DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Fed won't hesitate to hike rates if the economy keeps outperforming, says Stifel's Lindsey Piegza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | 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 EmailFed won't hesitate to hike rates if the economy keeps outperforming, says Stifel's Lindsey PiegzaMichael Farr, Hightower Advisors, and Lindsey Piegza, Stifel chief economist, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the main takeaway from Jerome Powell's latest comments, if Powell's comments will have far-reaching implications, and much more.

Persons: Stifel's Lindsey Piegza Michael Farr, Hightower, Lindsey Piegza, Jerome Powell's Organizations: Hightower Advisors

☆ Siemens Healthineers reviews options for diagnostics unit -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A staffer works on a magnetic resonance imaging machine at a production line of Siemens Healthineers in Shenzhen, China May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH/FRANKFURT, Nov 3 (Reuters) - German medical equipment maker Siemens Healthineers (SHLG.DE) is in the early stages of weighing options for its diagnostics business, which has little overlap with other units, a person familiar with the situation told Reuters. The review could lead to a sale of the unit but all options remain open, the source said. The diagnostics business is also in the middle of restructuring. The listed Siemens subsidiary ranks number two worldwide behind Swiss Roche (ROG.S) in the business of laboratory lines for blood tests.

Persons: Bobby Yip, Alexander Huebner, Victoria Farr, Utkarsh, Bill Berkrot, Jason Neely Organizations: Siemens, REUTERS, Reuters, Bloomberg, Swiss Roche, Thomson Locations: Shenzhen, China, FRANKFURT, Swiss, Munich, Emma, Frankfurt, Bengaluru

☆ Explainer: Why is Siemens Energy seeking $16 billion state guarantees?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The logo of energy technology company Siemens Energy is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. To make sure it can get the guarantees to fulfil its order backlog, Siemens Energy has turned to the government. Siemens owns a 25.1% stake in Siemens Energy and has not ruled out helping. Siemens still provides around 7 billion euros of performance guarantees to projects Siemens Energy is working on, significantly down from the 40 billion euros at the time of the spin-off around three years ago. Apart from seeking guarantees from the government, banks and Siemens, Siemens Energy said it is "evaluating various measures to strengthen the balance sheet", without elaborating further.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Banks, Roland Busch, hade, Andreas Rinke, Christoph Steitz, Victoria Farr, Andres Gonzalez, Pablo Mayo, Alexander Huebner, Tom Kaeckenhoff, Josephine Mason, Susan Fenton Organizations: Siemens Energy, REUTERS, Siemens, International Chamber of Commerce, German Economy Ministry, SIEMENS, Triton, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, downpayments, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Munich

FRANKFURT, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Hg is weighing options, including a sale, for its German software business F24 next year, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Hg is also weighing only selling part of its majority stake in the process, which is likely to target other private equity firms, one of the sources said. Deliberations are at an early stage and sale plans may not materialise if market conditions deteriorate, the sources said. Hg, which has not disclosed the exact size of its stake in F24, declined to comment. Earlier this year, F24 said it would work with telecom operator Telenet to continue to run the Belgian government's BE-Alert warning system for the next six years.

Persons: Emma, Victoria Farr, Anousha Sakoui, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, Telenet, Belgian, BE, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Munich

Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves the United States Courthouse in New York City, U.S., July 26, 2023. Elizabeth Holmes took the stand at her criminal trial, testifying over several days that she did not intend to defraud investors in her blood-testing startup, Theranos. For Bankman-Fried to be convicted of fraud, prosecutors must show beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to defraud FTX customers or investors. Taking the stand carries the risk that he will be confronted with those media appearances as well as his use of social media. But Bankman-Fried has a lower-than-average fear of risk, according to trial testimony.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Amr Alfiky, Willkie Farr, Gallagher, Ilene Jaroslaw, Elizabeth Holmes, Holmes, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Mike Schachter, Schachter, Tom Barrack, Donald Trump, Jean Boustani, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Bankman, Jody Godoy, Tom Hals, Noeleen Walder, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United, REUTERS, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Detention, U.S, District, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Alameda, Lebanese, Brooklyn's, New York

☆ Deutsche Bahn to announce deal to sell Arriva to I Squared on Thursday -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Parked busses are seen at an Arriva bus bepot in Harlow as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Harlow, Britain, April 3, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bahn plans to announce on Thursday the sale of its international transport business Arriva to Miami-based infrastructure investor I Squared Capital, sources told Reuters. The two parties will sign the deal by Thursday, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Reuters had already reported last week that the sale, at around 1.6 billion euros ($1.69 billion) including debt, would be finalised as early as Monday. ($1 = 0.9491 euros)Reporting by Markus Wacket and Emma-Victoria Farr; writing by Tom Sims; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Couldridge, Markus Wacket, Victoria Farr, Tom Sims, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Arriva, REUTERS, Rights, Deutsche Bahn, Squared, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Harlow, Britain, Miami

☆ Michael Farr says investors should look at 'beaten up' stocks like Disney and Medtronic
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMichael Farr says investors should look at 'beaten up' stocks like Disney and MedtronicUBS’ Jason Draho and Hightower’s Michael Farr, join 'Power Lunch' to discuss how investors should position in a volatile bond market.

Persons: Michael Farr, Jason Draho, Hightower’s Michael Farr Organizations: Disney, UBS

☆ 3-Stock Lunch: JNJ, GS & DLTR
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email3-Stock Lunch: JNJ, GS & DLTRHightower Advisor’s Michael Farr, joins ‘Power Lunch’ to discuss three stocks: Johnson & Johnson, Goldman Sachs and Dollar Tree.

Persons: Hightower, Michael Farr, Johnson, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Johnson

The deal would value Arriva, which operates red London buses and train services in the UK, at around 1.6 billion euros ($1.68 billion) including debt, the sources said. However, while the deal is nearing final stages, the sources cautioned that the timing could still shift. Deutsche Bahn said in an emailed statement: "We want to sell DB Arriva by the end of 2024. Reuters reported in April that British transport company FirstGroup (FGP.L) and I Squared had been weighing competing bids for parts of Arriva. Its annual sales rose to 4.2 billion euros in 2022, making up 7.5% of Deutsche Bahn's total revenue.

Persons: Andrew Couldridge, Emma, Victoria Farr, Andres Gonzalez, Markus Wacket, Susan Fenton Organizations: Arriva, REUTERS, Squared Capital, Deutsche, Reuters, Financial Times, Deutsche Bahn, DB Arriva, London's, Cross Country, Deutsche Bahn's, Thomson Locations: Harlow , Britain, FRANKFURT, LONDON, Miami

LONDON/FRANKFURT, Oct 12(Reuters) - Brooks Macdonald (BRK.L) is working with a defence adviser on its strategy amid takeover interest, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Raymond James has had a longer-term mandate for financial advice which recently developed into defence strategy, one of the people said. Brooks Macdonald and Raymond James declined to comment. Shares in Brooks Macdonald have dipped since peaking in late 2021 as market conditions soured. Britain's fragmented wealth management industry has seen increased consolidation in recent years driven by both private equity and strategic players.

Persons: Brooks Macdonald, Raymond James, Charles Stanley, Brewin, Andrew Shepherd, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Victoria Farr, Amy, Jo Crowley, Anousha Sakoui, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, British, London, Emma

That was until this week, when the company decided to pull its listing in the final hours of Wednesday, blaming market conditions. In the coming weeks, a string of European companies are slated to come to market. Among them is CVC Capital Partners, which is still planning a November listing depending on market conditions, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. However, the fate of Renk highlights the challenges facing new issuers, exacerbated by a recent bout of volatility in equity and debt markets. On Thursday it was trading around its opening IPO price at 30 euros, still above its issue price, a positive sign.

Persons: Andreas Bernstorff, Germany's DAX, Susanne Wiegand, Schott, Perfumery, Douglas, Emma, Victoria Farr, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Alexander Huebner, Anousha Sakoui Organizations: Capital Partners, Reuters, Equity Capital Markets, BNP, Renk, Rheinmetall, Schott Pharma, DKV, CVC Capital Partners, Paris bourse, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, LONDON, Frankfurt, U.S, Europe, East, Africa, European, Germany, York, Lincoln

A pair of shoes is pictured in a window of a Birkenstock footwear store in Berlin, Germany, January 21, 2021. Birkenstock is the latest high-profile listing to put investor focus on the initial public offering (IPO) market, which is gradually reopening after two relatively quiet years and a burst of activity in September. Due to recent price hikes, worldwide footwear sales are expected to rise just 2.9% over 2022, according to market research firm Euromonitor International. AllBirds (BIRD.O), Dr Martens (DOCS.L), and On Running (ONON.N) have all seen their market value fall since their IPOs in 2021. "When you look at the trend of other shoe companies that have IPO-ed, it doesn't give a great outlook for Birkenstock," Valechha said.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Birkenstock, Kellogg, Mamta, Cheviot, Valechha, Johann Adam Birkenstock, Barbie, Margot Robbie, Jessica Ramirez, Jane Hali, Siobhan Gehin, Roland Berger, Thomas Hayes, sneaker, Dr Martens, Allbirds, Alexandre Arnault, LVMH, Bernard Arnault, Matt Oguz, Iris, L, Ananya Mariam Rajesh, Helen Reid, Emma, Victoria Farr, Echo Wang, Abigail Summerville, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, LVMH, New York Stock Exchange, Euromonitor, Associates, Dick's Sporting, Reuters, Partners, Norges Bank Investment Management, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, New York, London, Neustadt, United States, U.S, Cannes, Silicon Valley

☆ Germany's KfW bank will no longer grant promotional loans to China from 2026
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT/BERLIN, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Germany will no longer grant promotional loans to China from 2026, the Federal Development Ministry (BMZ) confirmed on Tuesday, in the latest measure to reduce Germany's strategic dependence on China. The German ministry informed the Chinese Ministry of Finance in mid-September of the federal government's decision to permanently stop granting promotional loans to China. Contracts for promotional loan projects between German state-owned KfW Bank and the Chinese Ministry of Finance can only be signed up to and including 2025. "These promotional loan projects must have ambitious impacts in the areas of climate and environment," the ministry said. From 2013 to 2022, promotional loans with a total volume of 3.451 billion euros were agreed with China.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Svenja Schulze, Andreas Rinke, Emma, Victoria Farr, Leslie Adler Organizations: KfW, REUTERS, Federal Development Ministry, Chinese Ministry of Finance, KfW Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, FRANKFURT, BERLIN, China

☆ Volkswagen to temporarily pause production of two EV car models due to drop in demand -spokesperson
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Volkswagen AG FollowFRANKFURT, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will suspend production of ID.3 and Cupra Born electric cars at its Zwickau and Dresden plants in Germany in the first two weeks of October due to weaker demand, a spokesperson for the carmaker said on Tuesday. Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, writing by Emma-Victoria Farr, editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David, Dee, Delgado, Ilona Wissenbach, Emma, Victoria Farr, Susan Fenton Organizations: New York, REUTERS, FRANKFURT, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Zwickau, Dresden, Germany

☆ Three-Stock Lunch: Shopify, Microsoft, and RTX
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThree-Stock Lunch: Shopify, Microsoft, and RTXMichael Farr, CEO at Farr, Miller & Washington, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss his investing take on three stocks: Shopify, Microsoft, and RTX.

Persons: RTX Michael Farr Organizations: Microsoft, Farr, Miller & Washington

FRANKFURT, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Bayer's (BAYGn.DE) new CEO plans to cut management jobs to speed up decision-making as a first step to overhaul the embattled German industrial group, which is facing investor pressure to break up, three people familiar with the matter said. But the new CEO will likely have only a short respite period to come up with concrete strategic proposals. Anderson has been tasked with reviving Bayer's share price, which has underperformed rivals, weighed down by the lingering costs of U.S. weedkiller litigation. Anderson said last month he was not ruling out any options as part of his review of the company's strategy and structure, saying he was "leaving no stone unturned". He added he would provide an initial update in the coming months and detailed plans in early 2024.

Persons: Bill Anderson, Anderson, Roche, Oliver Kohlhaas, Kohlhaas, Werner Baumann, Ludwig Burger, Patricia Weiss, Emma, Victoria Farr, Josephine Mason, David Holmes Organizations: Bayer, McKinsey, Artisan Partners, Reuters, Bluebell Capital Partners, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Frankfurt

The logo of German chemicals maker Covestro is pictured outside its headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany, July 26, 2019. The sign of change from Covestro's previous stance comes after two top-15 investors of the plastics and chemicals maker told Reuters last month that it should engage in formal takeover talks in the interest of its shareholders. The German group's shares were up 8.6% at 51.96 euros at 1445 GMT, their highest level in about 18 months. In August, ADNOC indicated to Covestro, which has not commented on the takeover approach, that it could raise its informal offer to 60 euros conditional on the German company entering formal talks, Reuters reported at the time. That non-binding offer would value Covestro, a maker of chemicals used in insulation, upholstery foams, coatings and transparent engineering plastics, at about 11.6 billion euros ($12.4 billion).

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Abu, ADNOC, Ludwig Burger, Urvi, Elisa Martinuzzi, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Reuters, Covestro, BASF, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Bengaluru

Private equity firms are looking at Statista ahead of a formal sale process, which is likely to kick off later next year, the sources told Reuters. Only once this transaction is finished will a Statista process begin, they added. Asam sits alongside Statista in Stroeer's data-as-a-service and e-commerce division, which it has signalled as non-core to its advertising business. Statista is viewed as non-core because the rest of Stroeer operates out-of-home advertising, online advertising and billboards across Germany. Stroeer acquired a 78.8% majority stake in Statista in December 2015 for around 57 million euros ($61 million).

Persons: JP Morgan, Friedrich Schwandt, Stroeer, Christian Schmalzl, Asam, Statista, Emma, Victoria Farr, Jo Crowley, John O'Donnell, Alexander Smith, David Evans Organizations: Reuters, NASDAQ, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, LONDON, Statista, Stroeer, Germany, Hamburg, Frankfurt, London

☆ Investments in China are becoming political for Apple and others, says Michael Farr
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | 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 EmailInvestments in China are becoming political for Apple and others, says Michael FarrMichael Farr, CEO at Farr, Miller & Washington, and CNBC's Steve Kovach join 'Power Lunch' to discuss political headwinds for American companies doing business in China, and boosting portfolio ownership in Apple on weakness.

Persons: Michael Farr Michael Farr, Steve Kovach Organizations: Investments, Apple, Farr, Miller & Washington Locations: China

☆ Op-Ed: Less affordable homes don't just ruin American dreams, they're a threat to the economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Michael Farr | Keith B. Davis | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The National Association of Realtors said earlier this month that its housing affordability index fell during the second quarter to its lowest level on record. Not coincidentally, the first quarter of 2021 turned out to the be peak in housing affordability. The consequence has been the massive drop in housing affordability to new lows. But still, housing affordability is as low as it's been since at least 1986. Given its importance to the wider economy, a robust housing market will likely be a precondition to achieving a relatively seamless transition to long-term economic expansion.

Persons: It's, Freddie Mac, Justin Lahart, it's Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Fed

The logo of German chemicals maker Covestro is pictured outside its headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany, July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Germany's Covestro (1COV.DE) should engage in formal takeover talks with Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) in the interest of its shareholders, two top-15 investors of the plastics and chemicals maker told Reuters. ADNOC, which is trying to diversify and develop its downstream and renewable energy operations, made a non-binding offer for Covestro of 55 euros per share in June, which was rejected, according to press reports. Rautenberg declined to comment on the price at which he would recommend Covestro accept an offer. Covestro this week appointed Christian Baier as chief financial officer, with Rautenberg noting his past dealmaking experience at private equity firm Permira.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, ADNOC, Arne Rautenberg, Covestro, Rautenberg, Christian Baier, Emma, Victoria Farr, Elisa Martinuzzi, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, Reuters, Union Investment, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, Abu Dhabi

☆ Three-Stock Lunch: Tesla, Lowe's, and Comerica
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThree-Stock Lunch: Tesla, Lowe's, and ComericaMichael Farr, president & CEO of Farr, Miller & Washington, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss Farr's investing take on three stocks: Lowe's, Comerica, and Tesla.

Persons: Comerica Michael Farr, Farr Organizations: Comerica, Miller & Washington

A sign of Wanda is pictured at the headquarters of Dalian Wanda Group, in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD), China August 8, 2023. China's largest commercial property group has tapped Deutsche Bank for advice on the sale of Infront Sports & Media, the sources said, adding the process is in the early stages and could take months to complete. Headquartered in Switzerland, Infront's businesses include managing Italy's Serie A and the UK Premier League's international media rights, as well as event operations, media rights distribution and sponsorship sales. It raised $320 million through the partial sale of its entertainment unit Beijing Wanda Cultural Industry to pay it off. Spain's Mediapro, which manages international media rights for LaLiga, restructured 900 million euros in debt a year ago selling shares to investors including the group's majority shareholder Southwind.

Persons: Wanda, Tingshu Wang, China's, Wang Jianlin, Infront, Amy, Jo Crowley, Emma, Victoria Farr, Milana, Andres Gonzalez, Kane Wu, Clare Jim, Elisa Martinuzzi, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Dalian Wanda Group, Beijing's, Business, REUTERS, Reuters, Deutsche Bank, Infront Sports & Media, Serie, Premier League's, South East, Olympic Games, Beijing Wanda Cultural Industry, Infront, Companies, LaLiga, Thomson Locations: China, FRANKFURT, Switzerland, Central, South, South East Asia, Dalian, Beijing, Infront

AMSTERDAM, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Investment company Exor (EXOR.AS) was able to build a 15% stake in Dutch healthcare group Philips (PHG.AS) without triggering the usual disclosures thanks to derivatives deals through Goldman Sachs, regulatory filings show. Exor's investment was seen as a vote of confidence in Philips and boosted the Dutch company's shares. Filings by the Dutch Financial Market Authority AFM dated Aug. 14 but published late on Wednesday showed Goldman Sachs had taken an 12.11% stake in Philips using a derivatives structure that included 95 million call options. Sources confirmed to Reuters earlier this week that Goldman Sachs acted on behalf of Exor but could not give more details. Exor and Goldman Sachs (GS.N) declined to comment.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Italy's Agnelli, Roy Jakobs, Exor, Allen, Overy, De Brauw, Philips, Toby Sterling, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Andres Gonzalez, Valentina Za, Victoria Farr, Jane Merriman Organizations: Investment, Philips, Dutch, US Securities and Exchange, Reuters, Overy, Thomson Locations: Philips, Dutch

Search resuls for: "Farr"

25 mentions found