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☆ Crypto stocks dip after bitcoin slumps to six-week low
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Shares of cryptocurrency and blockchain related companies fell in premarket trading on Tuesday, as bitcoin hit a six-week low following a hack at Curve Finance, a platform where users can borrow and trade in crypto. Bitcoin, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, fell about 2% to $28,870. Curve Finance was the victim of a hack, the company posted on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday. Crypto miners including Riot Platforms (RIOT.O), Marathon Digital (MARA.O) and U.S.-listed shares of Canada's Hut 8 Mining declined between 3% and 3.35%. The crypto industry is at a crucial juncture, with two of the biggest industry players - Binance and Coinbase - under fire from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Persons: Pritam Biswas, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Finance, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S . Federal, Thomson Locations: Canada's, Bengaluru

☆ Enphase Energy slumps as lukewarm US demand weighs on revenue forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 28 (Reuters) - Shares of Enphase Energy (ENPH.O) slumped nearly 11% on Friday, after the solar inverter maker's third-quarter revenue target fell well short of analyst estimates due to weak demand. The Fremont, California-based company forecast revenue between $550 million and $600 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30, compared with analysts' estimate of $746.5 million. Therefore, we are taking aggressive and prudent actions in the U.S. to manage down the channel inventory," said Enphase Energy CEO Badrinarayanan Kothandaraman. Enphase also announced a new $1 billion share buyback plan, which failed to stem the share selloff. Reporting by Medha Singh and Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Badrinarayanan Kothandaraman, Wells Fargo, Enphase, Medha Singh, Mrinalika Roy, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Enphase Energy, SolarEdge Technologies, Thomson Locations: United States, Texas, Arizona, Fremont , California, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Lazard quarterly profit slumps as Wall Street's dealmaking drought persists
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 27 (Reuters) - Lazard (LAZ.N) reported a second-quarter profit on Thursday that fell 76% as the boutique investment bank's advisory business reeled from a prolonged slump in dealmaking activity. Dealmaking has been on ice during the past 12 months amid heavy capital markets volatility and the U.S. Federal Reserve's tightening of monetary policy. Global mergers and acquisitions activity fell 36% year-on-year in the second quarter as high interest rates and a stand-off over the U.S. debt ceiling kept dealmakers on edge. The slump in dealmaking has affected some of Wall Street's largest investment banks, with some of them announcing job cuts and other cost-cutting measures. Revenue at Lazard's financial advisory segment fell 15% to $344 million in the second quarter, while its asset management arm saw a 1% rise in revenue.

Persons: Dealmaking, Lazard, Manya Saini, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: Lazard, U.S, Thomson Locations: U.S . Federal, dealmaking, Wall, Bengaluru

☆ Toyota's China venture dismisses some factory workers as sales fall - workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The joint venture between Toyota and China's state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) (601238.SS) laid off the workers over the weekend and offered them compensation, said the workers, who declined to be named for privacy. The workers affected were hired by labor service companies and dispatched to work at the factory of GAC Toyota in the southern city of Guangzhou. The GAC Toyota factory has an annual output capacity of 1 million vehicles and employs around 19,000 people, according to its website. Toyota has been counting on its electric vehicle (EV) models to revive sales in China, which fell 9% in the first six months. The company joined a price war started by Tesla in January and slashed the starting price for its bZ4X EV by 15% in February.

Persons: Levin, bZ4X, Toyota's, Tesla, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Mark Potter Organizations: Toyota Motor Corp, Reuters, Toyota, Guangzhou Automobile Group, GAC Toyota, GAC, Mitsubishi, China Association of Automobile Association, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Guangzhou

☆ Toyota's China joint venture dismisses about 1000 workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI/TOKYO, July 24 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor's (7203.T) joint venture (JV) in China said on Monday that it has terminated early the contracts of about 1,000 dispatch workers, in a sign of pressure on automakers from a price war in the world's largest auto market. Toyota's JV in China, Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co, said in a statement to Reuters that it had prematurely terminated contracts for about 1,000 workers with labour services companies in light of recent production levels. The GAC Toyota factory has an annual output capacity of 1 million vehicles and employs around 19,000 people, according to its website. The production of Mitsubishi's new Outlander model remained suspended, Kato added, describing the conditions faced by the company in China as "severe". The company joined a price war started by Tesla in January and slashed the starting price for its bZ4X EV by 15% in February.

Persons: Levin, bZ4X, Toyota's, Takao Kato, Kato, Tesla, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Daniel Leussink, Mark Potter, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Toyota, JV, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Reuters, Toyota's JV, Guangzhou Toyota Motor, GAC Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, GAC, China Association of Automobile Association, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, TOKYO, China, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tokyo

☆ World's biggest permafrost crater in Russia’s Far East thaws as planet warms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BATAGAI, Russia, July 21 (Reuters) - Stunning drone footage has revealed details of the Batagaika crater, a one kilometre long gash in Russia's Far East that forms the world's biggest permafrost crater. "We locals call it 'the cave-in,'" local resident and crater explorer Erel Struchkov told Reuters as he stood on the crater's rim. The "gateway to the underworld," as some locals in Russia's Sakha Republic also call it, has a scientific name: a mega-slump. "In future, with increasing temperatures and with higher anthropogenic pressure, we will see more and more of those mega-slumps forming, until all the permafrost is gone," Tananayev told Reuters. "With an increasing air temperature we can expect (the crater) will be expanding at a higher rate," he said.

Persons: Erel Struchkov, Nikita Tananayev, Tananayev, Struchkov, aren't, Lucy Papachristou, Andrew Osborn, David Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: BATAGAI, Russia, Russia's Sakha Republic, Yakutsk, Sakha

☆ Vir Biotech slumps to over 3-year low as flu prevention therapy fails trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 20 (Reuters) - Vir Biotechnology's (VIR.O) shares plunged 45% to a more than three-year low on Thursday after the company's experimental antibody therapy to prevent a type of flu failed to meet its goals in a mid-stage trial. The biotechnology firm, which came into prominence through its COVID-19 antibody therapy sotrovimab developed in partnership with GSK plc (GSK.L), lost over $1 billion in market capitalization in early trade hit by the therapy's failure. The company said it will conduct further analyses on the trial data to "better understand these outcomes", but TD Cowen analyst Phil Nadeau does not expect the therapy to undergo further development. The company is developing antibody therapies against hepatitis B and D, for which data is expected later this year, and also has development programs for COVID-19, HIV and influenza. Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vir Biotechnology's, sotrovimab, Cowen, Phil Nadeau, Nadeau, Leroy Leo, Shailesh Organizations: GSK plc, COVID, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Japan companies less confident about business conditions - Reuters Tankan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last month saw Asian factory activity drop, hurt by sluggish demand from China in particular. The service-sector index fared much better, with the non-manufacturers index slipping just one point to +23, though it was a second straight month of decline. Retailers and real estate firms logged big jumps in confidence but sentiment at information and communications companies - while still robust - dropped somewhat. The Reuters poll, conducted July 5-14, found corporate confidence was expected to rebound over the coming three months, with manufacturers' sentiment seen at +7 and service sector sentiment seen at +25. The Reuters Tankan indexes, which can serve as leading indicators for the Bank of Japan tankan surveys, are calculated by subtracting the percentage of pessimistic respondents from optimistic ones.

Persons: Tetsushi Kajimoto, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Jan Service, Reuters, Industries, Bank of, pessimists, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, China, Ukraine, Bank of Japan

☆ Uxbridge by-election: In Boris Johnson's back yard, Britons are desperate for a change
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

A mid-term by-election to replace Johnson is taking place on Thursday, alongside two other by-elections to replace MPs elsewhere in the country. Boris Johnson is seen on a walkabout in Uxbridge in 2020, during his time as prime minister. Inside, the owner told CNN: "They're all the same ... Johnson’s company ran the first major opinion poll ahead of the Uxbridge by-election, which found a solid but assailable eight-point lead for Labour. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (far right) and Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves (right) on a campaign visit with Danny Beales, the local Labour candidate (back center).

Persons: Mike Okoli, ”, Okoli, Boris Johnson –, Johnson, “, ” Okoli, Rob Picheta, CNN Johnson, Manoj Supeda, I’ve, hasn’t, ‘, ’ He’s, Supeda, Johnson’s, ” Supeda, “ It’s, ” Manoj Supeda, Tony Blair, Labour's, Brexit, CNN Okoli, he’s, “ I’ve, Sonia Caetano, Boris Johnson, Stefan Rousseau, there’s, ” Caetano, Danny Beales, We've, Caetano, Keir Starmer, Steve Reed, Piers Corbyn, Jeremy Corbyn, Steve Tuckwell, ” Tuckwell, Reed, ” Reed, They’re, Mick, Starmer, “ We’re, we’re, ” James Johnson, Theresa May’s, Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, ” Tracy Peabody Organizations: United Kingdom CNN, European Union, CNN, Labour Party –, Tories, Labour, Conservatives, Britain, Uxbridge, Beales, London’s Labour, Conservative, Hillingdon Hospital, CNN ‘ Labour, “, Press Association Locations: Uxbridge, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Caribbean, London, South Ruislip, Britain, “, Okoli, Portuguese, Yiewsley, Portugal, Covid, Ukraine, Hillingdon, Ruislip Manor

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) ended 0.6% higher, extending gains to the fifth straight day, its longest winning streak in nearly three months. Rate-sensitive technology stocks (.SX8P) were the top gainers on STOXX 600, jumping 1.7%, with IT provider Softcat (SCTS.L) advancing 5.3% after Citi raised it to "buy". Also supporting STOXX 600 were miners (.SXPP) rising 1.7%, as commodity prices won support from a weaker dollar. [MET/l]A faster-than-expected slowdown in U.S. inflation reinforced bets that the Fed could end its rate hikes soon after July. Shares of Swatch (UHR.S) rose 6.9% after the watchmaker reported record growth in the first half of the year.

Persons: Barratt, Pierre Veyret, Chris Zaccarelli, Matteo Allievi, Shreyashi Sanyal, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Janane Venkatraman, William Maclean Organizations: Federal, Citi, ActivTrades, Independent, Alliance, Swatch, Thomson Locations: Tech, U.S, Gdansk, Amruta, Bangalore

☆ Oil markets set to tighten, economic headwinds to hit growth, IEA says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Noah Browning | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File PhotoLONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - Oil demand is set to hit a record high this year and the market is tightening but economic headwinds and interest rate hikes have deflated growth expectations slightly, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday. Still, the Paris-based energy watchdog sees demand growth next year rising by more than anticipated despite the rise being less than half that of this year. The oil market is tightening, the IEA projected, with demand set to outstrip supply for the rest of 2023. China is due to make up more than two-thirds of this year's demand growth as its post-pandemic economic rebound is set to gain pace, especially later in the year, the IEA said. Oil demand growth is set to halve next year to 1.1 million bpd, the IEA said, reflecting vehicle electrification and energy efficiency, though it raised its view from a 860,000 bpd rise it forecast last month.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, halve, Noah Browning, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, International Energy Agency, IEA, OECD, Thomson Locations: Vaca, Patagonian, Neuquen, Argentina, Paris, China, Europe

☆ Dollar slumps ahead of US inflation data, sterling rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The (RBNZ) statement and minutes retained their dovish undertone overall, but they can't not warn that inflation is still 'too high' as they need to contain inflation expectations," said Matt Simpson, senior market analyst at City Index. The broader market focus remained on U.S. inflation data due later on Wednesday, with expectations for core consumer prices to have risen 5% on an annual basis in June. "We're already seeing markets move in anticipation of a softer U.S. inflation report," said City Index's Simpson. U.S. Treasury yields came under pressure on Wednesday, with the two-year yield and benchmark 10-year yield settling below 5% and 4%, respectively. "Speculation of a possible tweak could allow the (yen) some support ahead of the BOJ meeting this month."

Persons: BoE, Matt Simpson, we've, Index's Simpson, Sterling, YCC, Jane Foley, Rae Wee, Jamie Freed, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Bank of England, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, U.S ., Fed, BoE . U.S, Treasury, Bank of Japan, Rabobank, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, U.S, Asia, BoE .

☆ Deal Activity Slumps as Pricing Proves to Be a Sticking Point
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ UK FTSE 100 at three-month low as rate hike worries grip; Currys slumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 1.2%, hitting its lowest level since March 24. Currys (CURY.L) tumbled 13.3% to its lowest level in more than 20 years after the electricals retailer reported a 38% slump in full-year profit. The commodity-heavy UK benchmark has been underperforming its peers this year amid volatility in resource prices over an uncertain global outlook. Among individual stocks, United Utilities (UU.L) climbed 1.8% after Morgan Stanley raised the water utility firm's rating to "overweight" from "equal-weight." Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: tanked, Chris Beauchamp, Beauchamp, Morgan Stanley, Shashwat Chauhan, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: United Utilities, P, FTSE, U.S, U.S . Federal, IG Group, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Prudential, CAB, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, U.S ., Bengaluru

☆ China's Xpeng sees sales turnaround in second half with new EV model
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Xpeng has received a "significant" amount of orders for its newly launched G6 pure electric crossover, president Brain Gu told reporters on Wednesday. Xpeng, which saw first-half sales drop by 40%, will start the delivery of its G6 compact crossover this month with a starting price 20% lower than Tesla's best-selling model of Model Y. With G6, Xpeng also introduced its most advanced autonomous driving capabilities into the category of EVs priced at 250,000 yuan ($34,500.37) or below, Gu said. Shares of Xpeng in Hong Kong had gained more than 20% after it announced prices for the G6 last Thursday. ($1 = 7.2463 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Writing by Meg Shen; Editing by Toby Chopra and Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xpeng, Brain Gu, BYD, Gu, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Meg Shen, Toby Chopra, Devika Organizations: Tesla, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HK, Shanghai, China, Hong Kong

In Asia, while factory activity expanded marginally in China, it contracted in Japan and South Korea as Asia's economic recovery struggled to maintain momentum. REUTERS/Siyi LiuChina's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI eased to 50.5 in June from 50.9 in May, the private survey showed. The figure, combined with Friday's official survey that showed factory activity extending declines, adds to evidence the world's No. South Korea's PMI fell to 47.8 in June, extending its downturn to a record 12th consecutive month on weak demand in Asia and Europe. Factory activity also contracted in Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia, the PMI surveys showed.

Persons: Rory Fennessy, lockdowns, Toru Nishihama, Siyi Liu China's, Jonathan Cable, Sam Holmes, David Evans Organizations: PMI, European Central Bank, Oxford Economics, P, Dai, Research, REUTERS, P Global, Reuters, Jibun, of, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Japan, South Korea, China, TOKYO, Europe, Britain, Asia, United States, European, U.S, Dezhou, Shandong province, South, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, of Japan's

☆ Asia's factory output slumps as weak China demand weighs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While manufacturing activity expanded marginally in China, it contracted in powerhouses Japan and South Korea as Asia's fragile economic recovery struggled to maintain momentum. New orders from overseas customers decreased in June at the fastest rate in four months reflecting feeble demand from China, the Japan PMI survey showed. Factory activity also contracted in Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia, the PMI surveys showed. Asia's economy is heavily reliant on the strength of China's economy, which saw growth rebound in the first quarter but subsequently fell short of expectations. The fate of Asia's economy, including China's, will have a huge impact on the global economy with aggressive monetary tightening to curb inflation likely to weigh on U.S. and European growth.

Persons: Liu, lockdowns, Toru Nishihama, Leika Kihara, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, PMI, Dai, Research, P Global, Reuters, Jibun, Japan PMI, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Dezhou, Shandong province, China, Japan, South Korea, TOKYO, Asia, U.S, Europe, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia

However, there is uncertainty about how long households can weather price hikes and generate inflation driven more by demand, which holds the key to whether BOJ's 2% target can be achieved in a sustainable manner, analysts say. The Tokyo core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile fresh food but includes fuel costs, rose 3.2% in June from a year earlier, accelerating from a 3.1% gain in May. While companies offered wage hikes unseen in three decades this year, inflation-adjusted real pay continues to fall in a sign of pain consumers are feeling from the wave of price hikes. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly said the BOJ will maintain ultra-loose policy until stronger wage growth keeps inflation sustainably around its 2% target. "The BOJ may revise up its inflation forecast but probably keep policy steady in July," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute.

Persons: Yoshiki Shinke, Teikoku Databank, Kazuo Ueda, Ryozo Himino, Takeshi Minami, Takahiko Wada, Leika, Satoshi Sugiyama, Kantaro, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of Japan, Dai, Research, Reuters, BOJ, Norinchukin Research, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, TOKYO

☆ Argentina economic activity slumps 4.2% in April as drought hit farming
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Hernan Nessi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

3 for corn and an important wheat supplier, but the most recent harvest was pummeled by one of the country's worst droughts in history. Government data showed that agriculture and fishing had the worst results for the month, with the former the main driver of the overall activity decline. The 'EMAE' activity index is a useful early indicator of likely economic growth. "These two sectors contributed four percentage points to the year-on-year drop in the EMAE," INDEC said. Argentina is battling inflation of over 100% and a weak peso currency, with around four-in-10 people living in poverty.

Persons: INDEC, Hernan Nessi, Carolina Pulice, Aida Pelaez, Fernandez Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

☆ Startup studio Fractal created 130 companies in 3 years. Founders say the deal structure has led VCs to 'blacklist' them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Melia Russell | Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

www.fractalsoftware.comOf the dozens of Fractal startups that have raised a seed round of funding, about half had Bienville Capital lead the deal, according to people familiar with the matter. Others say they knew what they were getting into with a venture studio, where a large ownership position is standard. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesThe biggest draw for some Fractal founders was its plug-and-play approach. The founder of one Fractal startup remembered a time when his company was struggling to grow its customer base. That firm is raising a new $325 million fund to provide additional funding to Fractal companies exclusively, according to a person familiar with the effort.

Persons: Fractal's, he'd, they'd, Andreessen Horowitz, Mike Furlong, Nate Baker, Bienville, —, Brendan Smialowski, Founders, Angela Lee, Furlong, Baker, Ezra Shaw, who'd, who's, It's, Lee, She's, 8VC, Bain, Jeff Greenberg, Omri Bloch, who've, didn't, Stephanie Palazzolo, Melia Russell Organizations: Flatiron Health, Bienville, Insight Partners, Bienville Capital, Getty, Columbia Business School, Alpha, Midwest, Science, Olympic Club, Tiger Global, Craft Ventures, Founders, Vertical Venture Partners, Zag, Crew Capital, Bain Capital, Universal, Foundation, Fifth Locations: Bienville Capital, New York, Bienville, Indio, AFP, Santa Monica , California, Miami, San Francisco, GreenSpark, Columbia, Barti, Aktos, Bessemer, 8VC

☆ S.Africa tech investor Naspers' profit slumps on lower Tencent contribution
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, June 27 (Reuters) - Technology investor Naspers (NPNJn.J) on Tuesday reported a 78% slump in annual profit, led by a drop in the contribution from China's Tencent (0700.HK) which accounts for the bulk of earnings and revenue for the South African investor. Its headline earnings per share, a profit measure, from continuing operations dropped to 119 U.S. cents for the year ended March 31, from 547 cents posted a year ago. Naspers, which has its global investments housed in Amsterdam-listed Prosus (PRX.AS), , draws over two-thirds of its revenue from Tencent. It posted revenue of $6.8 billion and its losses from ecommerce businesses including classifieds, fintech and food delivery came to $639 million. Reporting by Promit Mukherjee; editing by Edmund Klamann and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Naspers, China's Tencent, Promit Mukherjee, Edmund Klamann, Jason Neely Organizations: Technology, HK, South, Thomson Locations: JOHANNESBURG, Amsterdam, Tencent

☆ Volkswagen China chief asks China's premier Li for clarity on data transfers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, June 27 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) head of its business in China said on Tuesday that the carmaker needed clarity on cross-border data transfers in a meeting with the country's Premier Li Qiang, asking how China would cooperate with Europe amid rising political tensions. "As a globalized industry, the transformation of the automotive sector highly depends on international exchange of personnel, data and knowledge. We therefore need more clarity on cross-border data transfers," executive Ralf Brandstaetter said, according to a copy of the speech held at a World Economic Forum meeting in Tianjin. "What are the major considerations of China, and how China will cooperate with Europe in this regard?" SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co joined in the price war in March, offering 3.7 billion yuan ($512.52 million) in cash subsidies for car purchases in China.

Persons: Li Qiang, Ralf Brandstaetter, Brandstaetter, Victoria Waldersee, Matthias Williams Organizations: Volkswagen, Qualcomm, Horizon Robotics, Tesla, SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, China, Europe, Tianjin, North America, Italian, Hefei

☆ India's Shree Cement slumps after report of $2.81 bln tax evasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, June 26 (Reuters) - India's Shree Cement (SHCM.NS) fell on Monday, after NDTV reported on Saturday that tax evasion amounting to 230 billion rupees ($2.81 billion) was found in searches at multiple company locations. Deductions claimed by Shree Cement are false and the company siphoned 12 billion rupees to 14 billion rupees every year, the report added, citing sources, but without specifying the timeline. Shree Cement and the IT department did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comments. The company's standalone tax expenses fell over 58% YoY to 2.31 billion rupees in the financial year ended March 31, while profit fell 44% to 13.28 billion rupees on a surge in other costs. Shree Cement said on Saturday that the survey was still ongoing, and that its management team is extending full co-operation to officials.

Persons: Shree Cement, Varun Vyas, Varun Organizations: NDTV, Shree Cement, Reuters, Shree, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Rajasthan, Bengaluru

The STOXX 600 (.STOXX) index closed 0.3% lower after data showed euro zone business growth stalled this month as the downturn in manufacturing deepened. "A hike was fully expected, but the magnitude of the rise surprised most," said RBC Brewin Dolphin’s head of asset allocation, Paul Danis. Germany's DAX index (.GDAXI) shed 1.0%, leading losses among regional peers as shares of Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE) sank 37.3%. DATA DIGESTWhile euro zone business growth stalled in June, a separate reading showed German business activity slowed notably this month. French business activity contracted this month for the first time in five months, data showed.

Persons: Germany's DAX, Paul Danis, DAX, Clemente De Lucia, Shreyashi Sanyal, Bansari, Eileen Soreng, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Siemens Energy, GSK, Bank of England, Norges Bank, Swiss National Bank, Investors, RBC, Bank, Siemens, Deutsche Bank Research, Thomson Locations: U.S, Stockholm, Helsinki, Bengaluru

☆ Sarepta slumps as concerns emerge around upcoming gene therapy data
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 23 (Reuters) - Sarepta Therapeutics shares (SRPT.O) slumped 11% on Friday as some analysts voiced concerns that upcoming confirmatory trial data for its gene therapy to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) may not be enough to secure approval for expanded use. The U.S. health regulator had on Thursday granted Sarepta's Elevidys therapy accelerated approval to treat DMD patients aged between 4 and 5 years who can walk, contrary to the company's application for all patients who can walk. Sarepta's gene therapy is the first of its kind for DMD, an inherited progressive muscle-wasting disorder that almost always affects young boys. Elevidys, a one-time treatment, is expected to change the way that DMD patients are treated as current therapies require regular use. William Blair's Tim Lugo called the treatment "transformational for Duchenne's patients" and "a significant opportunity for Sarepta".

Persons: Sarepta's, Gavin Clark, Gartner, William Blair's Tim Lugo, Leroy Leo, Khushi, Devika Organizations: Sarepta Therapeutics, Food and Drug, BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, Thomson Locations: U.S, Bengaluru

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