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

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

☆ A millennial business owner who credits TikTok with $700,000 in sales in 2022 is afraid he'll lose it all if the US bans the app: 'Our representatives have no problem throwing all of our lives away'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Joshua Lucas, 29, credits TikTok for his online gem business' over $700,000 in sales in 2022. "I'm serious you guys, I'm kind of scared to lose y'all, to lose the community," he said. The Oregon native estimates that over 90% of his customers find the business on TikTok because he hasn't spent a "single cent" on marketing elsewhere. Before going forward with a ban, Lucas say he hopes members of Congress realize how important TikTok is to so many people. Are you a business owner worried about a TikTok ban and willing to share your story?

☆ ValueAct questions Seven & i strategy, pushes 7-Eleven spin-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A representative for the company was not immediately available for comment and ValueAct declined further comment beyond the letter. Last month Seven & i signaled a "continuation of its status quo conglomerate structure," which confused and disappointed markets, the letter said. Now ValueAct wants answers to nine key questions when the company reports earnings this week. Does the board understand how frustrating the conglomerate structure is to shareholders and has it evaluated the conglomerate discount, the investment firm asked. The spin-off could be completed through a listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in roughly a year, ValueAct said earlier.

☆ Where to watch F1 live stream for free: see the Australian GP from anywhere
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Brendan Griffiths | Senior Commerce Director | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

So good thing you won't be having to fumble through the internet trying to find out where to watch the Australian F1 live stream for free this Sunday. Get a free Australian F1 live streamThere are a range of solid methods to watch this weekend's race for free if you use a VPN. How to watch the Australian F1 live stream with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't have one. How to watch an F1 live stream in the USESPN carries coverage of Formula 1 racing throughout the season, and there's plenty of it left to enjoy too. Deal Sling TV Subscription Sling is one of the most affordable live TV streaming services you can sign up for.

☆ Shares and bonds ride high after soothing euro zone data
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Government bonds have gained as much as 5%, gold is 8% higher, while oil is down and the dollar has barely budged. The euro zone inflation numbers showed consumer prices rising 6.9% in March after an 8.5% increase in February, representing the sharpest deceleration since Eurostat started collecting data in 1991. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) also jumped 1% on Friday，as inflation data for the capital Tokyo highlighted broadening price pressures. The euro , which hit a one-week high against the dollar overnight on sticky German inflation data, dipped back under $1.09 again after the euro zone data but was still set for a 3% monthly rise. U.S. crude futures were flat at $74.40 per barrel, while Brent crude futures slipped 0.1% to $78.52 per barrel.

☆ Asian shares ride high in Q1 but keep vigil on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The buoyant mood is likely to run into resistance in Europe, with caution setting in ahead of the euro zone inflation data. The pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures was flat, while S&P 500 futures eked out a gain of 0.2%. It is on course for a quarterly gain of 3.6%, after surging 12% in the three months that ended in December. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) also leaped 1%，as inflation data for the capital Tokyo highlighted broadening price pressures. That compared with an overwhelming bet on a 25 basis point hike a month ago before the banking volatility started.

☆ Morning Bid: Q1 was hard to get a handle on, and a choppy Q2 beckons
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pulling in one direction is a bank collapse that set interest rate expectations diving. After a month of wild swings for bonds and interest rate futures, rate expectations are settling around a peak in the Fed funds rate near 5% and then steady downhill from there. Euro zone inflation data later in the day can reinforce that, if it echoes stronger-than-expected German figures published on Thursday. Nerves on banks and lower U.S. Treasury yields have delivered investors into the arms of profitable, big cap technology companies. Q1 world marketsKey developments that could influence markets on Friday:Economics: Euro zone inflation, U.S. core PCEReporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

In a filing on Thurday, JD.com said it would continue to hold a stake of more than 50% in the units, JD Industrials and JD Property, upon completion of the proposed spin-off. JD.com said the size and structure of its units' initial public offerings had not yet been finalised. Two sources with knowledge of the floats said the two JD units are seeking to raise $1 billion each in the IPO. In their listing prospectuses filed later on Thursday, JD Industrials and JD Property disclosed annual revenues of 14.1 billion yuan ($2.05 billion) and 2.3 billion yuan, respectively. UBS and Citic Securities are the financial advisers for JD Industrials, while UBS is the financial adviser for JD Property.

☆ JD.com plans to spin off units, following Alibaba's lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | 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 EmailJD.com plans to spin off units, following Alibaba's leadCNBC's Deidre Bosa joins 'Power Lunch' to report on JD Power's plan to split off its units.

☆ Newsletters are helping these companies save money and bring a personal touch into their marketing strategies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Small-business owners say email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach an audience. These growing companies share how they saved money and were able to make more personal connections through email marketing. According to eMarketer, 67% of marketing professionals are investing in email marketing, and 48% of millennial consumers prefer to receive deals from brands via email. It gives businesses a direct pipeline to their audienceCollecting customer information is one of the most valuable aspects of email marketing, McNair said. "If you're not doing email marketing, you're leaving really important money on the table."

☆ JD.com plans to spin off industrial, property units
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | 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 EmailJD.com plans to spin off industrial, property unitsJD.com's shares are rising on Friday after the company announced the spin-off of two of its units. CNBC's Deirdre Bosa has the details.

☆ Verstappen fastest in first practice at Australian Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, March 31 (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Max Verstappen topped the timesheets for Red Bull before taking a late spin at Albert Park in an eventful first free practice at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday. The Dutchman lapped the lakeside circuit in one minute, 18.790 seconds, nearly half a second quicker than second fastest Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, as two red flags disrupted the session. A second red flag cut the session short by a few minutes as Williams rookie Logan Sargeant came to a halt on track-side grass with an apparent power failure. Verstappen finished his session with a bit of drama, taking a big spin at turn four to ruin his tyres. But he squeezed in a fast lap between the red flags to sandwich himself between Verstappen and Perez's times.

☆ Fact Check-Statement by Stormy Daniels denying relations with Donald Trump dates to 2018
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A 2018 letter by adult film star Stormy Daniels denying sexual relations with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump is circulating online by users who believe it to be new in March 2023. Daniels confirmed that the letter dates to 2018 and has also said over the years she was coerced into writing the letter. One post (here) reads, “Trump just dropped a bombshell letter from Stormy Daniels debunking the case! One post reads, “Trump just shared a bombshell letter from Stormy Daniels debunking DA Bragg’s case! The letter in which adult film star Stormy Daniels denied having an affair with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump was published in January 2018.

☆ JD.com’s Property and Industrial Units Seek About $1 Billion Each in Hong Kong IPOs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Dave Sebastian | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Workers sort packages for delivery at a JD.com warehouse in Beijing. JD.com Inc.’s property and industrials units are targeting to raise about $1 billion each in Hong Kong initial public offerings, people familiar with the matter said, adding to the supply of potentially sizable deals that could hit the market this year. The Chinese e-commerce giant said on Thursday that it is planning to spin off Jingdong Property Inc. and Jingdong Industrials Inc. by listing both companies in the city.

☆ Senate Democrats led by Elizabeth Warren press federal bank regulators to implement stronger capital requirements
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are pressing federal banking regulators to toughen bank capital requirements following back-to-back congressional hearings where officials testified about the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. "We write to urge you follow through with establishing strong capital requirements that protect consumers and taxpayers, and preserve the safety and soundness of our banking system," Warren, along with Sens. Under the "stress capital buffer" implemented at the time, the capital requirements for banking firms is determined annually according to supervisory stress tests. The lawmakers urged regulators to enforce strong capital requirements to fend off aggressive lobbying from Wall Street and safeguard against more bank failures. "In order to prevent future bank crises and protect working Americans, I urge your agencies to quickly implement strong capital requirements and resist industry pressure to weaken or delay these requirements."

VIENNA, March 30 (Reuters) - Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) (RBIV.VI) took aim on Thursday at "morally arrogant" critics of its dealings in Russia, although said it was considering spinning off its business there anyway amid mounting pressure. Chairman Erwin Hameseder accused critics of "black and white moral thinking" from a "risk free zone of comfort", and said most Western businesses had not left Russia. However, CEO Johann Strobl told the meeting the bank would pursue a possible sale or spin-off of its Russian business. Earlier this month, people familiar with the matter told Reuters the European Central Bank was pressing RBI to unwind its highly profitable business in Russia. The pressure comes after a top U.S. sanctions official raised concerns about RBI's business in Russia on a visit to Vienna last month, another person said.

☆ Alibaba hands parched dealmakers a glass half-full
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Then New York- and Hong Kong-listed Alibaba (9988.HK) revealed it was creating six independently run businesses. That will keep dealmaking teams busy for months if, as CEO Daniel Zhang envisions, multiple listed companies emerge from the $250 billion parent. And if a breakup is good for Alibaba, they can dust off pitchbooks for its domestic rivals. Follow @AntonyMCurrie on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSAlibaba CEO Daniel Zhang said on March 29 that he hopes multiple listed companies will emerge from the group. “I hope there will be multiple listed companies emerging from the Alibaba system, and that they will continue to nurture their own sons and daughters, and cultivate more listed companies”, Zhang said, according to the South China Morning Post.

☆ China's JD.com to spin off industrial, property units in Hong Kong float
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, March 30 (Reuters) - Chinese e-commerce firm JD.com Inc (9618.HK) said on Thursday it planned to spin off its property and industrial units and list them on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Upon completion of the proposed spin off of JD Industrials and JD Property, JD.com said it would continue to indirectly hold more than 50% of the shares in both the units, which will remain as subsidiaries of the company. The size and structure of JD.com units' initial public offerings have not yet been finalised. The e-commerce firm, which missed fourth-quarter revenue forecasts, said earlier this month that rebuilding consumer confidence would take time after the lifting of strict pandemic-related curbs late last year. Reporting by Twinnie Siu in Hong Kong and Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Putin: Sanctions could hurt Russia's economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —President Vladimir Putin has conceded that Western sanctions designed to starve the Kremlin of funds for its invasion of Ukraine could deal a blow to Russia’s economy. “The illegitimate restrictions imposed on the Russian economy may indeed have a negative impact on it in the medium term,” Putin said in televised remarks Wednesday reported by state news agency TASS. It is a rare admission by the Russian leader, who has repeatedly insisted that Russia’s economy remains resilient and that sanctions have hurt Western countries by driving up inflation and energy prices. Putin said Russia’s economy had been growing since July, thanks in part to stronger ties with “countries of the East and South,” likely referring to China and some African countries. Russia’s economy has showed surprising resilience to unprecedented sanctions imposed by the West, including an EU ban on most imports of oil products.

March 31 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. Q1 world marketsAnother solid performance on Wall Street on Thursday should set the tone for Asian stocks on Friday, with tech again leading the way. U.S. financials was the only S&P 500 sector to fall on Thursday, but they are still up 3% this week, the best week since January. Further indications that China is reversing the sweeping regulatory crackdown on its technology sector of recent years is also adding fuel to the rally. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Bank relief and Alibaba plans nudge stocks higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) gained for a third day in a row, rising 0.3%. It is eyeing two consecutive quarters in the green for the first time since the middle of 2021. The yen last traded at 132.75 to the dollar. Two-year yields are down 30 basis points for the quarter, the first quarterly fall since March 2020. Investors are hoping the plans signal authorities' tacit approval for growth and profit ahead.

☆ Macy's CEO Gennette to retire next year, insider Spring to succeed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 29 (Reuters) - Macy's Inc (M.N) on Wednesday said its Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gennette will retire in February, after serving the U.S. department store chain for 40 years and will be succeeded by insider Tony Spring. Spring, who is the chairman and CEO of Macy's unit Bloomingdale's, has been with the company for 36 years. He was named as a successor to Gennette after an internal and external search, Macy's said. Macy's said as part of the leadership transition, Chief Financial Officer Adrian Mitchell's responsibilities have been expanded to include the role of chief operating officer. Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Alibaba's breakup lifts hopes China's regulatory winter is thawing
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The move represented a light at the end of the tunnel for many investors who had seen a wave of regulatory blitzes as a major cloud hanging over China's private sector. Reuters GraphicsAlibaba said on Tuesday it would split into six units - Cloud Intelligence Group, Taobao Tmall Commerce Group, Local Services Group, Cainiao Smart Logistics Group, Global Digital Commerce Group and Digital Media and Entertainment Group. He was spotted on Monday in Hangzhou, home to Alibaba, just one day before the company announced the restructuring. Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK), China's largest gaming company, saw shares rise as much as 5.1%. Alibaba's split may pave the way for other Chinese tech giants to undergo similar restructuring, CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng said.

☆ Alibaba's breakup plan lifts hopes China's tech crackdown is ending
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The group's Hong Kong-listed shares jumped as much as 16.3%, tracking a 14.3% rally in its U.S.-listed shares overnight . Its e-commerce rival JD.com Inc (9618.HK) rose 7% and gaming giant Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK) gained 5%. That compared with a 2.3% jump in benchmark Hang Seng Index (.HSI) and a 3.2% gain for the Hang Seng Tech Index (.HSTECH). Brian Tycango, who tracks China's tech sector at Stansberry Research, says that in addition to enabling higher valuations, the restructuring better protects individual divisions from future government regulation. "Any new regulations will likely not affect the whole company now - just the particular division that that regulation covers," Tycango told Reuters.

☆ The solar system was hit with a gamma-ray burst so bright, it blinded scientists' equipment in space
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Chris Panella | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Our solar system was hit by a gamma-ray burst so bright, it blinded space equipment and telescopes. A gamma-ray burst that recently hit our solar system was so bright, it temporarily blinded gamma-ray instruments in space, according to a NASA release. Scientists say the gamma-ray burst (GRB), the most powerful type of explosion in the universe, was 70 times brighter than any previously recorded event. What is a gamma-ray burst? Because it blinded space instruments, they couldn't accurately record it, so scientists weren't sure how bright the burst was when it first reached our planet.

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