder, Hostplus, Anthony, Daniel Andrews, Breakingviews, outsized, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Australian Stock Exchange, Association, Retirement, Canada, Plan Investment Board, Prudential Regulation Authority, APRA, Coal, IFM, Vienna Airport, KPMG, Reuters Graphics, Australian, Trust, Macquarie, Victorian State Department of, UniSuper, Sydney Airport, Victoria, Blackstone, CVC, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, Melbourne, Australia’s, it’s, Australia, Heathrow, Edinburgh, Europe, United States, Indiana, New York, London

☆ Kylian Mbappé: Saudi Arabian club submits world record bid superstar
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Saudi Arabian soccer club Al Hilal has submitted a world-record bid of over $332 million (300 million euros) for Paris Saint Germain (PSG) striker Kylian Mbappé, according to multiple reports on Monday. CNN has reached out to PSG, Al Hilal and Mbappé’s representatives for comment. The current world record fee is $262 million (€222 million) when Neymar moved from Barcelona to PSG in 2017. Al Hilal reached both the FIFA Club World Cup and the AFC Champions League finals last season. Last month, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced that Al Hilal was one of four Saudi clubs that have been transformed into companies, each of which is owned by PIF and non-profit foundations for each club.

Persons: Al Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Mbappé, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Luis Enrique, “, ” Al, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Al, Paris Saint Germain, PSG, Saudi, FIFA Club, AFC Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Sovereign Wealth Fund, French Locations: Saudi Arabian, Japan, Al Hilal, Barcelona, Paris, French, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Real Madrid

His travel extended well outside of traditional hot spots for a primary campaign, including events in Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Now, DeSantis’ political operation says it is embracing his position as an underdog. But that leaves questions about one of the largest expenses on DeSantis’ first quarter fundraising reports: private travel. DeSantis’ campaign has paid nearly half a million dollars in travel expenses to a company that didn’t exist until two days before he launched his White House bid. In guidance to some donors and supporters, the campaign foreshadowed that they expect these interactions to show DeSantis’ “fiery” side.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Donald Trump, ’, Generra Peck, pollster Ryan Tyson, Sam Cooper, Ethan Eilon, Nick Iarossi, ”, ” Iarossi, Peck, “, Adam Putnam, Trump, it’s, ” Iarossi siad, Elon, N2024D, Scott Wagner, Andrew Romeo, Bud Light, Dylan Mulvaney, Fox, Laura Ingraham, Don’t, ” Ingraham, Bud, “ They’re Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, White, Trump, ”, N2024D, Tesla, New York Times, Republican, Fox, Disney, State Board of Education Locations: Florida, Utah, Park City, Tallahassee, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Georgia, jetset, Miami, South Carolina

☆ Disney deja vu? DeSantis may be picking a fight with another business that did something he doesn't like
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

DeSantis has feuded with Disney for over a year, but now seems to have set his sights on Bud Light. DeSantis has directed an inquiry into AB InBev after Bud Light partnered with a trans influencer. DeSantis said Disney had "crossed the line" and that the state would "fight back." Disney sued DeSantis for retaliation and violating the company's First Amendment rights — a charge the governor and the state has denied. It's notable that DeSantis is taking issue with the financial fallout Bud Light has experienced as a result of partnering with Mulvaney — when DeSantis himself encouraged consumers to boycott the brand.

Persons: DeSantis, Bud, Bud Light, Ron DeSantis, didn't, Disney, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, there's, Mulvaney Organizations: Disney, InBev, Bud, Service, Gov, Parental, Fox News Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida

☆ UK pension fund USS wins appeal over fossil fuel investments
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 82 billion-pound ($103 billion) Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) faced legal action from two of its members over its continuing investments in coal, natural gas and petroleum. Judge Sarah Asplin said in a written ruling that the parts of the lawsuit relating to USS investments in fossil fuels were an attempt to challenge the scheme's management and investment decisions which was "bound to fail". The attempt to bring the case on behalf of USS against its directors, which has also been attempted by environmental law charity ClientEarth against Shell (SHEL.L), will be keenly watched by other pension funds and environmental groups. The two academics bringing the case, Ewan McGaughey and Neil Davies, argued that fossil fuel investments pose a "significant and increasing" financial risk to USS that its directors were not addressing. However, lawyers representing USS argued the case should be dismissed as the scheme's investments in fossil fuels have not caused any loss to USS or the two academics, which is necessary for a derivative lawsuit to proceed.

Persons: Sarah Asplin, Ewan McGaughey, Neil Davies, David Grant, –, Davies, Sam Tobin, Sarah Young, Mike Harrison Organizations: London's, Shell, McGaughey, Thomson Locations: London

Ron DeSantis has told his government to investigate whether Bud Light's parent company breached its duties to shareholders as a conservative backlash continues to rage over the beer brand's deal with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Shares of AB InBev are down about 2% this year, while the broader market is up. Sales of Bud Light have plummeted in the wake of conservative uproar and a boycott over the Mulvaney partnership. The firm also found Bud Light sales are down by about 25% from last year. Mulvaney has criticized Bud Light for not standing by her during the boycott.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Bud Light's, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, DeSantis, Lamar Taylor, Bud Light, Bump, Bud, there's, Florida's, Disney, Donald Trump's, Taylor, Mulvaney, I've Organizations: Florida, United, Israel Summit, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Florida Gov, Republican, State Board of Administration, SBA's, InBev, Constellation Brands, Especial, Anheuser, Busch InBev, CNBC, Fox, Disney, Trump, GOP, NBC Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, Florida

☆ Here’s how Bud Light became the latest corporate bogeyman for Ron DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Partnering with a young, popular trans woman could help a brand like Bud Light reach a more youthful demographic. But because Bud Light managed to alienate everyone, it hasn’t gotten the benefit of a buycott. In the week ending on July 8, Bud Light sales, by dollar, fell nearly 24% year-over-year, according to data provided by Williams. Others are more breezy, showing people enjoying Bud Light despite the inconveniences of summer (sunburn, thunderstorm). Bud Light is “coming back,” said Marcel Marcondes, AB InBev’s chief marketing officer, during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Bud Light, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Bud, BUD, “, Mulvaney, Lamar Taylor, “ prudently, DeSantis, Taylor, Scott Olson, Bud Light’s, Dylan Mulvaney, Anheuser Bush, — Anheuser, Brendan Whitworth, ”, LIV, Rob Carr, buycotts, hasn’t, Bump Williams, Williams, Busch, Whitworth, ” Whitworth, Marcel Marcondes, ” Daniel Korschun, ” Korschun, Erin Reed, Elon Musk, he’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Florida Gov, Republican, Bud Light, Anheuser, Busch InBev, State Board of Administration, AB InBev, CNN, Busch, “ Anheuser, Gallup, — Anheuser Busch’s, America, Trump National Golf Club, Modelo Especial, InBev’s, Cannes Lions International, Creativity, Drexel University, InBev, Republicans, Target, Twitter, Tesla, Disney Locations: New York, Florida, Sterling , Virginia, Central Florida

MEXICO CITY, July 20 (Reuters) - Mexico's Grupo Financiero Banorte (GFNORTEO.MX) reported on Thursday a 14% increase in second-quarter net profit, hitting 13.09 billion pesos ($764.68 million) on better results in its insurance and annuities and trading units. Revenue for the group, which owns one of the country's largest banks and pension funds, totaled 33.06 billion pesos in the quarter, up 19% from a year earlier. The bank's performing loan book saw a 12% bump from the year-ago period, with double-digit growth in nearly all divisions. Loan-loss previsions, however, also jumped 66% from the year-ago period to 4.04 billion pesos, with cost of risk shooting up to 1.66% from 1.13%. Banorte will also grow by some 1,300 account managers in the next few months in its business and corporate sectors, Ramirez said.

Persons: Banorte, Marcos Ramirez, Ramirez, Carolina Pulice, Kylie Madry, Stephen Coates Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Financiero, Thomson Locations: MEXICO

☆ Asia's private credit markets thrive as desperate borrowers find lenders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Private lenders, meanwhile, had "significant liquidity" to deploy for such financings, proving to be a right fit. Besides property developers, borrowers thronging private markets include privately-held companies and start-ups whose private equity issuance has been stymied by broader stock market swings and the deepening discounts of their valuations, known as a 'down round' in the industry. Investment firm Muzinich & Co. recently announced it had closed a $500 million Asia Pacific private debt strategy. Australian superannuation fund UniSuper, which runs a $15 billion private markets portfolio investing in unlisted infrastructure and private equity, is looking to grow its portfolio. "Just given the pipeline of opportunities, we could see ourselves potentially ... (doing) another $3 to $5 billion," said Sandra Lee, UniSuper's head of private markets.

Persons: Bryan Clark, Andrew Tan, Tan, Sandra Lee, UniSuper's, Shane Forster, Benno Klingenberg, Timm, Rae Wee, Georgina Lee, Vidya Ranganathan, Kim Coghill Organizations: Star, JLL, Western, Muzinich, Asia Pacific, Muzinich's Asia Pacific, ICE, Bain Capital, India's, Mahindra Bank, Hong Kong's ADM, BlackRock, Data, Barclays, UBS, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Arizona, Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore

Added to valuations from December, major REITs, which build, own and operate property assets, have marked down office portfolios by roughly a tenth or less over the past year. Dexus shares have fallen 28% since 2022, while Charter Hall has nearly halved. "Buyers aren't willing to pay the price from the last valuations," said Winston Sammut, an investment manager at Sequoia Financial Group and a former executive at Charter Hall. Dexus and Charter Hall did not respond to requests for comment. "We're looking to see whether the fund managers, the Charter Halls, the Centurias, the Dexus are also getting large redemptions."

Persons: Tom Westbrook, Buyers, Winston Sammut, it's, REITs, Centuria, Grant Berry, Dexus, Ping, Blackstone, Amy Pham, Sammut, Australia's, Hostplus, that's, Pham, Lewis Jackson, Scott Murdoch, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Charter Hall, Sequoia Financial Group, Charter, Reuters, SG Hiscock, Company, Blackstone, Sydney, Pengana Capital, Thomson Locations: Epping, Sydney, Australia, SYDNEY, Canberra, United States

☆ New York City pension chief urges pay clawbacks at Bank of America
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Since the financial crisis of 2008, provisions to recover pay have been strengthened at top U.S. banks to limit risk-taking. Bank of America did not admit wrongdoing in its July 11 agreements with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Lander oversees public-employee pension funds with some $300 million worth of Bank of America (BAC.N) stock. It said Bank of America charged multiple fees to customers who did not have enough funds in their accounts from February 2018 until February 2022. The bank said it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all nonsufficient fund fees in 2022.

Persons: Brad Lander, Lander, Wells, Michael Garland, Ross Kerber, Matthew Lewis Organizations: New York, of America's, Bank of America, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Reuters, Bank of, Human, of America, Thomson Locations: New, Charlotte , North Carolina, Reuters , New York City, New York City, Boston

The gathering comes at a time when global investors and banks are warning that confidence is waning in China's economic outlook. Such a meeting, with a clear agenda to discuss challenges facing global fund managers investing in China, is rare, the three sources said, and reflected Beijing's keenness to shore up confidence among foreign investors. Weighed down by strict COVID measures, China's economy grew just 3% in 2022, one of its worst showings in decades. The meeting is organized by China's fund regulator Asset Management Association of China (AMAC). U.S. dollar-denominated fundraising by China-focused venture capital and PE firms this year also had its weakest first half year in the past decade, data from industry tracker Preqin showed.

Persons: Fang Xinghai, didn't, Andrew Collier, Premier Li Qiang, Xie Yu, Julie Zhu, Selena Li, Kim Coghill Organizations: U.S ., Reuters, Canada's, Ontario, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Management Association of China, ., Orient Capital Research, Ant, Premier, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Beijing, U.S, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong

☆ Jeremy Hunt's pension fund reform plans are a 'game changer,' says venture capital firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJeremy Hunt's pension fund reform plans are a 'game changer,' says venture capital firmDouglas Hansen-Luke, executive chairman of Future Planet Capital, discusses U.K. chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt's pension fund reform plan to help the country's startups.

Persons: Jeremy, Douglas Hansen, Luke Organizations: Future Planet Capital

☆ Watchdog with teeth can help EU hunt unicorns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Rebecca Christie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Yet the EU today is a long way from uniting its capital markets. By comparison, the United States has seven exchange groups, three listings exchanges and 16 trading exchanges, along with one clearing house and one depository. Bringing capital markets together through better regulation, as well as better market incentives, could keep the next generation of unicorns home. Follow @rebeccawire on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSEuropean Union leaders called for the EU to improve capital markets as part of a push for competitiveness at summits in March and June. Capital markets union is an EU endeavour launched in 2014 as a long-term project to boost investment across borders.

Persons: –, Austria’s i5invest, Backes, Magdalena Rzeczkowska, Nadia Calviño, ESMA, ” Calviño, won’t, centralisation, Francesco Guerrera, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, EU, ABC Fitness Solutions, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Canada, Berlin Brands Group, European Securities and Markets Authority, European, Central, Union, European Commission, Capital, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, China, Ukraine, Arkansas, London, Switzerland, United States, IPOs, Belgian, U.S, Paris, spillovers, Luxembourg, Poland, Brussels, EU, wean

☆ Mortgage rates in Britain hit 15-year high — with many fearful there's more misery to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It means mortgage costs are now at their highest level since August 2008 during the global financial crisis. The average 5-year mortgage rate rose to 6.17% on Tuesday, Moneyfacts said, a marginal increase from Monday but still some way off the 6.51% level reached on Oct. 20. U.K. mortgage costs, which had staged a recovery in the months following the "mini-budget" crisis, have soared recently following 13 consecutive rate hikes by the Bank of England. Most recently, the central bank increased rates by 50 basis points to 5%, a bigger increase than many had expected. Renters, too, are likely to see their payments increase as buy-to-let landlords pass on higher mortgage repayments.

Persons: Kwasi, Moneyfacts, Andrew Bailey Organizations: Financial, Authority, London Borough, Finance, Bank of England Locations: Enfield, England, London

☆ Britain considers tougher scrutiny of pension fund trustees
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Finance minister Jeremy Hunt on Monday set out plans to increase pension fund investment in unlisted companies and mandatory consolidation of poorly performing schemes. Many trustees work voluntarily while retired, on in a full time job, and can struggle to stay on top of things, the paper said. "Evidence from Australia’s 'constructively tough' approach to supervision of trustees shows the importance of focusing on good governance to improve results for members," the paper said. Regulators questioned the skills of trustees who signed off on using liability-driven investment (LDI), which struggled last September to come up with enough collateral. FCA CEO Nikhil Rathi has said that a smaller number of defined benefit schemes using professional trustees might be better at delivering long-term investment.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Australia’s, Nikhil Rathi, Huw Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: Regulators, Financial, Authority, Thomson

☆ Canadian pension fund taps Europe's green hydrogen hopes with Dutch investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) - Canada's biggest pension fund, CPP Investments, has made its first bet on green hydrogen playing a growing role in cutting emissions, with a 130 million euro ($143 million) investment and the purchase of a majority stake in a three-year-old Dutch firm. "Europe is generally seen as the leading industrial market or consumer for these green molecules. Power2X's current projects include a green hydrogen and ammonia development in Portugal and a solar power and green hydrogen project in Spain. Expanding green hydrogen production will require more renewable power generation, and some questions remain over its potential use cases versus other low-emission technologies. Last month Canada's Investment Management Corporation of Ontario announced a $400 million investment in Sweden's battery producer Northvolt.

Persons: Bruce Hogg, CPPI, Hogg, Occo Roelofsen, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Conor Humphries Organizations: Investments, Reuters, Investor, McKinsey, Investment Management Corporation of Ontario, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Europe, Portugal, Spain, Power2X

☆ Pension funds reform: Britain is banking on this $3 trillion cash cow to revive its economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —The UK economy badly needs a boost — and the government hopes the nation’s vast pension savings might deliver one. All UK workplace pension plans offer default funds, which savers who don’t choose their own investment strategy are automatically enrolled into. Measures to tap pension fund cash come at a crucial time for an economy suffering from stubbornly high inflation, depressed investment and feeble growth. UK pension funds’ exposure to domestic stock markets has fallen even more sharply: from 53% in 1997 to 6% in 2021. The combination of measures is likely to have “far-reaching” effects on the types of assets pension funds invest in, easing companies’ access to the capital they need to grow, he added.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Mercer, ” Hunt, Hunt, “, ”, Nicholas Lyons, Julia Hoggett, Nigel Peaple Organizations: London CNN, Aviva, London, European, London Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, EU, chipmaker ARM, House, of London Corporation, City of, Financial, New Financial, Pension, Lifetime Savings Association Locations: London, Britain, Frankfurt, Paris, New York, United States, United Kingdom, Edinburgh, City of London

☆ Private equity gears up for a deal fest Down Under
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

So it’s fitting that one of the country’s most hotly contested deals involving overseas private equity firms is for Rugby Australia. It’s also a teaser for the deal fest buyout shops are gearing up for Down Under. Another veteran, Blackstone (BX.N), has doubled its private equity headcount over the past couple of years. Reuters GraphicsWith $676 billion of private equity dry powder in the Asia-Pacific region, according to consultancy Bain & Co, regularly capturing a two-fifths share implies up to $270 billion of capital could be heading Down Under in the coming years. Australia, he said, was too small and too competitive for private equity firms to make money.

Persons: It’s, Blackstone, EQT, they’re, it’ll, there’s, Brian Hong, Robyn Mak, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Rugby Australia, CVC Capital Partners, Australian Financial, Down, Brookfield Asset Management, CVC, Nine Entertainment, AusNet Services, MidOcean Energy, Origin Energy, Retirement Trust, Consumer, Sydney Airport, Bain & Co, Reserve Bank of Australia, U.S . Federal Reserve, Macquarie Capital, Thomson Locations: Asia, Australia, China, People’s Republic, Asia Pacific, Pacific

[1/2] British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt holds a Ministerial Statement at the House of Commons in London, Britain, June 26, 2023. The government rocked pension savers last September with a fiscal statement that drove government bond yields higher and forced pension schemes to scramble for cash, triggering a parliamentary inquiry into their investments. The government is under pressure to revitalise domestic investor interest in several industries considered key to Britain's growth, including fintech, biotech, life science and clean technology. Encouraging greater investment in growth assets will help younger savers but the reforms offer little hope to those retiring in the near term. Inflation continues to ravage Britain's economy, with rates running higher than in any other major rich country.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Jessica Taylor, Handout, Richard Gnodde, Becky O’Connor, Jon Hatchett, Hymans Robertson, Andrew Bailey, Hunt, Anna Anthony, Sinead Cruise, Carolyn Cohn, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Aviva, Goldman Sachs, Public Affairs, Bank of England, Financial, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, City, PensionBee, Britain's

☆ Morning Bid: Bruised bonds relying on disinflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

While that data took the edge off the red-hot private-sector jobs readout the previous day, it left a bruised bond market still wary of further Federal Reserve interest rate rises and praying disinflation may stay its hand after one more hike later this month. Although Treasury bond volatility (.MOVE) backed off six-week highs on Friday, its weekly rise was the biggest since the wild swings around the banking stress in March. Stock futures were in the red again ahead of Monday's open despite gains in Chinese and European bourses. British markets - where the UK government bond market selloff last week had been worse than in Treasuries - remained edgy. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mike Dolan, disinflation, Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Jeremy Hunt, Andrew Bailey, Michael Barr, Mary Daly, Loretta Mester, Raphael Bostic, Ed Osmond Organizations: Wednesday's, Treasury, NATO, HSBC, Sunday . Bank of England, Federal, San Francisco Fed, Cleveland Fed, Atlanta Fed, Bank of England, . Treasury, Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Vilnius, British, Treasuries, South Korea, Ukraine

☆ Britain to unleash $64 billion in pension funding for tech startups after missing out on Arm IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Among the measures introduced by the government was an agreement among the country's largest defined contribution pension providers to allocate 5% of assets in their default funds to unlisted equities by 2030. This could unlock up to £50 billion (roughly $64 billion) of investment in high-growth firms if all other defined contribution pension schemes follow suit, Hunt said. Meanwhile, average earners' pension pots could rise up to 12% to as much as £16,000 with defined contribution pension schemes committing to more effective investments, he added. Hunt also committed to an "intermittent trading venue" that makes it possible for public market investors to trade shares of unlisted firms. This would act as a halfway house for privately-traded firms looking for alternative ways of raising capital to public listings.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hunt Organizations: Britain, Finance, CNBC, Treasury Department Locations: Europe, Silicon

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - Thames Water has become the poster child for a British water industry under fire for its poor environmental record and financial mismanagement. After a period as a listed company, Thames Water was acquired by German utility RWE (RWEG.DE) in 2001. Thames Water said on Monday they would provide 750 million pounds, and added it had strong liquidity of 4.4 billion pounds. FINANCESNearly 60% of Thames Water's debt is index-linked, according to ratings agency Standard & Poor's, saddling it with higher repayments as inflation soars. Thames Water was fined 3.3 million pounds last week, while Southern Water was fined 90 million pounds in 2021.

Persons: Margaret Thatcher's, Australia's Macquarie, Abu, Hermes, Ofwat, Sarah Young, Chiara Elisei, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Margaret Thatcher's Conservative, Water, Thames, Ontario, BT, China Investment Corp, Thames Water, Macquarie, Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities, The Times, Environment Agency, Southern Water, Thomson Locations: Britain, Here's, Abu Dhabi, Thames, Southern Water, United, England

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