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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition unveiled in July a strategy toward de-risking Germany's economic relationship with China, calling Beijing a "partner, competitor and systemic rival". German investment in Asia excluding China is rising as a share of overall investment. "No company is going to say that it will leave China," said Sandra Ebner, senior economist at Union Investment, Germany's second-largest fund manager. "But what companies are increasingly doing is to produce in China for China and to position themselves around China for the remaining Asian or global market." In July, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck travelled to India with a delegation of executives to discuss opportunities for German companies.

Persons: Thomas Nuernberger, Nuernberger, Olaf Scholz's, Volker Treier, Munk, Ferdinand Munk, Scholz, Angela Merkel's, Martin Brudermueller, Max Zenglein, Juergen Matthes, Markus Horn, Matthias Bianchi, Joe Biden, Wolfgang Niedermark, Jan Roennfeld, Roennfeld, Sandra Ebner, BDI's Niedermark, Robert Habeck, Christoph Steitz, Sarah Marsh, Maria Martinez, Aditya Kalra, Sarita Chaganti Singh, Xinghui, Orathai, Brenda Goh Organizations: Reuters, Commerce and Industry, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, BASF, IW Institute, Big, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Economic Institute, Horn, German Association of, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, Union Investment, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, BERLIN, Berlin, Beijing, China, Taiwan, India, Asia, Germany, Europe, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, South China, European, Thailand, United States, Mexico, Indonesian, Eastern Germany, Malaysia, Frankfurt, New Delhi, Xinghui Kok, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai

[1/3] Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a ceremony at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 17, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Savostyanov/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Putin praises 'dear friend' Xi, thanks for invitePutin heaps praise on BRIPutin says Northern Sea route is open for businessSome European delegates walk out as Putin speaksBEIJING, Oct 18 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and invited global investment in the Northern Sea route which he said could deepen trade between east and west. Putin called Xi his "dear friend" and heaped praise on the Belt and Road Initiative for bringing the world together. "Starting next year, navigation for ice-class cargo ships along the entire length of the Northern Sea Route will become year-round." Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Guy FaulconbridgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergei Savostyanov, Putin, Xi, BRI Putin, Jean, Pierre Raffarin, Sergei Lavrov, Alexander Novak, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Dmitry Peskov, Maxim Oreshkin, Yuri Ushakov, Maxim Reshetnikov, Igor Morgulov, Vladimir Soldatkin, Laurie Chen, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Wednesday, Initiative, Soviet Union, French, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Northern, BEIJING, Ukraine, Russia, Murmansk, Russia's, Norway, Bering, Alaska, Moscow, North Korea

☆ Infineon signs semiconductor supply deal with automakers Hyundai, Kia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Infineon Technologies AG logo is seen during German Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's visit, in Dresden, Germany July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 18 (Reuters) - German chip manufacturer Infineon (IFXGn.DE) said on Wednesday it has signed a multi-year agreement with Hyundai and Kia to supply power semiconductors for the production of electric cars. Infineon will build and reserve manufacturing capacity to supply silicon carbide and silicon power modules and chips to Hyundai and Kia until 2030, with the two carmakers to support the project with financial contributions, Infineon said in a statement. "This partnership not only empowers Hyundai Motor and Kia to stabilise its semiconductor supply but also positions us to solidify our leadership in the global EV (electric vehicle) market," Heung Soo Kim, Hyundai's Executive Vice President, said in a statement. Reporting by Rachel More, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robert Habeck, Annalena Baerbock's, Annegret, Heung Soo Kim, Rachel More, Louise Heavens Organizations: Infineon, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai, Kia, Hyundai Motor, Thomson Locations: Dresden, Germany

☆ Sergio Massa: can Argentine political wheeler-dealer save Peronism?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Nicolás Misculin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Argentina's Economic Minister Sergio Massa and Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad (not pictured) hold a news conference, at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 23, 2023. Massa has his own political structures," a spokesman for the ruling party told Reuters. He studied at a Catholic school in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, joined a conservative political party and then shifted to Peronism. He rose to chief of staff under Fernandez de Kirchner(2007-15), though later left her government under a cloud and set up his own political party. He finished third in the first round of voting when he ran for president in 2015, before he returned to the Peronist coalition as a congressman in 2019.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Fernando Haddad, Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, Massa, Julio Burdman, Agustin Rossi, Patricia Bullrich, Alberto Fernandez, grandee Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Kirchner, Fernandez de Kirchner, Nicolás Misculin, Adam Jourdan, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Argentina's Economic, Brazil's Finance, Casa, REUTERS, Peronist, Observatory, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, U.S, Peronism, Tigre

☆ Who is in Putin's delegation to China - and who stayed in Moscow?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. Sputnik/Dmitry Azarov/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently on a visit to China, his second only trip outside the former Soviet Union since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Who is in the Russian delegation with Putin - and who stayed in Russia? Before Putin left for China, he was shown at a meeting with defence and spy chiefs at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. The following top officials are thought to be in Russia.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Azarov, Alexander Novak, Sergei Lavrov, Yuri Ushakov, Maxim Oreshkin, Dmitry Peskov, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Anton Siluanov, Maxim Reshetnikov, Dmitry Shugaev, Yuri Chikhanchin, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Igor Morgulov, Igor Sechin, Alexei Miller, Alexei Likhachev, Andrei Kostin, Igor Shuvalov, Leonid Mikhelson, Oleg Belozyorov, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Nikolai Patrushev, Alexander Bortnikov, Dmitry Medvedev, Anton Vaino, Sergei Kiriyenko, Mikhail Mishustin, Viktor Zolotov, Sergei Naryshkin, Guy Faulconbridge, Muralikumar Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Soviet Union, Putin, Kremlin, Central Bank Governor, Federal Service for Military, Gazprom, VEB, Russian, Russian Direct Investment, Russia Security, Federal Security Service, Russia's Foreign Intelligence, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Ukraine, Russia, CHINA, North Korea, China BUSINESSPERSONS, Moscow, Russian

"You have to have a backbone to govern this country," Bullrich, the candidate for the Together for Change coalition, told Reuters at a recent press event. Bullrich is facing front-runner libertarian economist Javier Milei, who is promising more extreme policies, and economy minister Sergio Massa. She also cited the strong political machinery of the conservative coalition. Bullrich, replying to Reuters, said that the coalition - win or lose - would be a strong political force with around 10-11 governors and large presence in Congress. Another voter, 61-year-old retiree Patricia Amalia Rojas, said she backed Bullrich for her tough line on gangs and crime.

Persons: Patricia Bullrich, Bullrich, Javier Milei, Sergio Massa, Fernando de la Rua, Mauricio Macri, Cristian Ritondo, Maria Alejandra Ferreyra, Milei, Horacio Larreta, Ana Balcarce, Lomas de Zamora, Macri, Facundo Martinez Maino, Patricia Amalia Rojas, Eliana Raszewski, Adam Jourdan, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Peronist, Change, Reuters, Milei, Massa, Buenos Aires, University of Avellaneda, Lomas, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Bullrich, Buenos

[1/2] Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) logo is seen while people attend the opening of the TSMC global R&D center in Hsinchu, Taiwan July 28, 2023. The company said it would work with the government-run Science Park Administration "to evaluate land in Taiwan suitable for building semiconductor fabs". The world's largest contract chipmaker was intending to build a 1-nanometre chip factory in Longtan, according to a Central News Agency report in December that quoted a Science Park Administration official. Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said the government would help TSMC with its land, water and power needs given that semiconductors are one of island's most important industries. Chen Chi-mai, mayor of Kaohsiung in the south where TSMC is currently building a 2-nanometre chip factory, said his city has enough water, power, and land for more semiconductor factories.

Persons: Ann Wang, chipmaker, Wang Mei, Chen Chi, Sarah Wu, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Central News Agency, Administration, Taiwan, Thomson Locations: Hsinchu, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, Longtan, Kaohsiung, TSMC

[1/3] Simon Rubinstein, 17, casts his first vote ever, in the presidential primary election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina August 13, 2023. Argentina is one of a handful of Latin American countries that allows 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote. Kremenchuzky, nicknamed "Toto," 17, is part of that teenage electorate. In an August open primary vote, Toto voted for conservative Patricia Bullrich - which he puts down to influence from his parents - but says he could shift his vote in October to Milei if the libertarian convinces him in election debates. However, Milei's conservative social views and promise of sharp cuts to government spending are off-putting to some young voters.

Persons: Simon Rubinstein, Magali, Tomas Kremenchuzky, Kremenchuzky, Toto, Javier Milei, thieving, He's, Patricia Bullrich, Milei, Rocio Pozzetti, Sergio Massa, Massa, Pozzetti, Noelle Chab, Rubinstein, Magali Druscovich, Lucila Sigal, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Peronist, Milei, Bullrich, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Milei

REUTERS/Wu Hong/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW/BEIJING, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China this week to meet Xi Jinping, the Kremlin chief's first trip outside the former Soviet Union this year. What are the five things to watch for at the meeting? Li was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 for an arms deal he secured with Russia in an earlier role. Xi also awarded Putin a friendship medal in 2018, saying that "Putin is my best close friend". Putin said in March that he had invited Xi to his private apartment in the Kremlin.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Wu Hong, Li Shangfu, Li, General Liu Zhenli, Putin, Xi, Alexei Miller, Igor Sechin, Maxim Reshetnikov, Guy Faulconbridge, Alison Williams Organizations: Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center, REUTERS, Kremlin, Russia, People's Liberation Army, PLA, U.S . Department of Defence, China, United, Gazprom, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, MOSCOW, BEIJING, Soviet Union, U.S, Russia, Xiapu, Ukraine, United States, India, Moscow, Kremlin, Siberia, Mongolia, Asia, Germany

High funding needs and central banks removing support are increasing pricing uncertainty for investors, Sophia Drossos, hedge fund Point72 Asset Management's chief economist, said. Spending plans lacking credibility were seen as most likely to spark market turmoil. I suspect not by default, but when markets start reflecting their worries in Treasury prices, by a political crisis and a potentially ugly adjustment," the former IMF chief economist said. Italy's 2.4 trillion-euro debt pile is the focus in Europe, where the IMF has said high debt leaves governments vulnerable to crisis. "We need more investment, not less," said King's College London professor Jonathan Portes, Britain's cabinet office chief economist during the financial crisis.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Peter Praet, Praet, Sophia Drossos, Daniel Ivascyn, Claudio Borio, Olivier Blanchard, Ray Dalio, Janet Yellen's, Yellen, Jim Leaviss, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Daleep Singh, Joe Biden, Britain's, Yellen's, Jonathan Portes, Clare Lombardelli, Moritz Kraemer, Yoruk Bahceli, Maria Martinez, Leigh Thomas, Giuseppe Fonte, Nell Mackenzie, Naomi Rovnick, William Schomberg, Jan Strupczewski, Dan Burns, Elisa Martinuzzi, Riddhima Talwani, Jayaram, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Financial, of, REUTERS, Institute of International Finance, Reuters, European Central Bank, ECB, Bank for International, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Associates, U.S . Treasury, Wall, Economy, Britain's Treasury, Congressional, Britain's, Institution, Reuters Graphics ACT, King's College London, Labour Party, OECD, Graphics, Thomson Locations: of Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Italy, Britain, United States, Europe, Ukraine, Berlin, Paris, Rome, London, Brussels, Washington, Marrakech

High funding needs and central banks removing support are increasing pricing uncertainty for investors, Sophia Drossos, hedge fund Point72 Asset Management's chief economist, said. Spending plans lacking credibility were seen as most likely to spark market turmoil. I suspect not by default, but when markets start reflecting their worries in Treasury prices, by a political crisis and a potentially ugly adjustment," the former IMF chief economist said. "We need more investment, not less," said King's College London professor Jonathan Portes, Britain's cabinet office chief economist during the financial crisis. Not enough reforms are being implemented, OECD chief economist Clare Lombardelli warned.

The budget bill will then go to parliament, which must pass it by the end of the year. Investors have been demanding a higher premium to hold Italian government bonds since Rome last month raised its budget deficit targets for the 2023-2025 period, setting it up for a possible clash with the European Commission. AGEING POPULATIONNext year people earning up to 28,000 euros per year will pay income tax (known as IRPEF) at 23%, according to the officials. Meloni also aims to earmark at least 1 billion euros for measures, which have yet to be detailed, aimed at addressing Italy's demographic crisis. The scheme could increase tax revenues in Italy by between 2 and 3 billion euros, one official said.

Persons: Giorgia, Giancarlo Giorgetti, DBRS, Fitch, Moody's, Meloni, Giuseppe Fonte, Keith Weir Organizations: Treasury, European Commission, P, Thomson Locations: ROME, Rome, Ukraine, Italy

☆ IMF steering committee calls for new funds, share plan by June 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) chair Nadia Calvino leaves after a press conference during the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, following last month's deadly earthquake, in Marrakech, Morocco, October 14, 2023. A statement issued by the Fund's steering committee chair, Spanish economy minister Nadia Calvino, also called for proposals to change the Fund's shareholding formula by June 2025. The statement did not specify any funding amounts but left the door open to a potential near-term funding increase without changes in near-term shareholding. "In order to maintain the Fund’s current resource envelope until a quota increase becomes effective, we call on the Executive Board to propose transitional arrangements," the statement said. Reporting by David Lawder; editing by Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nadia Calvino, Susana Vera, David Lawder, Diane Craft Organizations: Monetary, Financial, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Rights MARRAKECH

China, whose economy is now three times the size it was in 2010, continued to push for more IMF shares. IMFC members agreed to add a third IMF Executive Board chair to represent African countries, a key sweetener for the U.S. "equi-proportional quota plan. Pan said China supported this move but it was a separate issue from the shareholding formula. It also called for the IMF's Executive Board to propose options for changes to the shareholding formula by June 2025. This would accelerate the next five-year review of quotas and meet IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva's call for a deadline on adjusting its shareholding to preserve its credibility.

Persons: Nadia Calvino, Kristalina Georgieva, Pan Gongsheng, Pan, Kristalina, Georgieva, David Lawder, Andrea Shalal, Sharon Singleton, Christina Fincher, Franklin Paul, Diane Craft Organizations: Monetary, Financial, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Monetary Fund, IMF, Fund, The U.S . Treasury, People's Bank of China, Beijing, IMF's, U.S . Treasury, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, MARRAKECH, U.S, China, CHINA, The U.S, India, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, United Arab Emirates

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Taiwan's TSMC (2330.TW) said on Friday it expects to receive permission from the United States to supply its China plant with U.S. chipmaking tools indefinitely, in an easing of Washington's restrictions on foreign chipmakers operating in China. "We expect to receive a permanent authorization through the VEU process," TSMC said, noting that it did not previously need to apply for VEU status. Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said earlier on Friday that TSMC has received the waiver from the United States to supply U.S. equipment to the company's factory in China. However, the United States is continuing efforts to cut China off from top AI technology and plug gaps in export controls. The United States last year shook relations with Beijing when it unveiled new restrictions on shipments of AI chips and chipmaking tools to China, seeking to thwart its military advances.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, TSMC, Wang Mei, Biden, chipmaker, Sarah Wu, Ben Blanchard, Sonali Paul, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, The U.S . Department of Commerce's, of Industry and Security, Reuters, Taiwan, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Apple Inc, United, TSMC's, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, United States, China, The, KS, Nanjing, Beijing, TSMC's Taipei

☆ Italy not tied to any deadline to exit Monte Paschi, FinMin says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

View of the entrance to the headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), the oldest bank in the world, which is facing massive layoffs as part of a planned corporate merger, in Siena, Italy, August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMARRAKECH, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Italy will exit bailed-out bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) (BMPS.MI) when market conditions are appropriate as it is not tied to any deadline, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Friday. After a failed attempt to sell the bank to UniCredit (CRDI.MI) in 2021, Italy agreed with Brussels new privatisation terms that were never fully disclosed. Both Giorgetti and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have said that the government would try to boost competition among banks with the privatisation of MPS. ($1 = 0.9499 euros)Reporting by Elisa Martinuzzi, writing by Giuseppe Fonte, editing by Jane Merriman and Gavin JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jennifer Lorenzini, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgetti, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Elisa Martinuzzi, Giuseppe Fonte, Jane Merriman, Gavin Jones Organizations: Monte, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, MPS, Banco, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Monte dei, Siena, Italy, Rights MARRAKECH, Rome, UniCredit, Brussels, Marrakech

☆ Argentina election 2023: what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Maximilian Heath | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The election comes as Argentine voters have been hard-hit by 124% yearly inflation that has pummeled their purchasing power. Voting centers for the Oct. 22 election open at 8 a.m. local time (1100 GMT) and close at 6 p.m. Argentina's tight election races come at a time of uncertainty for the South American country facing its worst economic crisis in decades. PROJECTIONSFar-right libertarian Javier Milei is leading the polls ahead of Argentina's Oct. 22 presidential vote, but it remains a tight race between the top three candidates, three surveys showed. All three surveys had Economy Minister Sergio Massa in second place and conservative opposition candidate Patricia Bullrich in third.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, Javier Milei, Alberto Fernandez, Dissident Peronist Juan Schiaretti, País, Myriam Bregman, Milei, Massa, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina's pollsters, Maximilian Heath, Rod Nickel Organizations: por la Patria, el Cambio, La Libertad Avanza, Argentine, WHO, Libertad, la Patria, el, Dissident Peronist, Frente de Izquierda, South, International Monetary Fund, Peronist, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Hacemos, South American

Research shows women in richer economies are more likely to have children if they work. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - Italy's first female premier - has said women are "an untapped resource" that lessens the need for immigrant labour. Yet her conservative government's 2024 budget, to be presented on Monday, is not expected to include measures to drive change. According to a government report relating to 2021, nearly one in five Italian women aged under 50 left their job after having their first child. SPANISH SUCCESSMeloni's government could learn from Spain, whose female activity rate lagged Italy's in the early 1990s but is now above the EU average.

Persons: Guzzo, Vittoria, Claudia Greco, Elena, Claudia Goldin, Giorgia Meloni, Claudia Olivetti, Enza Guzzo, Gian Carlo Blangiardo, Blangiardo, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Olivetti, Paola Profeta, Katharine Neiss, Valentina Za, Elisa Anzolin, Giuseppe Fonte, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Reuters, Research, Dartmouth College, ISTAT, Bank of, EU, France's, Milan's Bocconi University, AXA Research, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Arese, Italy, MILAN, Bank of Italy, Rome, Barcelona, Spain, Milan

☆ Taiwan says awaiting US announcement on China chip waiver extension
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Korea's government said this week that Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK Hynix (000660.KS) will be allowed to supply U.S. chip equipment to their China factories indefinitely without separate U.S. approvals. "Whether it will be the same treatment as Samsung and SK Hynix, it's up to the announcement from the U.S. government," Wang told reporters in Taipei. Samsung and SK Hynix, the world's largest and second-largest memory chipmakers, had invested billions of dollars in their chip production facilities in China and welcomed the move. Samsung Electronics makes about 40% of its NAND flash chips at its plant in Xian, China, while SK Hynix makes about 40% of its DRAM chips in Wuxi and 20% of its NAND flash chips in Dalian. The companies together controlled nearly 70% of the global DRAM market and 50% of the NAND flash market as of end-June, data from TrendForce showed.

Persons: Florence Lo, Wang Mei, Biden, Wang, chipmaker, TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Samsung, U.S ., United, Korean, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, KS, Taipei, TSMC, United States, Nanjing, Xian, Wuxi, Dalian, TrendForce

☆ Germany's anti-discrimination agency quits X over anti-minority posts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo for social media platform X, following the rebranding of Twitter, is seen covering the old logo in this illustration taken, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Germany's Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency said it would close its account on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, because of increasing intolerance of minorities expressed by users on the site, and urged other bodies to follow suit. Due to a surge in racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism, trans and queer hostility and other misanthropic content, "X is no longer a sustainable environment for a public agency", the agency's commissioner, Ferda Ataman, said in a statement. X officials couldn't be immediately reached for comment on the Germany agency's decision. Germany's foreign, economy and finance ministries, as well as the government still maintain profiles on X, though Economy Minister Robert Habeck has not had a presence there since 2019.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ferda Ataman, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, couldn't, X, Ataman, Robert Habeck, Miranda Murray, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Twitter, REUTERS, Rights, Discrimination Agency, Elon, European Union, Thomson Locations: Israel, Germany

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s firebrand populist presidential candidate Javier Milei, the front-runner to win the election later this month, is coming under fire from his rivals who blame him for a sharp depreciation of the local currency in the parallel market. Milei has continued to tout his controversial plan for dollarization of the South American country’s economy. With a little less than two weeks to go before the Oct. 22 presidential election, the Argentine peso has sharply depreciated over the past week. Milei, an anti-establishment candidate who admires former U.S. President Donald Trump, has said he wants to replace the peso with the dollar and says Argentina’s Central Bank should be abolished. Milei’s opponents in the presidential race sharply criticized his words, saying he’s fomenting a run on the peso.

Persons: —, Javier Milei, Milei, Donald Trump, ”, ” Ramiro Marra, Milei’s, Sergio Massa, ” Patricia Bullrich, “, ” Milei Organizations: Argentine, U.S, Bank, Buenos, “, Union, Homeland, United Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Argentine, Buenos Aires, Milei’s, Massa

While most traders are waiting on the sidelines, anxious about the election and unsure of libertarian frontrunner Javier Milei, some daring bond investors are moving in. "There has been a lot of pain from being invested in Argentina over the past decade," Reed said. Rob Citrone, founder of U.S.-based hedge fund Discovery Capital Management, said Argentina presented one of the best opportunities in emerging markets. The depressed values offer another reason to be bullish on Argentina's debt, said Thomas Haugaard, a portfolio manager on the emerging markets debt hard currency team at Janus Henderson Investments in Copenhagen. Armando Armenta, an analyst for Latin American fixed-income and currency markets at AllianceBernstein in New York, said it was a mixed picture.

Persons: Javier Milei, Cristina Sille, Milei, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Christine Reed, Reed, Bullrich, Mauricio Macri's, Massa, Rob Citrone, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Fernandez de Kirchner, Thomas Haugaard, Janus Henderson, Haugaard, Morgan Stanley, Armando Armenta, Milei's, Rodrigo Campos, Carolina Mandl, Adam Jourdan, Paul Simao Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Peronist, International Monetary Fund, U.S, Discovery Capital Management, Reuters Graphics Reuters, BancTrust, Reuters, Janus, Janus Henderson Investments, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, New York, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Copenhagen, Congress, AllianceBernstein

CNN —The German states of Bavaria and Hesse vote in regional elections on Sunday, in what is widely being seen as a test-case for Germany’s shifting political landscape. In Hesse – home to Frankfurt, Germany’s financial hub – dissatisfaction with Germany’s federal government threatens to deliver a blow to Scholz’s coalition. German flags are carried at an AfD election campaign event. Bavarian Premier Söder chose not to dismiss Aiwanger following the allegations, amid calls from across Germany’s political spectrum for the economy minister’s resignation. Hesse, which was formerly a stronghold for the SPD, is currently governed by the CDU in coalition with the Greens.

Persons: Hesse –, Martin Schutt, shockwaves, of Bavaria, Markus Söder, Angela Merkel, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Charlotte Knoblauch, Katrin, Ebner Steiner, AfD’s, ” Steiner, ”, Hubert Aiwanger, Aiwanger, ” Hubert Aiwanger, Sven Hoppe, Söder, Thomas Kreuzer, Chancellor Scholz’s, Nancy Faeser, Kreuzer, “, ” Kreuzer, Faese, Faeser, Der Organizations: CNN, Social Democratic Party, SPD, Free Democratic Party, Greens, Scholz’s SPD, Bavaria, Christian Social Union, CSU, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, Free Voters, Getty, INSA, New, Central Council of, Germany’s Süddeutesche Zeitung, Zeitung, FW, Bavarian, Greens . Center, ”, Der Spiegel, Interior Ministry Locations: Bavaria, Hesse, Germany, –, Frankfurt, Germany’s, AFP, Saxony, Bavarian, Munich, “, Germany’s Süddeutesche

☆ Taiwan probes four firms accused of helping China's Huawei
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said the ministry would be looking into whether the firms' activities in China "matched up" with their initial investment approval from the island's government. A Bloomberg news report this week said the firms had been working with Huawei-connected firms to build infrastructure for chip plants. The companies - Topco Scientific (5434.TW), L&K Engineering (6139.TW), United Integrated Services (2404.TW) and Cica-Huntek Chemical Technology Taiwan (6725.TWO) - have all denied any wrongdoing. Wang also said Taiwan's government will soon unveil tighter rules on "key technologies", taking into account international practice, she added, without giving details. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has in recent years increased its military activities around the island.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Wang Mei, Wang, chipmaker TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Bloomberg, K Engineering, United Integrated Services, Chemical Technology, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Chemical Technology Taiwan, U.S

☆ Tesla factory permits almost ready in Mexico, as state launches infrastructure work
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Final permits for Tesla to build an electric-vehicle (EV) factory in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon could be ready in weeks and the local government is beginning infrastructure work requested by the company, a senior official said on Thursday. Tesla (TSLA.O) in March announced plans to open a major plant in Nuevo Leon, its first in Mexico, which has also attracted EV investments from other automakers seeking to meet ambitious production targets. "We are very appreciative of their efforts to enable the permits and sustainable infrastructure necessary," he said. The so-called "Gigafactory" is set to bring in an estimated $15 billion over the next two years through Tesla and its suppliers, Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia said last month. The state has called for more investment in health, education, roads and basic services to accommodate the expected growth.

Persons: Tesla, Daniel Becerril, Ivan Rivas, Elon Musk, I'm, " Rivas, Rivas, Nuevo Leon, Rohan Patel, Tesla's, Samuel Garcia, Daina Beth Solomon, Kylie Madry, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Tesla, Nuevo Leon's, Reforma, Nuevo, Twitter, Reuters, Nuevo Leon, Thomson Locations: Monterrey, Saltillo, Santa Catarina, Mexico, MEXICO, Mexican, Nuevo Leon, Nuevo

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