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TORONTO, May 9 (Reuters) - Pierre Lassonde, a Canadian mining industry veteran, has made an offer to invest in Teck Resources Ltd's (TECKb.TO) coal business, in a bid to thwart Glencore Plc's (GLEN.L) hostile attempt to merge with Teck. Vancouver-based Teck has rebuffed Swiss mining company Glencore's $22.5 billon offer to combine the two companies and is instead pursing plans to separate its copper and coal business. Teck last month pulled its initial business separation plan at the last minute after failing to secure enough shareholder support. Glencore has offered a cash component for Teck's coal business worth C$8 billion ($5.98 billion). A source close to the matter said that an alternative offer for Teck's steelmaking coal business might push the Swiss conglomerate to finally make an improved offer.

☆ Red metal rising: Argentina sets lofty sights on global copper top 10
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The South American country has a pipeline of copper projects that could produce 793,000 tonnes a year by the end of the decade, government forecasts show, well below neighboring No. Reuters GraphicsBRIDGING THE DEMAND GAPSan Juan is home to five of Argentina's eight main copper projects that have a total capex of $22 billion, a recent government report shows. Argentina has an estimated 65 million tonnes of copper reserves, according to a 2022 government report, some 3% of the global total. "The projects we have are of global importance and relevance because it's estimated that demand for copper between now and 2050 could be multiplied," he said. Copper demand is forecast to double to 50 million tonnes by 2050 from 2020 levels.

The cash-strapped airline wants the tribunal to accept its plea and is seeking an interim moratorium to save its assets, a move the lessors oppose. Go First did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lessors' bid to deregister the planes. Engine failures have cost the airline 108 billion rupees ($1.3 billion) in lost revenue and expenses, it said. Amid the dispute between the lessors and the troubled airline, banks with exposure to it are awaiting the tribunal's decision to decide their next course of action, two people involved in the talks told Reuters. The company owes financial creditors 65.21 billion rupees ($798 million), its bankruptcy filing showed, and had not defaulted on any of those dues by the end of April.

☆ Alibaba's global online commerce arm weighs US IPO - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 4 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's (9988.HK), international online shopping unit is exploring a U.S. initial public offering, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday citing people familiar with the matter. The e-commerce giant is in the early stages of consideration and the IPO's size is yet to be determined, the report added. The business group is in talks with banks that could potentially help prepare for the IPO next year, according to the report. However, in an emailed statement to Reuters, Alibaba Digital Commerce Group said, "Currently, there is no IPO plan". Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Alibaba's global online commerce arm weighs US IPO, Bloomberg reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

☆ Indigenous Australians file human rights complaint with pension funds over Santos gas projects
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, April 26 (Reuters) - A group of Indigenous Australians on Wednesday filed a human rights complaint against 20 large Australian pension funds for investing in Santos Ltd's (STO.AX) two gas projects, putting pressure on the funds over their fossil fuel investment plans. Three traditional landowners, in the complaint filed directly with the superannuation funds, alleged the funds had an "obligation to prevent adverse human rights impacts of companies in which they are invested". Commonwealth Super Corp, AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, Aware Super and AMP - the five largest pension funds - did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment. An appeal by Santos to resume drilling on its A$3.6 billion Barossa gas project off northern Australia was rejected by the federal court in December after indigenous groups raised objections. Santos then said it would apply for fresh approvals for its biggest project in line with the court's order.

☆ India's Bajaj Finance beats Q4 profit expectations on strong loan demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, April 26 (Reuters) - Indian non-bank lender Bajaj Finance Ltd's (BJFN.NS) fourth-quarter profit beat estimates on Wednesday, led by strong customer addition on the back of demand for loans. Consolidated net profit rose 30.5% to 31.58 billion rupees ($386.4 million) for the quarter ended March 31, beating analysts' expectations of 30.93 billion rupees, according to Refinitiv IBES data. The company's customers increased by about 3.1 million in the fourth quarter, it said earlier this month. Net interest income, the difference between interest earned on loans and paid on deposits, rose 28% to 77.71 billion rupees, while interest income jumped 33.6% year-on-year. ($1 = 81.7400 Indian rupees)Reporting by Meenakshi Maidas in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia CheemaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Argentina's lithium pipeline promises 'white gold' boom as Chile tightens control
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Neighboring Chile, the region's top lithium producer, last week unveiled plans for a state-led public-private model, spooking investors. Bolivia has long maintained strict control over its huge though largely untapped resources, while Mexico nationalized its lithium deposits last year. The country has six lithium projects under construction and 15 in the advanced exploration or feasibility stage, Mignacco said. "Argentina's lithium sector has thrived through a decentralized, pro-market strategy," said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America program at The Wilson Center, adding in contrast Bolivia's lithium sector had "repeatedly stalled as a result of excessive state control." "Chile today produces and exports much more lithium than Argentina," said Natacha Izquierdo, analyst at consultancy ABCEB.

☆ India's HCLTech sees smaller-than expected FY revenue growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, April 20 (Reuters) - HCLTech (HCLT.NS), India's No.3 IT services exporter, on Thursday forecast lower-than-expected revenue growth for the current fiscal amid worries of recession in major markets like the United States and Europe and global banking turmoil. HCLTech said it expects revenue to increase 6%-8% in the financial year ending March 2024 on constant currency basis, missing average analysts' estimates of 10.42%, according to Refinitiv IBES data. HCLTech's weak outlook followed disappointing earnings from market leader Tata Consultancy Services (TCS.NS) and No.2 Infosys Ltd's (INFY.NS) forecast of single-digit revenue growth this financial year. European clients were delaying decisions, HCLTech had said back in January, well before the current turmoil. It expects EBIT margins of 18% and 19% for FY 2024.

Alibaba, one of the most valuable assets in SoftBank's portfolio, tumbled as much as 5.2% in Hong Kong and closed down about 2%. On Wednesday, the FT said forward sales based on filings at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission showed SoftBank's Alibaba stake would eventually fall to 3.8% from almost 15%. The Japanese group, led by billionaire founder Masayoshi Son, has sold about $7.2 billion worth of Alibaba shares this year through prepaid forward contracts, the newspaper said. "It is well within the realms of expectations that the proportion of Chinese shares among its total investment will shrink further." In New York, Alibaba's shares were up 3% as analysts noted that the stake sale was more due to SoftBank's circumstances.

☆ China developer Sunac shares plunge after year-long suspension ends
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, April 13 (Reuters) - Chinese property developer Sunac China Holdings Ltd's (1918.HK) shares fell 45% on Thursday morning after resuming trade following a suspension of more than a year as it looks to restructure its debt after a default. The share slump comes a day after the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange that it was to resume trading and was implementing a debt restructuring plan. Shares were down by nearly 60% in pre-market trading but trimmed losses after the market opened. Sunac is among many Chinese developers that defaulted last year as the property sector reeled under a debt crisis. Earlier this month, the Hong Kong stock exchange cancelled the listing of Chinese developer Cinic Holdings after it failed to meet trading resumption requirements in the time allotted.

Glencore latest offer is for Teck's shareholders to receive 24% of the combined metals group and up to $8.2 billion in cash for those who may not want exposure to thermal coal, which is the most polluting fossil fuel. Teck said its board will review and evaluate the offer, but nevertheless believes it is "largely unchanged" from the original bid. "The revised proposal does not provide an increase in the overall value to be received by Teck shareholders or appear to address material risks previously raised," Teck said in a Tuesday statement. "Getting Teck's Class A shareholders on board is a separate, more substantial challenge," LaFemina added. Reuters on Monday reported that Glencore Chief Executive Gary Nagle plans to meet with some of Teck's Canadian shareholders in Toronto on Thursday to personally lobby them for support.

TORONTO, April 10 (Reuters) - Glencore Plc (GLEN.L) Chief Executive Gary Nagle plans to meet with some of Teck Resources Ltd's (TECKb.TO) Canadian shareholders in Toronto this Thursday to personally lobby them for support of Glencore's proposed takeover of the copper and zinc miner, according to a source who was invited. Royal Bank of Canada's (RY.TO) RBC Capital Markets will host the Toronto lunch meeting, according to Jonathan Case of CI Global Asset Management, a Teck shareholder who was invited. RBC has been one of Glencore's bankers in the past. Teck's executives on Monday reinforced their rejection of Glencore's unsolicited $22.5 billion takeover offer. Reporting by Divya Rajagopal in Toronto; Editing by Ernest Scheyder and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wall Street ends mixed with inflation data, earnings on tap
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The bellwether S&P 500 ended the session nominally higher. Of the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500, six ended the session higher, led by industrials (.SPLRCI). "When the Fed repeats time after time what their priorities are and what they’re going to do, they’re going to do it." As of Friday, analysts expected aggregate S&P 500 earnings down 5.2% year-on-year, a stark reversal from the 1.4% annual growth expected at the beginning of the quarter, according to Refinitiv. The S&P 500 posted 2 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 50 new highs and 155 new lows.

☆ Wall St fluctuates as investors weigh jobs report, earnings on tap
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"There’s clearly a disconnect between what the Fed is telling us they’re going to do and what the market believes the Fed is going to do," Pursche added. "When the Fed repeats time after time what their priorities are and what they’re going to do, they’re going to do it." As of Friday, analysts now expect aggregate S&P 500 earnings down 5.2% year-on-year, a stark reversal from the 1.4% annual growth expected at the beginning of the quarter, according to Refinitiv. Among the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500, communication services (.SPLRCL) and technology (.SPLRCT) suffered the largest percentage losses. The S&P 500 posted one new 52-week high and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 41 new highs and 131 new lows.

Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW.N) gained 3.3% after the financial broker on Thursday disclosed upbeat new client assets inflow in March. Pioneer Natural Resources Co (PXD.N) jumped 5.7% after a report that Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) held preliminary talks with the company about a possible acquisition of the shale oil producer. Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) and Western Digital Corp (WDC.O) surged 7.9% and 8.9%, respectively, on Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's (005930.KS) plans to cut chip production. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.07-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and a 1.16-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded one new 52-week high and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 30 new highs and 108 new lows.

"One has to step back and look at a bigger picture than just these week-to-week market battles over data. Several economic indicators last week, including weak private payrolls and job openings data, had initially raised hopes of a pause to the market-punishing rate hikes amid the recent banking sector turmoil. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.48-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and 1.74-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded one new 52-week high and no new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 13 new highs and 57 new lows. Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Medha Singh; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"One has to step back and look at a bigger picture than just these week-to-week market battles over data. ET, Dow e-minis were down 122 points, or 0.36%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 21.5 points, or 0.52%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 107.75 points, or 0.82%. Shares of regional banks slipped after Fed data on Friday showed overall credit from U.S. banks declined by a record of more than $120 billion in the latest week, on a nonseasonally adjusted basis. Semiconductor stocks such as Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) and Western Digital Corp (WDC.O) gained 5.5% and 4.7%, respectively, following Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's (005930.KS) plans to cut chip production. Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Medha Singh; Editing by Varun H K and Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Newmont plumps offer for Australia's Newcrest to $19.5 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Melanie Burton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Under the revised offer, Newcrest shareholders would receive 0.400 Newmont share for each share held, with an implied value of A$32.87 a share, up from a previous exchange ratio of 0.380 that Newcrest's board unanimously rejected in February. Newcrest shares rose by as much as 7% to A$30.28 but still traded below the implied offer price. The latest bid is 16% higher than Newmont's initial proposal, and represents a 46% premium to Newcrest's share price on Feb. 3 before Newmont's bid was announced, Newcrest said. Reuters had reported that Newmont was open to raising its offer price for Newcrest. The revised deal is just shy of Glencore's $22.5 billion takeover offer for Canada's Teck Resources Ltd's (TECKb.TO) that was announced earlier this month.

☆ Samsung quarterly profit set to hit 14-year low amid chip glut
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Joyce Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Samsung, the world's biggest maker of memory chips, TVs and smartphones as of 2022, is a bellwether for global consumption trends. Operating profit likely fell to 1.08 trillion won in the quarter ended March 31, according to a Refinitiv SmartEstimate from 27 analysts, weighted toward those who are more consistently accurate. That is lowest since a 590 billion won profit in the first quarter of 2009, according to company data, and compares with an operating profit of 14.12 trillion won last year. In February, Samsung Electronics said it planned to borrow 20 trillion won from unit Samsung Display to use as operational funds until August 2025. Operating profit at Samsung's mobile business likely fell by 9% to 3.46 trillion won in the March quarter, an average of seven analyst estimates showed.

☆ India looking to merge hydro power units to create single company -minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Sarita Chaganti Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, April 3 (Reuters) - The Indian government is considering selling state-owned NTPC Ltd's (NTPC.NS) two hydro power firms to NHPC Ltd (NHPC.NS) to create a single hydro power company that would improve efficiency and cut costs, power minister R K Singh told Reuters. One large hydro power company would help meet high demand at night when solar projects do not run, he said. We are thinking whether these hydro companies can come together as a hydro large PSU. Then it becomes a specialised hydro company," Power and Renewable Energy Minister Singh said in an interview on Monday. The power ministry's proposal to create a single company is aimed at better management and expertise, besides reducing costs and managing related challenges.

☆ Britishvolt deal at risk of collapse over power supply contract - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 31 (Reuters) - Recharge Industries Pty Ltd's attempt to buy the Britishvolt site is at risk of collapsing due to a dispute with administrator EY over a power supply contract signed by the failed battery startup, the Financial Times reported on Friday. Australia-based Recharge Industries and the British accounting firm hit an impasse over payments related to transferring a grid connection contract with the UK's National Grid, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. EY, Britishvolt and Recharge Industries did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Recharge Industries bought Britishvolt's intellectual property for 8.6 million pounds ($10.61 million) last month, but is yet to pay the 9.7 million pounds for the land despite passing of the deadline, the FT report added. ($1 = 0.8108 pounds)Reporting by Rahat Sandhu in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 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.

☆ Rio Tinto staff's personal data may have been hacked - memo
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 23 (Reuters) - Personal data of Rio Tinto Ltd's (RIO.AX) former and current Australian employees may have been stolen by a cybercriminal group, according to a staff memo seen by Reuters on Thursday. "Investigations now indicate a possibility that Rio Tinto data may be impacted," it said. The cybercriminal group threatened to release the data onto the dark web and investigations into the incident were ongoing, the Anglo-Australian mining giant added. The stolen data relates to an attack on GoAnywhere - a managed file transfer (MFT) software offered by cybersecurity firm Fortra - which also provides its services to Rio. As GoAnywhere is a cloud-based vendor, there is no operational impact or risk to the Rio Tinto network, the memo said.

☆ Stratasys rejects Nano Dimension's $1.1 bln offer for remaining stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 22 (Reuters) - Stratasys Ltd (SSYS.O) said on Wednesday its board had rejected smaller peer Nano Dimension Ltd's (2N5By.F) $1.1 billion offer to acquire the stake it does not already own in the Israeli 3D printer maker. Following a review, the board concluded that Nano's proposal substantially undervalued the company, Stratasys said. Nano Dimension currently owns about 14.5% of Stratasys's outstanding shares and is the largest shareholder in the company founded over 30 years ago. The company had disclosed a 12.12% stake in July last year, shortly after which Stratasys adopted a limited shareholder rights plan or "poison pill". Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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