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☆ HSBC brushes aside Hong Kong investor's Asia spin-off proposal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

HONG KONG, April 3 (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBA.L) on Monday pushed aside a proposal by an activist shareholder in Hong Kong to spin off its mainstay Asia business, reiterating the adverse impact on the Asia-focussed bank's cost and clients. The comment came as Ken Lui, an individual HSBC shareholder and leader of a Hong Kong-based investor group, called for the break up of the bank. The Hong Kong meeting is being held ahead of HSBC's main annual general meeting in the British city of Birmingham on May 5, to discuss its 2022 results and "other matters of interest", an earlier notice shows. On Lui's demand for higher dividends, Quinn told the Hong Kong shareholders that the London-headquartered bank intended to get the payouts back to pre-COVID level as soon as possible. ($1 = 7.8499 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Selena Li; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Cineworld lenders looking to oust CEO in management shake-up - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 31 (Reuters) - The ex-CFO of Regal Cinemas is the leading candidate to replace Cineworld Group Plc (CINE.L) CEO Mooky Greidinger as lenders of the ailing cinema chain plot a management shake-up following bankruptcy proceedings, the Financial Times reported on Friday. A potential management reshuffle would probably mean Greidinger, Cineworld's CEO since 2014, would be forced to relinquish control of his third-generation family business, the report said, citing several people close to the company's top management. David Ownby was Regal's CFO for nine years until 2018 when the company was bought by Cineworld. He has been serving as an adviser to Cineworld's highest priority creditors, which are steering the bankruptcy process, the report said. Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil and Anchal Rana in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The Nasdaq 100 just entered a fresh bull market - and a top analyst says tech names look like the new safety trade
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Those rate forecasts have bolstered tech names, and mega-caps like Apple and Microsoft have pulled the Nasdaq higher. "While it sounds like Twilight Zone comment to many investors, tech stocks have become the new safety trade with Big Tech names a major beneficiary of this dynamic," Ives, a managing director and senior equity research analyst at Wedbush, wrote in a note. "And these tech stocks have been under owned and still remain in that camp in our opinion." Short sellers generated paper profit of $14 billion betting against bank stocks over the last month. Shorting bank names in March produced a "wide swath of profitable trades that returned +17.2% in less than a month," S3 Partners said.

☆ Rio Tinto boosts FTSE 100, worries of recession fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.1%, FTSE 250 flatMarch 31 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 inched up on Friday as miner Rio Tinto rose after signing a partnership to develop a copper project, while relief that the domestic economy avoided a recession last year also aided sentiment. Data by the Office for National Statistics showed UK's economy grew in the fourth quarter as the country narrowly avoided a recession. Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto (RIO.L) rose 0.9% after signing a joint venture with Canada's First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FM.TO) to develop the La Granja copper project in Peru. Industrial metals miners (.FTNMX551020) housing Rio Tinto added 0.3% by 0721 GMT. The commodity heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) was up 0.1%, while the FTSE 250 (.FTMC) was flat.

☆ UN to start taking deep-sea mining applications this July
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Deep-sea mining would extract cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese - key battery materials - from potato-sized rocks called "polymetallic nodules" on the ocean's floor at depths of 4 to 6 km (2.5 to 4 miles). They are abundant in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico. The council plans to meet virtually before July to debate further whether approval of such applications could be delayed once received, according to the document. Its executives have repeatedly said they believe deep-sea mining would have less impact than traditional mining for battery metals on land. Reporting by Clara Denina and Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Indian edtech startup Unacademy to lay off 12% of staff - document
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, March 30 (Reuters) - Indian edtech startup Unacademy is laying off 12% of its workforce, citing a funding winter and pressure to turn profitable, according to an internal mail from the company's chief executive seen by Reuters on Wednesday. "Today... funding is scarce and running a profitable business is key," CEO and co-founder Gaurav Munjal said in an email sent to all staff. A spokesperson for Unacademy declined to comment on the layoffs and did not disclose the number of job cuts or the current headcount. Indian business news publication Moneycontrol reported earlier in the day that the SoftBank-backed startup laid off about 380 employees, reducing its total employee count to under 3,000. Companies that have cut staff include Tiger Global-backed Vedantu and Byju's - India's biggest startup valued at $22 billion.

☆ London's FTSE 100 up for fourth day, Petrofac leads smallcaps higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.5%, while the FTSE 250 (.FTMC) added 1.1% by 0841 GMT. With a day left for the end of the first quarter of the year, the FTSE 100 is on track for gains of 2%, while the mid-cap index is likely to have a muted end. Top performing sectors this quarter include the FTSE 350 aerospace and defence (.FTNMX502010), construction and materials (.FTNMX501010) and retailers (.FTNMX404010). The FTSE 350 Automobiles and Parts sector (.FTNMX401010) added 2.5% and is among top-performing sectors this quarter. Moonpig Group PLC (MOONM.L) added 17.9% after the online card retailer said it expects revenue to expand across 2024.

March 30 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas on Thursday blocked Obamacare's mandate that health insurance plans cover pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV (PrEP) and other preventive care including cancer and diabetes screenings. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, said the PrEP mandate violated a federal religious freedom law and that the other preventive care mandates were based on recommendations by an illegally appointed task force. The ruling was a victory for conservative businesses and individuals that sued to challenge the mandates in 2020. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Obamacare, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Companies Shell PLC FollowSINGAPORE, March 30 (Reuters) - Shell has decided not to go ahead with two projects it was studying to produce biofuels and base oils in Singapore, a company spokesperson said on Thursday. "We can confirm that we are stopping the exploration of two projects – a biofuels unit and a Group II base oil plant in Singapore," the company told Reuters in an emailed statement. "We will continue supplying base oil and lubricants, as well as biofuels, to our customers in Singapore and the region." Shell is building a 820,000 tpy biofuels plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and had targeted to make about 2 million tpy of SAF by 2025. Reporting by Trixie Yap and Florence Tan; Editing by Jan Harvey and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

March 28 (Reuters) - Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), will be interviewed under oath over the bank's relationship with late sex offender and former client Jeffrey Epstein, a lawyer involved in the case said on Tuesday. Epstein had been a JPMorgan client from 2000 to 2013 - five years after he pleaded guilty to a Florida prostitution charge. He had been friendly with Epstein but expressed regret for the relationship and has denied any involvement in Epstein's illegal activity. Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE), where Epstein was a client from 2013 to 2018, is also being sued by the financier's accusers. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell at age 66 in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

☆ William Hill to Pay Record $23.7 Million in Settlement With U.K. Gambling Commission
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Richard Vanderford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

William Hill units that operate online gambling sites will pay most of the settlement amount. Gambling company William Hill will pay about £19.2 million, equivalent to $23.7 million, in the U.K. Gambling Commission’s largest ever enforcement action, as the regulator presses an aggressive crackdown on anti-money-laundering failures. Three William Hill units have entered into settlements over alleged anti-money-laundering failures and alleged problems ensuring responsible gambling, the Gambling Commission said Tuesday. William Hill is owned by 888 Holdings PLC, a publicly traded gambling company, following a 2022 acquisition. William Hill’s U.S. operations weren’t part of the transaction.

Epstein had been a JPMorgan client from 2000 to 2013, with the last five years coming after he had pleaded guilty to a Florida prostitution charge. The bank is also suing Jes Staley, a former private banking chief and later Barclays Plc (BARC.L) chief executive who had been friendly with Epstein. JPMorgan wants Staley to reimburse it for eight years of compensation and damages it might incur in the other lawsuits. Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE), where Epstein was a client from 2013 to 2018, is also being sued by the financier's accusers. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell at age 66 in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

☆ Ovo Energy plans takeover of Shell gas and electricity arm
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ovo Energy is planning a takeover of Shell Plc 's UK gas and electricity business, a move that would allow the British retail energy supplier to reclaim the No. Ovo is expected to propose an indicative offer for Shell Energy Retail Ltd's UK operation, the report added, citing sources. Shell Energy Retail has about 1.4 million customers. Retail energy suppliers in Europe have struggled over the past year with soaring wholesale prices forcing governments to shield consumers from rising bills. This would put Ovo ahead of Octopus Energy, currently the UK's second-largest supplier, which has nearly 5 million household customers after its takeover of energy supplier Bulb.

☆ Exclusive: ICU Medical to compete against GE Healthcare for Medtronic units -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( David Carnevali | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GE Healthcare and private equity firms Carlyle Group Inc (CG.O) and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), which have been pursuing rival offers separately, are also through to the second round, the sources added. Carlyle is bidding through its newly formed healthcare investment platform Atmas Health, according to one of the sources. Medtronic has been taking offers for its patient monitoring and respiratory interventions businesses even as it presses on with preparations to spin them off to its shareholders. ICU Medical, GE Healthcare, Carlyle and CD&R declined to comment. The patient monitoring technology portfolio includes Nellcor pulse oximetry and BIS brain monitoring, while the respiratory interventions business comprises ventilators and breathing systems.

☆ UK stocks climb as banks, export-focused companies rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.3%, FTSE 250 adds 0.3%March 29 (Reuters) - UK stocks edged higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in banks amid easing fears of a financial sector meltdown, while shares of export-focused energy and materials companies gained as the pound weakened. The exporters-heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.3% as the pound slipped 0.2% . Industrial metals (.FTNMX551020) and precious metals (.FTNMX551030) miners rose 0.1% and 0.5%, respectively. Late on Tuesday, John Glen, chief secretary to the UK Treasury, told Reuters that Britain's banks had not seen deposit outflows in reaction to the failures of U.S. regional lenders. Shares of UK lenders (.FTNMX301010) gained 0.7%.

☆ The bank crisis threatens to spark a credit crunch as Main Street banks pull back
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A possible consequence of the banking crisis is that households and businesses may soon find it harder to get a loan from their bank. Around $1 trillion in deposits have been pulled from smaller and mid-sized banks since the Fed began hiking rates last year, with half that fleeing banks since SVB collapsed. "The uncertainty generated by deposit movements could cause banks to become more cautious on lending," JPMorgan strategists wrote in a note. "This risk is heightened by the fact that mid- and small-size banks play a disproportionately large role in US bank lending." This likely could impact the trajectory of the economy, as regional and community banks are a massive source of credit to Main Street borrowers.

☆ Guinness Maker Diageo Appoints Its First Female CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Elena Vardon | Michael Susin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Debra Crew, currently Diageo’s chief operating officer, will take over from Ivan Menezes on July 1. Diageo PLC named Debra Crew as its next chief executive, tapping an internal candidate to succeed longstanding leader Ivan Menezes at the helm of the alcoholic beverage company. The London-based maker of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Guinness stout and Smirnoff vodka said Tuesday that Ms. Crew, currently Diageo’s chief operating officer, would take over from Mr. Menezes on July 1. In becoming CEO, she adds to the handful of women that lead one of Britain’s biggest companies.

☆ New Shell CEO Faces Big Dilemma: Should the Company Pump More Oil?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Jenny Strasburg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HOUSTON— Wael Sawan knows he is about to make some people very unhappy. The new chief executive of Shell PLC is in the midst of crafting his business plan for the London-based energy giant, including whether to increase oil production. Doing so would please many investors looking to build on last year’s oil-and-gas bonanza, which produced record annual earnings for Shell.

☆ Companies Urged to Take Stock of Their Impact on Nature and Related Risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Joshua Kirby | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

“We used to think of nature as an endless supplier of resources into our business practices,” he said. “We’re trying to shift the conversation around the nature of the relationship between nature and business.”The final framework should give priority to the end result in natural areas, said Kat Bruce, founder and director of environmental-DNA startup NatureMetrics. Some $44 trillion of global economic value is moderately or highly dependent on nature, according to the World Economic Forum. Companies and shareholders should pay more attention to the material risk of natural degradation, Mr. Goldner said. The draft framework includes sector-specific guidance for areas including agriculture, mining, energy and financial services.

☆ Diageo CEO Menezes to retire after nearly a decade in role
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 28 (Reuters) - Diageo (DGE.L) said on Tuesday that Chief Executive Ivan Menezes will retire and leave the Johnnie Walker whisky maker at the end of June, after nearly a decade at the helm. Menezes will be replaced as CEO by Chief Operating Officer (COO) Debra Crew, who will also join the board, Diageo said in a statement. Crew, who took on the role of COO last October, was previously president of Diageo North America and Global Supply from 2020, the company said. Menezes joined Diageo after the merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc in 1997 and has held a number of senior positions in the business, Diageo said. Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; editing by Savio D'Souza and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bank of England says it is on alert after turmoil in banking sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, March 28 (Reuters) - Top Bank of England officials said on Tuesday the central bank was on alert amid global turmoil in the banking sector but they also said Britain was not experiencing stress linked to the demise of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse. "I don't think that any, and we've said this, that any of these features cause stress in the UK banking system," BoE Governor Andrew Bailey told parliament's Treasury Committee. "This is why we have to remain incredibly vigilant," Deputy BoE Governor Dave Ramsden said. "We'll keep a close eye on bank funding costs, what the consequences of those could be for households and businesses, equally looking out for other risk factors, we have to remain incredibly vigilant." Bailey said the recent swings in the share prices of some banks showed investors were testing the sector.

☆ Cineworld creditors plan management shuffle amid takeover interest - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 27 (Reuters) - Creditors of British cinema operator Cineworld Group PLC (CINE.L) are outlining plans for a new board and executive team after nine years under CEO Mooky Greidinger and his deputy Israel Greidinger, Bloomberg News reported on Monday. The Greidinger brothers are set to be replaced, but creditors have considered providing them compensation and a transitional role during the handover period, the report added, citing people familiar with the matter. Earlier in the day, Sky News reported that private equity firm CVC Capital Partners had proposed a takeover of parts of Cineworld, within days of a similar offer from activist investor Elliott Management. Cineworld said in February it may emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the first half of this year. ($1 = 0.8148 pounds)Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Sinchita Mitra in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Group of Nanoco shareholders ask top bosses to step down over Samsung settlement
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 27 (Reuters) - A group of shareholders of Nanoco Group Plc (NANON.L) have asked two top bosses to step down after alleging that the company gave misleading information related to settlement prospects in a litigation with Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS). In February, Samsung Electronics had agreed to pay $150 million to Nanoco to settle patent lawsuits over technology used in Samsung's LED televisions. "Nanoco had settled on terms substantially less favourable than its prior statements had led shareholders to believe, and on less favourable terms than our clients understand had been previously offered by Samsung," the shareholder letter stated. The shareholders have identified the replacements for the CEO and CFO, the letter stated. Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Varun H KOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Iraq's Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani, who took office in October, plans to update Iraq's oil production strategies to meet local needs while complying with the OPEC+ agreement, oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad told Reuters. It is too early for the new government to talk about any significant increases in Iraq's oil production outside the OPEC+ agreement, Jihad said. 'HARD, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE'For the oil sector, the country has repeatedly delayed a target to reach 7-8 million bpd capacity, from the current 5 million bpd. The beneficiaries were not the international oil companies, but UAE firm Crescent Petroleum and two Chinese companies. Iraq's oil minister this month revived seven investment opportunities in Iraq's refining sector.

☆ A credit crunch could worsen the bank turmoil and commercial real estate could be next domino to fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Odds are, commercial real estate is the next shoe to drop for the banking sector after this month's unrest. "Commercial real estate [is] widely seen as next shoe to drop as lending standards for CRE loans to tighten further," BofA's Michael Hartnett said. Regional banks have enormous exposure to commercial real estate loans. But this time around, it is commercial rather than residential real estate that may be in trouble. Are you worried about the impact of commercial real estate on the banking sector and the economy?

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