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☆ Dollar at 10-month top as US yields spike; yen slides
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Dollar banknote is seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The dollar stood by 10-month highs against a basket of major currencies on Tuesday, supported by U.S. bond yields scaling 16-year peaks, while the yen tiptoed deeper into the intervention danger zone. "Few currencies will resist the bullish dollar macro resiliency theme and the euro and Chinese yuan look more vulnerable than most." The yen has slowly but inexorably slid toward the 150-per-dollar mark as policymakers stuck with ultra-easy settings. The yen hit 148.97 to the dollar on Monday and last traded at 148.72.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Sterling, Jane Foley, Tom Westbrook, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Treasury, U.S, Australia's Westpac, Swiss, Traders, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Europe, Asia, U.S, Tokyo

☆ Dollar at 10-month top as U.S. yields spike, yen slides
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar stood by 10-month highs against a basket of major currencies on Tuesday, supported by U.S. bond yields scaling 16-year peaks, while the yen tiptoed deeper into the intervention danger zone. "Few currencies will resist the bullish dollar macro resiliency theme and the euro and Chinese yuan look more vulnerable than most." The yen has slowly but inexorably slid toward the 150-per-dollar mark as policymakers stuck with ultra-easy settings. The yen hit 148.97 to the dollar on Monday and last traded at 148.72. "We remain of the view that the dollar is unlikely to weaken significantly until Fed rate cuts are firmly on the horizon," she said.

Persons: Sterling, Jane Foley Organizations: Treasury, U.S, Australia's Westpac, Swiss, Traders, Bank of Japan Locations: Europe, Asia, U.S

☆ China Risks Property Debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Source: China Real Estate Information Corp. (CRIC)The physical size of Country Garden’s real estate portfolio is enormous. The Weight of Debt The ballooning debt crisis could delay the prospect of a recovery of both the property market and the broader Chinese economy, in which real estate is a core pillar. China property sector slump China’s property sales, investment and funds raised by property developers slid in January - August 2023 after a sharp fall in 2022. China's property sector accounts for more than half of global new home sales and home building, according to Nomura. Any contraction in the property sector will affect China’s growth, thus sending ripple effects around the globe as the world’s factory slows.

Persons: Evergrande, homebuyers, Nomura, David Stanway, Jason Lee, –, Moody's, Yawen Chen, Amr Alfiky Organizations: Country, Garden, Estate Information Corp, CIFI Holdings, Sunac, National Bureau of Statistics, China, Investment, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, Nomura, JPMorgan, Dubai, National Bureau of Economic Research Locations: China, Burj, Burj Khalifa, Sunac China, Kunming, Yunnan province, Beijing, Xuchang, Henan province, United Arab Emirates

☆ Germany to halve federal aid for refugees next year - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Migrants who were found in a van by police during their patrol along the German-Polish border to prevent illegal migration, gather near Forst, Germany, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Germany plans to halve the federal aid it allocates for states to cover expenses of receiving and integrating refugees next year as part of budget-tightening amid soaring inflation after years of generous spending, sources told Reuters on Monday. The federal government did not promise that it will match 2023 funding in the following years. The government will eliminate its contribution to the costs of caring for and integrating Ukrainian refugees as well, the sources added. ($1 = 0.9447 euros)Reporting by Andreas Rinke Writing by Riham Alkousaa and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lisi Niesner, Andreas Rinke, Riham Alkousaa, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Forst, Germany, Ukraine, Berlin

☆ Egypt says IMF agrees to merge first two reviews of reform program
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Egypt said it had agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to merge the fund's first and second reviews of its economic reform programme, after the first review was repeatedly delayed amid questions over Egypt's progress in meeting the IMF's terms. The IMF in December approved a $3 billion Extended Fund Facility loan for Egypt, which has been under acute financial pressure since long-standing problems were exposed by economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. Disbursements under the 46-month program are subject to eight reviews, the first of which, originally scheduled to take place in March, has yet to happen amid reports the IMF was unhappy with Egypt's progress in fulfilling the terms of the agreement. It added that negotiations with the IMF were proceeding "fruitfully and positively" in accordance with the terms of the program concluded with the Fund. In June, Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appeared to rule out a further devaluation anytime soon, saying such a move could harm national security and hurt Egyptian citizens.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Hatem Maher, David Holmes Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Egypt, Fund, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Ukraine, Disbursements

☆ US Treasury launches US-China economic, financial working groups
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday said it was formally launching two new U.S.-China working groups on economic and financial issues aimed at providing a regular policy communications forum between the world's two largest economies. In a statement, the Treasury said the two groups would "meet on a regular cadence" and report to Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. China's Ministry of Finance will be Treasury's counterpart for the Economic Working Group, while the People's Bank of China will be its counterpart for the Financial Working Group. China's Finance Ministry and central bank both issued statements confirming the establishment of the economic and financial working groups but gave few details beyond saying they were aimed at strengthening communication and collaboration on these issues. Establishment of the two working groups also follows Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's agreement with Chinese officials in August to establish a working group on U.S. export controls aimed at explaining U.S. policies.

Persons: Yellen, Gina Raimondo's, Donald Trump, David Lawder, Christina Fincher Organizations: U.S . Treasury Department, Treasury, China's Ministry, Finance, Economic, People's Bank of, Financial, China's Finance Ministry, State, Thomson Locations: China, China's, People's Bank of China, Beijing, U.S, Washington

[1/2] Logos of Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS are seen before a news conference in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. Credit Suisse, which was Switzerland's second-biggest bank, suffered years of scandals and losses before it had to be rescued in March in a state-engineered takeover by UBS. Credit Suisse declined to comment. Spokespeople for central banks in South Korea, India, Ireland, and Saudi Arabia also did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Last month, a Moscow court banned UBS and Credit Suisse from disposing of shares in their Russian subsidiaries, Reuters reported, citing court documents.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Laws, Engen Tham, Selena Li, Jihoon Lee, Alexander Marrow, Sumeet Chatterjee, Stephen Coates, Alexander Smith Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Suisse, Western, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Rights SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, South Korea, India, Swiss, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Thailand, Turkey, Shanghai, Hong Kong, London

Summary Egypt seeking cheaper wheat amid dollar crunchRussia blocked deal that undercut price floor- tradersCAIRO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Egypt is in talks with an Abu Dhabi-based bank for a loan facility that would finance wheat purchases from Kazakhstan, three traders told Reuters. The move could give Egypt a cheap alternative to grain from Russia, which has supplied an increasing share of Egypt's wheat since last year but recently blocked a deal for a purchase below an unofficial price floor for wheat purchases, traders say. Russia's agriculture ministry recently prevented the private sale of 480,000 tons of Russian wheat to Egypt, apparently because it was sold below the price floor, traders told Reuters. Kazakhstan is already an approved wheat import origin for Egypt, but purchases from the Central Asian country are rare. The Egyptian government recently signed a $500 million loan agreement with the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) to buy imported wheat from UAE-based agribusiness Al Dahra.

Persons: Abu, GASC, Sarah El Safty, Michael Hogan, Aidan Lewis, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, General Authority for Supply Commodities, Central, Abu, Abu Dhabi Exports Office, Thomson Locations: Egypt, Russia, CAIRO, Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, France, Bulgaria, UAE

The Viking Star cruise ship is moored at Greenwich with the City of London financial district in the distance, in London, Britain, August 29, 2023. It is absolutely the time for action over words," Alasdair Haynes, CEO of Aquis Exchange, a share trading platform, and chair of financial industry body TheCityUK's Business Council, told Reuters. The main problem for trade bodies is the vast scope of Britain's financial services industry, with each sub-sector and TheCityUK presenting their own reform priorities and ideas, often overlapping. In the meantime, top financial sector executives running global teams of bankers and traders are increasingly bewildered by Britain's inability to make faster progress on a matter of such economic significance. ELECTION LOOMINGSome senior financial industry sources say politics may hamper the City's reform agenda even further, with a general election expected next year.

Persons: Kevin Coombs, Alasdair Haynes, Jeremy Hunt, Nicholas Lyons, TheCityUK, ” Samuel Gregg, Richard Gardner, Huw Jones, Sinead Cruise, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Viking, City, REUTERS, London’s, Mayor, European Union, Aquis, Business, Reuters, Finance, stoke, of, Arm Holdings, Labour, Conservative, American Institute for Economic Research, Investment Funds Association, EU, Thomson Locations: Greenwich, London, Britain, Europe, Asia, United States, Edinburgh, of London, New York, Amsterdam, City, France

BRUSSELS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - European Union's second-top court on Wednesday backed an EU competition regulator's decision against a 700-million-euro ($748 million) Belgian tax scheme for 55 multinationals, in a major win for EU antitrust chief's crackdown on sweetheart tax deals. The Luxembourg-based General Court had in 2019 annulled Margrethe Vestager's decision after Belgium and about 30 of the companies challenged it. Beneficiaries of the Belgian scheme that dated from 2005 included U.S. manufacturer Magnetrol, oil company BP (BP.L), chemical producer BASF (BASFn.DE), Wabco, Cellio, Atlas Copco (ATCOa.ST) and Belgacom, now Proximus (PROX.BR) . The EU Court of Justice, Europe's top court, in 2021 however sided with the EU competition enforcer and referred the case back to the lower tribunal. Belgium can still appeal to the EU Court of Justice.

Persons: Margrethe Vestager's, Atlas, Europe's, Foo Yun Chee, Bart Meijer, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Belgian, EU, BP, BASF, Justice, Belgian Finance Ministry, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, EU, Luxembourg, Belgium, Brussels, Amsterdam

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares declined Wednesday as markets awaited a decision on interest rates by the Federal Reserve. Trade data for Japan showed exports fell 0.8% last month from a year ago, marking the second straight month of declines, as exports to China lagged, dropping 11%. Markets have see-sawed for weeks on uncertainty about whether the Fed is done with its market-shaking hikes to interest rates. The Fed began its latest meeting on interest rates Tuesday, with an announcement scheduled for Wednesday. Traders are split on whether the Fed may raise rates again this year, but they’re largely expecting the Fed to begin cutting rates next year.

Persons: Australia's, Robert Carnell, they’re, homebuilders, Brent Organizations: TOKYO, Federal Reserve, Nikkei, Finance Ministry, ING, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Fed, Wednesday, Traders, Instacart, Walt Disney Co, U.S . Steel, United, Detroit’s Big, Ford, General Motors, UAW, New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S Locations: Hong, Shanghai, Japan, China, U.S, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Beijing

☆ Explainer: How France aims to discourage buying of Chinese EVs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WHY IS FRANCE REVISING ITS EV BONUS ELIGIBILITY RULES? However, in the absence of cheap European-made EVs, a third of all incentives are going to consumers buying EVs made in China, a French finance ministry source said. Because Chinese industry generally relies heavily on coal-generated electricity, the criteria are likely to put the bonus out of Chinese carmakers' reach. But French car buyers will have to wait because Stellantis' (STLAM.MI) Slovakia-made e-C3 city car and Renault's (RENA.PA) France-made R5 are not due to hit the market until 2024. The model is currently one of the best-selling electric car's in France with the Tesla Y, Peugeot's e-208, Fiat's 500e, the Megane eTech and MG4.

Persons: Angelika Warmuth, EVs, Emmanuel Macron, Stellantis, MG4, Lorraine Morard, Luca De Meo, Tesla, BYD, Gilles Guillaume, Leigh Thomas, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Company, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, SAIC, P Global, Renault, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, France, China, Europe, FRANCE, French, Slovakia, Dacia Spring

☆ Russia's oil and gas revenues set to rise 14% in September - Reuters calculations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Russia's oil and gas revenues, which account for around a third of total federal budget proceeds, are set to rise to around 733 billion roubles ($7.6 billion) in September, up 14% from the previous month, Reuters calculations showed on Tuesday. The corresponding figure in September 2022 was 688 billion roubles. The budget is expected to return some 278 billion roubles to refineries under the damping mechanism in September, according to Reuters calculations. Proceeds from oil and gas sales are crucial for Russia's commodity-oriented economy and for the financing of what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. The finance ministry is due to publish its data on budget revenues from oil and gas in early October.

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Kuwait's finance ministry says cyber attack hits one of its systems
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Kuwait's finance ministry said on Monday that one of its systems had suffered a cyber attack in the early morning but that the ministry continued to work normally. The ministry said in a statement that protection systems and procedures had been activated and "the level of the hacking attempt is being assessed." The salary transfers will not be affected, the ministry added. Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Jon BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nayera Abdallah, Jon Boyle Organizations: Thomson Locations: DUBAI

☆ Canada risks more than C$50 billion in clean tech as incentives in limbo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

OTTAWA, Sept 18 (Reuters) - More than a year after Canada first announced incentives to jumpstart clean technology projects there is still no money flowing, and if they are not in place soon, more than C$50 billion ($37 billion) in investments could be at risk, industry groups said. The government "urgently needs to get as much of this out the door this fall as possible." Masterson says there are "well beyond C$25 billion of proposed investments" in more than a dozen projects in his industry that are waiting for the incentives. An additional C$17 billion in ITCs for clean hydrogen, electricity and manufacturing were announced six months ago and those are at an earlier stage. Adam Auer, president of Cement Association of Canada, said his members have "billions" in projects that are waiting on the ITCs.

Persons: Justin Trudeau's, Bob Masterson, Masterson, Trudeau, Dennis Darby, Darby, Adam Auer, Rachelle Schikorra, Steve Scherer, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Canada, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, Canadian Manufacturers, CME, Cement Association of Canada, Dow Chemicals, Reuters, Thomson Locations: OTTAWA, United States, U.S, Exshaw , Alberta, Canada, Fort Saskatchewan , Alberta

☆ Ukraine plans big rise in defence spending in 2024 draft budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The government approved a draft 2024 budget on Friday that puts the deficit at 1.548 trillion hryvnias ($41.92 billion) and increases defence spending to 1.7 trillion hryvnias, over 21% of GDP. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the increase in defence spending was needed to fund Ukraine's war effort following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. "This amount (defence spending) is 113 billion hryvnias more than this year. Debt repayment is planned to be 606.5 billion hryvnias, including 421.6 billion hryvnias to be spent on internal debt repayments and 184.9 billion hryvnias for external debt repayments. About 468.8 billion hryvnias is budgeted for social spending, with 30.8 billion hryvnias allocated for business support.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Denys Shmyhal, Yuliia Dysa, Olena Harmash, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe

☆ France targets 16 billion euros in savings next year, trims growth outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Leigh Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The French government aims to squeeze 16 billion euros ($17 billion) in savings from its 2024 budget, finance minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday as he trimmed France's growth outlook. Le Maire said 10 billion euros in savings would come from scrapping caps on power and gas prices, put in place to soften the pain for households from Europe's energy price crisis. Le Maire said the inflation shock over the last year would further subside, boosting household consumption - the traditional motor of French economic growth. While the government aims to cut spending, it would nonetheless increase some expenditures, with 4 billion euros more earmarked for the interior ministry and the armed forces. A further 7 billion euros has been set aside for environmentally friendly investments due to be presented later this month and financed by removing some of the tax breaks which some industries get on their on fossil fuel use.

Persons: Digital Security Bruno Le Maire, Benoit Tessier, Bruno Le Maire, Le Maire, Leigh Thomas, David Holmes Organizations: Economy, Finance, Industry, Digital Security, Bercy Finance Ministry, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Paris, France

☆ German carmaker stocks dip amid China-EV probe dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Alternatively, punitive tariffs on imports from China could accelerate Chinese EV makers' plans to build in Europe, analysts said, raising competition for domestic carmakers. "Volkswagen could gain from lower mass-market competition, but is the most exposed ... premium OEMs ...face the risk of retaliation and might see their China-export plans sent awry," he added. By 1210 GMT, the STOXX Europe 600 Auto (.SXAP) index was down 1.46%, while the broader market was steady. BMW, which exports the iX3 from China and plans to export the Mini from 2024, fell 2.08%, with Mercedes-Benz down 1.56% and Volkswagen down 1.83%. Stocks of carmakers Renault and Stellantis, which are less exposed to the Chinese market than their German counterparts, saw smaller dips of 1.33% and 0.81% respectively.

Persons: Annegret, Emmanuel Macron, Daniel Roeska, Bernstein, Danilo Masoni, Victoria Waldersee, Josephine Mason, Thomas Leigh, Michel Rose, Sharon Singleton, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, EV, HK, European Commission, Renault, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, Porsche, carmakers Renault, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Beijing, China, Europe, France

☆ Zimbabwe: Outrage as Mnangagwa appoints son second-in-command over treasury after disputed polls
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Zimbabwe’s recently re-elected President Emmerson Mnangagwa is facing outrage after appointing his son as deputy minister to the country’s finance ministry. Mnangagwa’s 34-year-old son, David, was among 26 officials sworn in as cabinet ministers Tuesday despite public anger when the list of the nominees was made public on Monday. In his expanded cabinet, Mnangagwa’s son is to deputize finance minister Mthuli Ncube while his nephew, Tongai, would serve as deputy minister in the country’s tourism ministry. Some Zimbabweans have accused Mnangagwa of running the impoverished southern African country as “a family business.”“Slowly Zimbabwe is becoming a family business. The opposition CCC party, which placed second in last month’s disputed polls, also criticized the ministerial list which included a couple, Christopher and Monica Mutsvangwa, both associates of President Mnangagwa, as ministers.

Persons: CNN — Zimbabwe’s, Emmerson Mnangagwa, David, Mnangagwa’s, Mthuli Ncube, Tongai, ”, Mugano, “ It’s, Ncube, ” Mugano, David Mnangagwa, Nick Mangwana, “, ” Mangwana, Christopher, Monica Mutsvangwa, Mnangagwa Organizations: CNN, University of Zimbabwe, Business Administration, Drake University, CCC Locations: Zimbabwe, Harare, doldrums, United States

☆ Bank of England tells UK to hold insurers to account on infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of the Bank of England (BoE) building, the BoE confirmed to raise interest rates to 1.75%, in London, Britain, August 4, 2022. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Bank Of England FollowLONDON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The government should check that insurers are spending up to 100 billion pounds ($125 billion) on Britain's economy after their capital rules were eased, Bank of England Deputy Governor Sam Woods said on Wednesday. "I think it may happen, but I can't guarantee it," Woods told a sub-committee of parliament's Treasury Select Committee. The finance ministry overrode the Bank of England to ease some capital rules more than Woods had wanted, which could make an insurance company failure more likely. This means insurers will have more money to invest, currently only a modest part of their portfolios is in infrastructure, Gerken said.

Persons: BoE, Maja Smiejkowska, Sam Woods, Woods, Charlotte Gerken, Gerken, Huw Jones, Alexander Smith Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, Bank, Association of, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ India minister to propose higher diesel vehicle tax, warns automakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Aditi Shah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A worker switches on a fuel pump before filling a car with diesel at a fuel station in New Delhi September 13, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - India's road transport minister, Nitin Gadkari, on Tuesday said he will propose an additional 10% tax on diesel vehicles and warned automakers of even higher levies to cripple their ability to sell such high-polluting vehicles. Gadkari said he will later in the day ask the finance minister for an "additional 10%" goods and services tax on diesel vehicles to tackle problems related to pollution. The Indian government currently imposes a 28% tax on diesel cars and an additional so-called "cess" is levied depending on the vehicles' engine capacity. Shares in Indian automakers Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, Ashok Leyland (ASOK.NS), and Eicher Motors (EICH.NS) fell between 1.5% and 4.5%.

Persons: Mansi, Nitin Gadkari, Gadkari, Maruti Suzuki, Ashok Leyland, Aditi Shah, Tanvi Mehta, Christian Schmollinger, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, New, Tata Motors, Mahindra, Maruti, Volkswagen, automakers Tata Motors, Eicher Motors, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, DELHI, India

☆ German economic weakness belies France's outperformance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Leigh Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The European Commission said on Monday the two economies were on diverging paths this year with Germany forecast to be in a recession with a 0.4% contraction and France expected to grow 1.0%. With weak construction and declining construction investment weighing on Europe's biggest economy, Germany's outlook was slashed from a previous forecast for 0.2% growth while France was upgraded from 0.7%. The contrasting fortunes of the euro zone's two biggest economies can also be explained by tailwinds working against Germany and headwinds helping France. Germany's gas-hungry chemical industry has seen production fall 18% from 2019 levels while in France it is only 8%, Colombier said. That leaves few props to lend support to French growth going forward other than household savings.

Persons: Jean, Paul Pelissier, Germany's, Mathieu, tailwinds, headwinds, Charles, Henri Colombier, Colombier, Plane, Leigh Thomas, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, European, Germany, France's Finance, Thomson Locations: Marseille, Fos, Fos sur Mer, France, Germany, PARIS, Paris

REUTERS/Raquel Cunha Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The Mexican government's plan to run up the biggest budget deficit in decades during the 2024 general election year could put pressure on public finances and eventually threaten its credit rating, analysts said on Monday. Lopez Obrador last week backed former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum as his party's candidate to succeed him. Historic data show the projected budget deficit for 2024 will be the highest since 1988 as a proportion of GDP. The government's higher spending plans should bolster Latin America's second-biggest economy, which has outpaced forecasts this year, brightening the outlook for 2024. He also noted that since Mexico's current account deficit is currently considerably lower than foreign direct investment, there was a pool of untapped demand in the economy that the government could temporarily offset via higher spending.

Persons: Mexico's Finance Ministry Rogelio Ramirez de la O, Marcela Guerra, Raquel Cunha, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez, Patricia Terrazas, Lopez Obrador, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Gabriela Siller, Alberto Ramos, Goldman Sachs, Ramos, Raul Feliz, Feliz, Dave Graham, Diego Ore, Noe Torres, Jamie Freed Organizations: Mexico's Finance Ministry, Mexican, REUTERS, Lopez Obrador's, Action Party, PAN, Mexico City Mayor, Banco Base, Bank of, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Bank of Mexico

☆ Mexico sees similar economic growth next year, more help for Pemex
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Ana Isabel Martinez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A draft seen by Reuters had forecast 2024 economic growth at 2.4%, below the final published figure. The 2024 budget will now be debated by lawmakers in Congress, where the ruling coalition of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador commands majorities in both chambers. The key 2024 oil price is used to estimate a large amount of government revenue. State oil company Pemex's overall budget will be cut 36%, according to the draft budget from 2023 funding levels. The draft budget projects those costs will dip next year by about 4.75 billion pesos ($270 million), or down by 7.6% in inflation-adjusted terms.

Persons: Mexico's Finance Ministry Rogelio Ramirez de la, Raquel Cunha, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Ana Isabel Martinez, Carolina Pulice, Sarah Morland, Stephen Eisenhammer, Chizu Nomiyama, Leslie Adler, William Mallard Organizations: Mexico's Finance Ministry, REUTERS, Reuters, DUC, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Brazil

☆ Exclusive: Mexico budget sees lower growth, slower inflation in 2024 -draft
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Ana Isabel Martinez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Mexico's finance ministry expects economic growth to slow in 2024 to around 2.4% from some 3% this year, according to draft budget forecasts seen by Reuters on Friday. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the forecasts, which were in a draft document and confirmed by a source familiar with the matter. The draft was not dated, but the source said the figures were up to date. The ministry is due to present the official 2024 budget to lawmakers in Congress later on Friday. According to the document, the government estimates that headline inflation will ease to 3.8% at the end of 2024 from 4.5% at the close of this year.

Persons: Ana Isabel Martinez, Stephen Eisenhammer Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Reuters, Bank of, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Bank of Mexico, Mexico's

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