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Pheu Thai's Srettha Thavisin attends a press conference, after Thailand's parliament voted in favour of his prime ministerial candidacy, in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. "The picture is not all wine and roses," Thailand's central bank chief Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said in recorded remarks played on Wednesday. Tourism, a major driver of the Thai economy, has managed a robust recovery, although arrivals and tourist spending are still below pre-pandemic levels, data shows. $96 BLN BUDGETIn this first address since winning office, Srettha on Wednesday vowed to provide solutions to fix Thailand's economy, among other measures, and manage the budget transparently. But its ability to execute will depend on the military backers that Pheu Thai has allied with to be able to form a government.

Persons: Pheu, Srettha Thavisin, Chalinee, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, Kobsidthi Silpachai, Srettha, Goldman Sachs, Poon Panichpibool, Sanan Angubolkul, Orathai Sriring, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Tourism, Krung Thai Bank, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Asia's, China, Thai

☆ Analysis: A year on, Europe less fearful of U.S. green subsidies push
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Jan Strupczewski | Thomson Reuters | Jan Is The Acting Bureau Chief In Brussels. He Has Been Covering European Union Policy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Solar panels are seen atop a hops plantation in the Bavarian Holledau region in Au, Germany, June 19, 2023. And already, those subsidies are flowing: German conglomerate Thyssenkrupp (TKAG.DE) will invest around 3 billion euros ($3.27 billion) in a proposed green steel plant in Duisburg, Germany, including over 2 billion euros in state subsidies given EU approval in late July. But it noted the U.S. model also had uncertainty built in because a change of administration could end IRA subsidies. The complexity of EU financing through the recovery fund means it is available only to bigger companies, leaving smaller firms struggling to benefit. ($1 = 0.9184 euros)Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; editing by Mark John and Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Louisa, Joe Biden's, Biden, Niclas Poitiers, Jan Strupczewski, Mark John, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, United States, Union, Biden, EU, Zero Industry, European Commission, Sovereignty Fund, Ukraine, Russian, EV, Zero, Thomson Locations: Bavarian, Au, Germany, EU, BRUSSELS, United, Europe, Ukraine, Brussels, United States, Duisburg, U.S, France, China

☆ Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she's being cut out of millions from her husband's estate in an act of 'financial elder abuse'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dianne Feinstein alleges that the trustees for her husband's estate have engaged in "financial elder abuse." Katherine Feinstein, who filed the suit on behalf of her mother, alleges that Feinstein is being cut out of millions. Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge, filed the suit on behalf of her mother. In a previous suit, Katherine Feinstein alleged that the trust was not moving quickly enough to sell the Stinson Beach house. Katherine Feinstein concedes that the trust has never denied one of Feinstein's requests, but characterizes this claim as "misleading."

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein, Feinstein, Richard Blum's, Sen, Dianne Feinstein's, Feinstein's, Blum, Michael Klein, Marc Scholvinck, Verett Mims, Klein, Scholvinck, Steven P, Braccini Organizations: Service, San Francisco Chronicle, California Democrat, San Francisco, D.C, Stinson, Claremont Locations: Wall, Silicon, California, San Francisco, Washington, Kauai, Berkeley , California, Feinstein's

☆ Biden administration report warns grad school borrowing is 'cause for concern'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gatot Adriansyah | Istock | Getty ImagesThe share of federal education debt going to graduate students is at its highest point in history, a new report by the U.S. Department of Education finds. Alarmingly, as graduate school borrowing increases, wages for those with an advanced degree haven't risen nearly as much. "A closer look at borrowing trends and the outcomes of graduate programs … suggest cause for concern," department economists wrote. In 2006, the Education Department introduced the Grad PLUS loan program, which lets graduate students borrow as much as it costs to attend their program. On average, graduate students with debt in 2016 borrowed about $66,000 in total to finance their advanced degree, up from roughly $53,000 in 2000.

Persons: Gatot, haven't Organizations: Istock, U.S . Department of Education, Education Department, Grad PLUS

A general view of the facade of Banco de la Nacion Argentina (Bank of the Argentine Nation), in Buenos Aires, Argentina December 7, 2021. The official FX rate will be fixed at 350 pesos per dollar until the October elections, the central bank said. The country's sovereign dollar bonds fell as much as 2 cents on the dollar, with the 2038 note leading the slide, according to MarketAxess data. Latin America's third-largest economy has been grappling with a severe economic crisis with sky-high inflation and falling central bank reserves. A candidate needs 45% of the Oct. 22 vote to win outright or 40% and a 10-point lead over second place.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, William Jackson, overvalued, Sunday's, Goldman Sachs, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Ricardo Delgado, Eliana Raszewski, Rodrigo Campos, Jorge Otaola, Medha Singh, Adam Jourdan, Bernadette Baum, John Stonestreet, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: de la Nacion Argentina, Bank of, Argentine, REUTERS, LONDON, Capital Economics, Investment, JPMorgan, Gross, Milei, Peronist, Economy, Analytica, Reuters Graphics Reuters, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Agustin Marcarian BUENOS AIRES, MERV, Argentine, refinance, Washington, Rosario

A general view of the facade of Banco de la Nacion Argentina (Bank of the Argentine Nation), in Buenos Aires, Argentina December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Agustin MarcarianBUENOS AIRES/LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Argentina's markets face an election hangover on Monday after a shock primary vote win for far-right libertarian Javier Milei - who wants to axe the central bank and dollarize the economy - shook up the race towards presidential elections in October. Rock-singing, wild-haired economist and lawmaker Milei far outperformed forecasts to win some 30% of the vote, the largest share with over 90% of ballots counted. Latin America's third-biggest economy has been grappling with a severe economic crisis with sky-high inflation and falling central bank reserves. A candidate needs 45% of the Oct. 22 vote to win outright or 40% and a 10-point lead over second place.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, Milei, Diego Pereira, Milei's, Goldman Sachs, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Ricardo Delgado, Eliana Raszewski, Jorge Otaola, Adam Jourdan, Stephen Coates, Bernadette Baum Organizations: de la Nacion Argentina, Bank of, Argentine, REUTERS, LONDON, Investment, JPMorgan, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Gross, Peronist, Economy, Analytica, International Monetary Fund, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Agustin Marcarian BUENOS AIRES, U.S, Argentine, refinance, Washington, Rosario

General Abdourahmane Tiani, who was declared as the new head of state of Niger by leaders of a coup, arrives to meet with ministers in Niamey, Niger July 28, 2023. REUTERS/Balima Boureima/File PhotoDAKAR, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Niger's regional and Western allies have announced a series of sanctions against the country following the July 26 coup. These sanctions have been imposed on Niger since the coup:WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOCThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Monetary and Economic Union have imposed some of the most stringent sanctions on Niger so far since the coup. NETHERLANDSThe Dutch government, which was supporting development and security programmes in Niger, temporarily suspended its direct cooperation with the government following the coup. WORLD BANKThe World Bank suspended disbursements until further notice, except for private-sector partnerships which it said will continue with caution.

Persons: Abdourahmane Tiani, Balima, Bate Felix, Anait, Daphne Psaledakis, Gabriela Baczynska, Juliette Jabkhiro, Nick Macfie, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOC, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, West, Monetary and Economic Union, Ivory, European Union, STATES, ., CANADA Canada, World Bank, Bank, Thomson Locations: Niger, Niamey, DAKAR, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, West Africa's, FRANCE France, France, Mali, Burkina Faso, NETHERLANDS, Dutch, United States, U.S, Africa, Washington, Brussels, Paris

☆ Niger junta says it will not back down despite 'inhumane' sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

In a televised address, Abdourahamane Tiani said the junta "rejects these sanctions altogether and refuses to give into any threats, wherever they come from. Nigeria cut power supplies to Niger, a Niger state utility document showed on Wednesday, while truckers in Niamey were stranded by border closures - early signs of fallout from the bloc's sweeping sanctions that Tiani described as "illegal, unjust, and inhumane." "The task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications," said General Christopher Musa, Nigeria's Chief of Defence and Chairman of the ECOWAS Defence Chiefs. In a further sign of the mounting pressure on the junta, the World Bank on Wednesday suspended disbursements to Niger until further notice. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metal widely used for nuclear energy and treating cancer.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Abdel, Fatau Musah, Christopher Musa, James, Bola Tinubu, Annalena Baerbock, Camillus Eboh, Felix Onuah, Christophe Van Der Perre, Ingrid Melander, Nellie Peyton, Alessandra Prentice, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie, Grant McCool Organizations: Islamists, West African, West African States, ECOWAS, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, Defence, ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, REUTERS, British, World Bank, European Union, Islamic, Union, Thomson Locations: Niger, Abuja Niger, Islamists Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, West Africa, Mali, Guinea, Bissau, Nigerian, Abuja, Nigeria, Niamey, Nigeria's, Nigerien, disbursements, States, France, Italy, Paris, Rome, United States, Germany, al Qaeda, Islamic State

☆ Rudy Giuliani's consultancy has racked up $57,000 in unpaid phone bills after it 'failed and refused to pay' its telco for 9 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rudy Giuliani's consultancy owes nearly $60,000 over unpaid phone bills from 2020. Giuliani Partners owes a further $30,396 from an early termination fee. The Sunday judgment calculated interest at $12,831, and additional costs and disbursements at $873, bringing Giuliani Partners' total debt to almost $60,000. A subsidiary of the firm, Giuliani Security & Services, describes him as the current chairman and CEO of Giuliani Partners. Court records show Giuliani Partners has not filed any response to Momentum Telecom's debt filings or Adams' affirmation.

Persons: Rudy, Rudy Giuliani, —, Suzanne J, Adams, Giuliani, Al Qaeda, Donald Trump's Organizations: Service, New, New York City, Giuliani Partners, New York, Momentum Telecom, Street Journal, Al, Republican, Giuliani Security & Services, PAC, CNN Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York, Georgia, Qatar

☆ Exclusive: Argentina, IMF staff-level agreement set to combine reviews on $44 billion loan, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Jorgelina Do Rosario | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Combining the two reviews would give Argentina access to 5.5 billion of IMF's special-drawing rights (SDRs), equivalent to about $7.3 billion. An IMF spokesperson said: "Discussions between the teams continue to be very constructive" and "are aimed at reaching staff level agreement." Once a Staff Level Agreement is reached, this is presented to the IMF executive board and if it is signed off, this will trigger the release of cash. LONG AWAITED DEALBoth sides have recently said that a Staff Level Agreement was close. Facing a recession and triple-digit inflation, Argentina is scheduled to have four reviews between December and September 2024 on its IMF programme.

Persons: didn't, LONG, disbursements, Jorgelina, Karin Strohecker, Jane Merriman Organizations: International Monetary, IMF, Argentine, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Buenos Aires, Uganda, Nepal, Pakistan, Beijing, Rosario

If it cannot secure fresh funds before an approaching deadline, Argentina risks defaulting on repayments to the IMF. Analysts say the central aim of these economic adjustments is to signal to the IMF that Buenos Aires is committed to the program. The left-wing administration has been locked in negotiations with the IMF for months over whether to front-load tranches of the $44 billion program. Both parties said on Sunday that an agreement on the fifth IMF review was close, but not yet finalized. Reporting by Lucinda Elliott in Montevideo, Anna-Catherine Brigida in Buenos Aires, Rodrigo Campos in New York.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Eduardo Levy Yeyati, Eyeing, Marina dal, EcoGo, Alejo Czerwonko, Yeyati, Lucinda Elliott, Catherine Brigida, Rodrigo Campos, Jorgelina de, Karin Strohecker, Catherine Evans Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Economy, Peronist, IMF, Reuters, Emerging, UBS, Analysts, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Buenos Aires, Argentina, refinance, Washington, Beijing, Montevideo, Anna, New York, Jorgelina de Rosario, London

☆ IMF expects deal with Argentina in the coming days
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Miguel Lo Bianco/File PhotoBUENOS AIRES, July 23 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should in the coming days finalize the basis for a staff level agreement with Argentina over a review of the country's $44 billion loan with the IMF, the Washington-based fund said on Sunday. "The teams of the Economy Ministry and Central Bank of Argentina and the IMF staff have finished the core aspects of the technical work of the next review," the IMF said on Twitter. "The central objectives and parameters that will be the basis for a "staff level agreement" have been agreed, which is expected to be finalized in the next few days before moving towards the review of the Argentina program," it added. Argentina faces maturities with the IMF worth some $3.4 billion between July 31 and Aug. 1, at a time when the central bank's net reserves are about $6.5 billion in the red. An Economy Ministry source told Reuters the disbursement program for the second half of 2023 has already closed and that the staff level accord could be sealed on Wednesday or Thursday.

Persons: Miguel Lo Bianco, Hernan Nessi, Nick Zieminski Organizations: IMF, REUTERS, Monetary Fund, Economy Ministry, Central Bank of, Twitter, Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Washington, Central Bank of Argentina

The audit has not changed the U.S. Treasury's view that the bank must make reforms before the department will support disbursements from the Afghan Fund to Da Afghanistan Bank, or DAB, as the central bank is known, said a U.S. Treasury official on condition of anonymity. It also must prove that it has "adequate" controls against money-laundering and terrorism financing and install a "reputable" independent monitor, said the Treasury official. A Taliban administration spokesman and a spokesperson for the Afghan central bank did not respond to request for comment. Afghanistan remains mired in grave humanitarian and economic crises that some experts say has been worsened by U.S. restrictions hampering DAB's ability to perform key central bank functions, such as ensuring stable exchange rates and prices. Calling the audit a "preliminary assessment," the Treasury official said its "limitations" suggested that "more comprehensive third-party assessment efforts may be needed."

Persons: ”, disbursements, Shah Mehrabi, Mehrabi, Anwar ul, Haq Ahady, Jonathan Landay, Charlotte Greenfield, Don Durfee Organizations: U.S ., Afghan, Da, Da Afghanistan Bank, Treasury, Federal Reserve Bank of New, DAB, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, U.S, Afghan Fund, State Department, The State Department, Reuters, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, ISLAMABAD, U.S, Da Afghanistan, Swiss, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Afghan, Washington, United States, Afghanistan, American

☆ Exclusive: US issues new 120-day waiver letting Iraq pay Iran for electricity
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Arshad Mohammed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday moved to let Iraq pay Iran for electricity via non-Iraqi banks, a U.S. official said, a step Washington hopes may keep Tehran from forcing unpopular power cuts during the sweltering Iraqi summer. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a 120-day national security waiver allowing Iraq - heavily dependent on Iranian electricity - to deposit such payments into non-Iraqi banks in third countries instead of into restricted accounts in Iraq, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We have to help the Iraqis with this perennial pressure from the Iranians to access the money," said the U.S. official. It is not clear, however, whether Iran might ease up on Iraq as a result. Tehran could decide it has greater leverage over Iraq than over other nations and continue to exert pressure.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden's, Arshad Mohammed, Chris Reese, Sonali Paul Organizations: U.S, Iraq, U.S ., United Nations, Thomson Locations: United States, Iran, Washington, Tehran, Iraqi, Iraq, Baghdad, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, Israel

☆ How the ultra-rich use trusts to protect the family fortune if their heirs get sued or divorced
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Four lawyers to the wealthy told Insider how these spendthrift trusts work. How spendthrift trusts workSpendthrift trusts can be used to defend an heir in virtually any kind of legal dispute. Robert Strauss, partner at Weinstock Manion, does not view spendthrift trusts as a substitute for prenups. Having separate beneficiaries and trustees is just one way to strengthen a spendthrift trust's power. Domestic asset protection trusts set up in a trust-friendly state like Delaware are very secure, he said.

Persons: Laurene Powell Jobs, Phil Knight, Karen Yates, didn't, Jere Doyle, Doyle, Spendthrift, Yates, Robert Strauss, Weinstock Manion, Strauss, Cindy Brittain, Karlin & Peebles Organizations: Apple, Nike, Mellon Wealth Management, Karlin & Locations: California, South Dakota, Delaware

☆ Argentina delegation set to travel to US next week for IMF talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Jorge Otaola | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A person walks by the Ministry of Economy building in Buenos Aires’ financial district, Argentina, July 4, 2022. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File PhotoBUENOS AIRES, July 7 (Reuters) - The Argentine government will send a delegation next week to Washington in a bid to finalize the renegotiation of its $44 billion loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a source involved in the talks told Reuters on Friday. The delegation had initially planned to travel as early as June. "The negotiation is fine, next week our team will be there (in Washington) all week. The government also this week postponed its $2.6 billion loan repayments for July until the end of the month, which include $1.3 billion that were due Friday.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Jorge Otaola, Rodrigo Campos, Eliana Raszewski, David Gregorio, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Ministry, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, Reuters, Grupo SBS, ., Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Washington, America, New York

☆ Argentina makes IMF payment as deal talks grind on
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 30 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Friday that Argentina is current in its payment obligations, and the government said it made a $2.7 billion payment to the fund using its existing stock of the IMF's reserve assets, and Chinese currency. The operation, which depleted Argentina's $1.6 billion in SDRs, underscores how desperate the country's dollar position has become. The IMF did not respond to requests for comment on the payment method. Both parties are locked in talks to speed up disbursements from their $44 billion program and ease economic targets, as a major drought continues to hammer vital grains exports. Argentina's economy ministry said a team will travel to Washington early next week to continue negotiations.

Persons: Brendan O'Boyle, Rodrigo Campos, Chizu Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF, Reuters, Argentine, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Washington, Carolina

☆ Amazon warns sellers who haven't completed its error-prone verification process they only have a few days before they stop getting paid
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some sellers face issues when trying to complete Amazon's verification process. The company recently told third-party sellers on its marketplace that they have only a few days to complete an identity verification process before the e-commerce giant stops paying them. Some Amazon merchants have been scrambling to complete the process, which has been plagued with errors. Other brands were acquired in recent years and had to hunt down the original owners of the Amazon account. He said that about 40% of Seller Interactive's roughly 500 partner brands faced issues at some point during the INFORM verification process.

Persons: Shlomo Greenblatt, Albert Scott Ecommerce, Greenblatt, Mohamed Aden, We've, Juozas Kaziukėnas, hasn't, It's Organizations: Amazon, eBay, Albert Scott Ecommerce Management, Interactive Locations: Aden

☆ JPMorgan Chase's drawn-out breakup with Jeffrey Epstein
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Kaja Whitehouse | Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

Several months later, in October 2006, JPMorgan categorized Epstein as a "high-risk" client, according to a transcript of Dimon's deposition in May. Today, banks have entire departments dedicated to tracking client activity and flagging suspicious behavior. Lots of questions'The fuss JPMorgan compliance officers raised about Epstein in 2011 was extensive. A 'faithless servant'One person who might know much more about the tangled relationship between Epstein and JPMorgan is Jes Staley. Staley sent Epstein internal JPMorgan documents and relied on him for guidance on an array of business and personal dealings, the JPMorgan internal report shows.

Persons: —, Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers —, Jamie Dimon, Jeffrey Epstein, Leon Black, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Epstein, Jes Staley, Staley, Jeffrey Epstein's, Michelle Licata, Courtney Wild, Stephanie Keith, Jane Doe, JP Morgan —, Epstein —, jes staley, Patricia Wexler, Wexler, Dimon, Barry Krischer, JPMorgan, Ghislaine Maxwell, Rod Stewart, Cipriani, Joe Schildhorn, Patrick McMullan, Frank Haberstroh, Haberstroh, Les Wexner, Wexner, Tom Williams, JP Morgan, Little, Little Saint James, Epstein's, Jim Spellman, Staley didn't, Morgan, James, Emily Michot, Bill Gates, Larry Summers, Woody Allen, Stephen Cutler, Cutler, Mary Erdoes, Erdoes, Youngbee Dale, Dale, JPMorgan Chase, Michael M, NYDFS, Bernie Madoff, Cecile de Jongh, Joe Shmoe, Jacob Shamsian Organizations: JPMorgan, Highbridge Capital Management, Citigroup, Lehman Brothers, titans, Apollo, US, US Virgin Islands, Bloomberg TV, Financial, US Department of, Treasury, Getty, BSA, Polaris Market Research, United Nations University Centre, M2C Model, Palm, JPMorgan Chase, Washington D.C, Inc, Apollo Global Management, The New York Times, Little Saint, Virgin, U.S ., Miami Herald, Tribune, Service, Microsoft, Columbia University, Mountain Capital, DOJ, New, Deutsche Bank, New York Department of Financial Services, Virgin Islands, Barclays, Authority, Wall Street Journal Locations: York, Manhattan, New York, US Virgin, dimon, Palm Beach , Florida, New York City, UN, Paris, Washington, Prague, thomas, Wexner, Little Saint, I'm, Little St, U.S, U.S . Virgin Islands, Staley, Dimon's, Virgin, British

☆ 'Lots of smoke. Lots of questions': Internal emails show JPMorgan Chase execs worried about the bank's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. So why did it take so long to cut him loose?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Kaja Whitehouse | Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

That, of course, is the billion-dollar question: What did JPMorgan, America's largest bank, know about Epstein's alleged sex trafficking? Today, banks have entire departments dedicated to tracking client activity and flagging suspicious behavior. Lots of questions'The fuss JPMorgan compliance officers raised about Epstein in 2011 was extensive. Lots of questions," declared a senior JPMorgan compliance officer reviewing Epstein's accounts as part of that 2011 compliance review, according to court papers filed by the US Virgin Islands. Staley sent Epstein internal JPMorgan documents and relied on him for guidance on an array of business and personal dealings, the JPMorgan internal report shows.

☆ Argentina to make $1.9 bln payment to IMF as scheduled - econ min source
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, June 21 (Reuters) - Argentina will make scheduled payments totaling some $1.9 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday, an economy ministry source said. Argentina has $2.7 billion due to the fund this month alone. The government hopes to bring forward over $10 billion in IMF disbursements this year, though has been reluctant to agree to tough austerity measures as the next general elections scheduled for October approach. Economy Minister Sergio Massa is set to travel to Washington once an agreement to ease economic targets is drafted with IMF officials. Reporting by Jorge Otaola and Walter Bianchi; Editing by Conor HumphriesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Jorge Otaola, Walter Bianchi, Conor Humphries Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Washington

BUENOS AIRES/NEW YORK, June 18 (Reuters) - Argentina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have a $44 billion dilemma, with the two sides set to meet for crunch talks to revamp the country's huge, wobbling debt deal, key to avoiding default on billions in looming debt payments. Economy Minister Sergio Massa is expected in Washington as early as this week to try to unlock talks to accelerate IMF disbursements and ease economic targets attached to the deal, with investors and traders watching closely. "The fund knows that Argentina is a problem, it is its main debtor, but it seems to me that the negotiation has stagnated. Reuters Graphics'DAMAGE CONTROL'The government is hoping to bring forward over $10 billion in IMF disbursements scheduled for this year, though is reluctant to agree to tough austerity measures with an eye on October general elections where it faces likely defeat. "Investors are paying real attention to signs from the IMF negotiations," said economist Gustavo Ber.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Ricardo Delgado, Massa, Hugo Godoy, Gustavo Ber, Walter Bianchi, Rodrigo Campos, Adam Jourdan, Daniel Wallis Organizations: BUENOS AIRES, International Monetary Fund, Economy, IMF, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, Institute of International Finance, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: BUENOS, Argentina, Washington, Argentine, Buenos Aires, China

☆ A China-based bank that's trying to de-dollarize global lending is now having trouble repaying its dollar debts, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The New Development Bank is having trouble finding dollar funds to repay debts, the Wall Street Journal said. But its own finances were deeply reliant on Wall Street, which backed away after the Ukraine war. Based in Shanghai, the New Development Bank has largely ceased issuing new loans, the report said. But to provide capital to developing economies, the New Development Bank had to borrow from Wall Street as well as Chinese lenders. The New Development Bank did not respond immediately to Insider's request for comment.

Persons: —, Dilma Rousseff Organizations: New Development Bank, Wall Street Journal, Service, Wall Street, International Monetary Fund Locations: Ukraine, Shanghai, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Moscow, Russian, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Honduras, Beijing

June 15 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s recently presented budget, a blow for the cash-strapped country which has only two weeks left until its bailout programme expires. However, the draft FY24 Budget misses an opportunity to broaden the tax base in a more progressive way," Esther Perez Ruiz, the IMF's resident representative for Pakistan, said in a text message to Reuters. "The new tax amnesty runs against program’s conditionality and governance agenda and creates a damaging precedent," added Perez Ruiz. She said that measures to address the energy sector’s liquidity pressures could be included alongside the broader budget strategy. Added Perez Ruiz: "The IMF team stands ready to work with the government in refining this Budget ahead of its passage," implying the country still has a chance to unlock its ninth IMF board review prior to the end of the EFF programme.

Persons: Pakistan’s, Esther Perez Ruiz, program’s, Perez Ruiz, Bharat Govind Gautam, Jonathan Oatis, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF, Fund, FX, Staff, Reuters, EFF, Thomson Locations: Pakistan, Bengaluru, Shahid, Karachi

☆ Egypt's core inflation rises to 40.3% in May
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, June 11 (Reuters) - Egypt's annual core inflation rose to 40.3% in May from 38.6% in April, data from the central bank showed on Sunday. Month on month, it increased to 2.9% in May from 1.7% in April, the data showed. In its December accord with the IMF, Egypt also promised to sell state assets worth billions of dollars over the next four years. It has made no major sales since the signing, though the central bank has raised its overnight interest rates by 500 basis points. Month on month, urban inflation increased to 2.7% from 1.7% in April.

Persons: CAPMAS, Nayera Abdallah, Muhammad Al Gebaly, David Holmes, Ros Russell Organizations: IMF, Egypt, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Ukraine

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