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☆ CNBC Daily Open: Investors prioritize Nvidia’s earnings over geopolitical risks
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this article BRBY-GB.N225SMCI.SPXNVDA.IXIC.DJI Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTChip company Nvidia's headquarters in Silicon Valley in February 2024. Andrej Sokolow | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. I clearly expect to see some kind of immediate reaction, knee-jerk reaction," Tiffany McGhee, CEO and CIO of Pivotal Advisors, told CNBC. Considering Nvidia's performance over the past two years, however, it's hard to think of any other asset that will give investors the same sense of safety.

Persons: SPX, Andrej Sokolow, Tiffany McGhee, Stocks, McGhee, Gonzalo Asis, Blackwell, Jensen Huang, bubbled, Iordache, Katrina Bishop, Brian Evans, Samantha Subin, Pia Singh Organizations: Getty, CNBC, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Reserve, Bank of America Securities Locations: Silicon Valley, Russia, Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a plenary session of the Valdai Club on Nov. 7, 2024 in Moscow, Russia. Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesGlobal stocks fell and investors fled to safe-haven assets on Tuesday, as global markets reacted to escalating tensions between the world's two largest nuclear powers: Russia and the U.S. The pan-European Stoxx 600 stock index was down almost 1% at 12:23 p.m. London time, hitting 498.56 points — its lowest level since August. The declines come after Russian President Vladimir Putin amended Russia's nuclear doctrine that outlines the conditions that would prompt Moscow to deploy its nuclear arsenal, Russian state news agency Tass reported Tuesday. In currency markets, the Japanese yen rose 0.7% and 0.36% against the euro and U.S. dollar respectively at 12:26 a.m. London time.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, USDJPY, Wells, Erik Nelson, Putin, Tiffany McGhee, CNBC's, Ice Brent Organizations: Valdai, Getty, U.S, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Russian Federation, NBC News, Swiss, CNBC, U.S ., NATO, White, Kremlin, Russian Defense Ministry, Kyiv, NBC, Ukrainian, Staff of, Armed Forces, Ice Locations: Moscow, Russia, London, U.S, Republic of Belarus, Russian, Ukraine, Kyiv, Soviet, Bryansk, America

☆ Russia warns U.S. is adding fuel to fire with long-range missile decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Local residents walk past destroyed houses in the city, approximately 10 km from the frontline, on November 16, 2024 in Pokrovsk, Ukraine. Libkos | Getty ImagesThe Kremlin has lashed back against a White House decision to now allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made long-range weapons for limited strikes inside Russian territory. "The issue is not about allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not. The issue is about making a decision: NATO countries directly participate in the military conflict or not. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses lawmakers as he presents the so-called 'Victory Plan' during a parliament session, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 16, 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Ilnitsky, Putin, Zelenskyy, Andrii Nesterenko Organizations: Libkos, White, NBC, Artillery Rocket Systems, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Reuters, Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS, Google, Ria Novosti, NATO, Kremlin, Institute for, Tactical Missile Locations: Pokrovsk, Ukraine, Washington, U.S, Moscow, Russian, Russia, NATO, United States, Kursk Oblast, Kyiv

☆ Alibaba shares rise 5% in premarket after Chinese tech giant posts 58% jump in profit
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alibaba said net income rose 58% year-on-year to 43.9 billion Chinese yuan ($6.07 billion) in the company's quarter ending Sept. 30, on the back of the performance of its equity investments. This compared with a LSEG outlook of 25.83 billion yuan. Revenue, meanwhile, came in at 236.5 billion yuan, 5% higher year-on-year but below an analyst forecast of 238.9 billion yuan, according to LSEG data. Investors are closely watching the performance of Alibaba's main business units, Taobao and Tmall Group, which reported a 1% annual uptick in revenue to 98.99 billion yuan in the September quarter. The e-commerce giant's overseas online shopping businesses, such as Lazada and Aliexpress, meanwhile posted a 29% year-on-year hike in sales to 31.67 billion yuan.

Persons: Alibaba, — Organizations: Tmall, ING Locations: York, London, Beijing

☆ 'Political malpractice' if Trump undoes climate-geared Biden projects, outgoing U.S. energy secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm speaks to the media on day five at the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference on November 15, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. A potential decision by Donald Trump to walk back the Biden administration's climate-geared projects would impact jobs in areas governed by the President-elect's own party, outgoing U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told CNBC, urging consistency in Washington's green transition policies. "We are now building all of these projects. We're building batteries for electric vehicles, we're building the vehicles, we're building the offshore wind turbines, we're building the solar panels. When asked for a response on Granholm's comments, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, said the president-elect will "deliver" on the promises he made on the campaign trail.

Persons: Energy Jennifer Granholm, Donald Trump, Jennifer Granholm, Trump's, Granholm, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Joe Biden's, Law —, Karoline Leavitt Organizations: Energy, Conference, Biden, U.S . Energy, CNBC, Law, Republican Locations: Baku, Azerbaijan, Paris, U.S, Washington

☆ SoftBank posts blowout quarterly gains at Vision Fund tech arm
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The broader Vision Fund segment as a whole, which also factors in non-investment performance such as administrative expenses and gains and losses attributable to third-party investors, reported a gain of 373.1 billion yen. It had declared a loss of 204.3 billion yen in the company's first fiscal quarter. The Vision Fund has been cashing in on the success of the September 2023 listing of smartphone chip designer Arm Holdings , in which it owns a sweeping majority stake of around 90%. The group's print benefitted from investment gains of 1.28 trillion yen on shares of Chinese retail giant Alibaba and of 566.2 billion yen on stock of T-Mobile. On Tuesday, it said it had repurchased a cumulative 153.8 billion yen in shares by the end of the second quarter.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Didi, Son, Elliott Organizations: SoftBank Corp, SoftBank Group Corp, Bloomberg, Getty, Vision Fund, Arm Holdings, Nvidia, Yahoo, SoftBank, Mobile, Elliott Management, CNBC, Barclays Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Norwegian, Mobile . Tokyo, SoftBank

☆ FTX sues crypto exchange Binance and its former CEO Zhao for $1.8 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The estate of collapsed crypto exchange FTX has filed a suit against Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao in an effort to wrest back at least $1.76 billion, citing a "fraudulent" share deal. The FTX estate alleges that the share repurchase was funded by FTX's Alameda Research division through a combination of the company's and Binance's exchange tokens, as well as Binance's dollar-pegged stablecoin. Binance denies the allegations, saying in an emailed statement: "The claims are meritless, and we will vigorously defend ourselves." That same month, Binance's Zhao pleaded guilty to charges of violating the Bank Secrecy Act for failing to put in motion an effective anti-money laundering program and for breaching U.S. economic sanctions. In another post cited, he said: "As part of Binance's exit from FTX equity last year, Binance received roughly $2.1 billion USD equivalent in cash (BUSD and FTT).

Persons: FTX, Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, Sam Bankman, Binance, Fried, Binance's Zhao, LUNA Organizations: Binance, Shires, FTX's Alameda Research Locations: Delaware, FTX, Alameda

☆ Europe cannot finance Ukraine war if Trump pulls U.S. out of the conflict, Hungary's Orban warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends ADF Talks as part of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) at NEST Congress and Exhibition Center in Antalya, Turkiye on March 01, 2024. Europe alone cannot shoulder the financial strain of supporting Ukraine against the ongoing Russian invasion, Hungarian leader Viktor Orban said Friday, warning that closely-allied President-elect Donald Trump will likely steer Washington out of the conflict. "Europe alone cannot finance this war. He is a person who hates war, a real businessman who thinks that life and things go well when there is no war." On Thursday, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico — whose country heavily relies on Russian hydrocarbons — questioned the European funding agenda.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Donald Trump, Orban, Kamala Harris, Robert Fico — Organizations: Antalya Diplomacy, Exhibition Center, Google, Trump, White, U.S, EU, Kiel Institute of, European Investment Bank, European Commission, Slovakian Locations: Antalya, Turkiye, Europe, Ukraine, Washington, Budapest

☆ UniCredit and Commerzbank square off with target hikes amid takeover battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of German bank Commerzbank seen on a branch office near the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt. Daniel Roland | Afp | Getty ImagesTwo months since UniCredit played its opening move to woo German lender Commerzbank , the lenders flaunted their financial strength as one of Europe's largest banking mergers still hangs in balance. Both banks reported third-quarter results on Wednesday, with UniCredit posting an 8% year-on-year hike in net profit to 2.5 billion euros ($2.25 billion), compared with a Reuters-reported 2.27-billion euro forecast. It raised its full-year net profit guidance to above 9 billion euros, from a previous outlook of 8.5 billion euros. When the Italian lender showed its hand by using derivatives to build a potential 21% stake in Commerzbank, the German lender appointed a new CEO and sharpened its financial targets.

Persons: Daniel Roland, UniCredit, Commerzbank, CNBC's Annette Weisbach, Bettina Orlopp, Orlopp, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, waylay, Let's, hadn't, Andrea Orcel, CNBC's Charlotte Reed Organizations: Afp, Getty, Reuters, CNBC, Wednesday, German Ministry of Finance Locations: Frankfurt, Europe, Commerzbank, Berlin

Former President Donald Trump has won a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, winning the battleground state map by margins that surprised even Trump's closest allies. Trump promised to impose heavy tariffs on imported goods if he was elected, claiming that they will simultaneously boost U.S. revenues, strengthen domestic industries and deter unwanted foreign competition. Mainstream economists warn that the tariffs, which are taxes paid by U.S. importers, will raise prices on American consumers. "We're going to help our country heal," Trump said Tuesday "We're going to fix everything about our country." He said "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," which included his fellow Republicans regaining control of the U.S. Senate.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Trump Organizations: U.S, U.S . Senate

Saudi state oil giant Aramco reported a 15.4% drop in net profit in the third-quarter on the back of "lower crude oil prices and weakening refining margins," but maintained a 31.05 billion dividend. The company reported net income of $27.56 billion in the July-September period, topping a company-provided estimate of $26.9 billion. The print is also a 5% drop from the previous quarter, which came in at $29.1 billion, as lower global oil prices, weaker demand and prolonged OPEC+ production cuts led by Saudi Arabia continue to impact crude prices. Earnings before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) came in at $51.45 billion in the third quarter, down 17% year-on-year. The earnings align with a broader trend across oil majors, whose third-quarter profits have also suffered from declines in crude prices and refining margins.

Organizations: Aramco, Al Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Al Rajhi, OPEC

☆ Swiss bank UBS smashes third-quarter expectations with $1.4 billion in profit
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Swiss banking titan UBS on Wednesday posted a large profit beat, after completing its first wave of client migrations following its integration of collapsed domestic rival Credit Suisse. Net profit attributable to shareholders came in at $1.43 billion, compared with a mean forecast of $667.5 million in a LSEG poll of analysts. UBS defends it is not "too big to fail." UBS still faces the lofty tasks of integrating its IT system with that of Credit Suisse, along with migrating clients — with the latter transition set to take around 18 months, Reuters reported earlier this month. The UBS results come after the profit beat of Germany's largest lender Deutsche Bank last Wednesday and join this week's spate of third-quarter reports from European lenders, including from BNP Paribas and Santander.

Persons: Sergio Ermotti, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley Organizations: UBS, Wednesday, Credit Suisse, Credit Suisse —, Reuters, Swiss National Bank —, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Santander

☆ U.S. election won't be an 'uneventful event' for global markets, UBS chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The outcome of upcoming elections in the world's leading economy is set to ripple into global markets no matter who clinches leadership of the White House, UBS head Sergio Ermotti told CNBC on Wednesday. "We do expect, no matter who wins and the outcome, we do expect some market movements. Markets are bracing as voters flock to the polls on Nov. 5, with the U.S. holding both the world's foremost reserve currency and the largest stock exchange by market capitalization. Under a [Donald] Trump presidency, we see that as being inflationary on the back of his focus on immigration and on tariffs. But we don't see any outcome as being particularly growth positive.

Persons: Sergio Ermotti, CNBC's Annette Weisbach, Ermotti, Donald, Trump, Arun Sai, CNBC's Organizations: White House, UBS, CNBC, Swiss, U.S, U.S . Federal, . Treasury, Pictet Asset Management, Trump Locations: U.S

☆ Russia's central bank raises key rate to 21% to rein in higher-than-forecast inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Photo: Ulf Mauder/dpa (Photo by Ulf Mauder/picture alliance via Getty Images)Russia's central bank on Friday raised its key interest rate by 200 basis points to 21%, citing consumer price increases considerably above its forecast and warning of ongoing high inflation risks in the medium term. The key rate was previously taken up by 100 basis points to 19% in September. On Friday, the central bank noted annual seasonally adjusted inflation hit an average of 9.8% in September, up from 7.5% in August. "Over the medium-term horizon, the balance of inflation risks is still significantly tilted to the upside," the bank said in a statement. "The key risks are associated with persistently high inflation expectations and the upward deviation of the Russian economy from a balanced growth path, as well as with a deterioration in foreign trade conditions."

Persons: Ulf Mauder Organizations: Foreign Ministry, Getty, Reuters Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ HSBC names Pam Kaur as first female CFO amid major restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

HSBC on Tuesday named veteran insider Pam Kaur as its first female finance chief and announced a consolidation of the bank into four business units. Kaur is set to assume her post on Jan. 1, according to regulatory filings with the Hong Kong bourse, taking over from interim Chief Financial Officer Jon Bingham. This is the second heavyweight leadership shakeup for HSBC in recent months, after former finance boss Georges Elhedery was named CEO of the group back in July. From January, it will operate through four divisions: Hong Kong, U.K., international wealth and premier banking, and corporate and institutional banking. The bank's new corporate and institutional banking unit will bring together its commercial banking business (outside of Hong Kong and the U.K.), global banking and markets business, and Western markets wholesale banking operations.

Persons: Pam Kaur, Kaur, Jon Bingham, shakeup, Georges Elhedery, Elhedery Organizations: HSBC, Tuesday, Hong, Hong Kong bourse Locations: Hong Kong, U.K

☆ Israeli military says it is investigating the possible killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Israeli military on Thursday said it was investigating the "possibility" that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was among three militants killed in an operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Forces added that the identity of the three casualties could not be confirmed at this time. "The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution," it added in a social media post. In a social media update posted after the IDF communication, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, "You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword. Sinwar assumed overall command of the Iran-backed Hamas in August, following the assassination of former political chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Yoav Gallant, John Kirby, Washington, Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Houthis, Hassan Nasrallah Organizations: Israeli Defense Forces, CNBC, Israeli, National Security, NBC News, Hezbollah Locations: Gaza, Iran, Israel, Tehran, Lebanese, Beirut, U.S, Asia, Pacific

☆ TSMC third-quarter profit beats expectations as AI boom drives 54% hike
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An image of a semiconductor wafer at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Museum of Innovation in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Jan. 11, 2022. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company on Thursday reported a 54% hike in net profit, as global chipmakers continue to benefit from demand boosted by AI applications. The company's net income was 352.3 billion Taiwanese dollars ($10.1 billion) over the July-September quarter, surpassing an LSEG estimate of $300.2 billion Taiwanese dollars cited by Reuters. Capital expenditure edged higher to $6.4 billion in the third quarter, versus $6.36 billion across the three preceding months. TSMC's earnings beat comes the same week as Netherlands-based ASML , which supplies machines to the Taiwanese company, issued a lower-than-expected forecast of net sales, sending shares tumbling.

Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Innovation, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Reuters, TSMC, Apple, Nvidia Locations: Hsinchu, Taiwan, Netherlands

☆ Ericsson shares jump 7% on third-quarter beat, growth in North America sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Shares of Swedish telecom firm Ericsson jumped amid third-quarter core earnings that surpassed analyst expectations and growth in North American demand. Net sales shed 4% year-on-year to 61.8 billion Swedish crowns in the third quarter, but nevertheless surpassed analyst expectations of near 61.6 billion, according to Reuters estimates. North America emerged as a bright spot in the sales picture, with year-on-year growth of more than 50%. "North America was the first to roll out 5G, and of course they were also the first to therefore slow down the pace. The North American growth offset steep third-quarter sales declines in both north east and south east Asia, where telecommunication companies have recently been focusing on developing markets such as India.

Persons: Börje Ekholm, CNBC's, Ekholm Organizations: Ericsson, Reuters, Nokia, AT, 5G, UBS Locations: North, London, America, U.S, ORAN, Asia, India, China, Sweden

☆ Israeli forces launch ground offensive in Lebanon as markets fear escalation
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

NEBATIEH, LEBANON - SEPTEMBER 28: Smoke rises after Israeli attacks over Shebaa town of Nabatieh province on September 28, 2024. The Israeli air and artillery forces are supporting the offensive, the IDF said. Hezbollah said that claims that Israel had entered Lebanon are "false," reporting no "direct ground clashes," according to a Google-translated statement. Historically sensitive to geopolitical tremors, oil prices have resisted long-term spikes, reined in by the specter of waning global demand and potential supply increases. On its own, this escalation would point to higher oil prices and inflation.

Persons: Ramiz Dallah, Jalaa Marey, Hassan Nasrallah, Yoav Gallant, Lloyd Austin, Israel, Amir Yaron, specter Organizations: Getty Images, Anadolu, Getty, Israel, Israel's Defense Forces, White House, NBC, Brent, Afp, Jewish, Palestinian, Hamas, Israeli, U.S, United Nations, Reuters, Capital, Gulf Cooperation Council Locations: NEBATIEH, LEBANON, Shebaa, Nabatieh, Anadolu, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, London, Galilee, Gaza, Lebanese, Beirut's, U.S, Saudi Arabia

☆ Dodge-maker Stellantis issues profit warning; shares drop 12%
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Stellantis sign is seen outside the FCA Headquarters and Technology Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Jan. 19, 2021. Stellantis on Monday trimmed its 2024 annual guidance on the back of deteriorating "global industry dynamics" and bolstered competition from China, sending Milan-listed shares lower on open. It now pencils in an adjusted operating income (AOI) margin between 5.5% to 7.0% for the full-year 2024 period, down from a "double digit" outlook. The automaker further attributed the revisions to its guidance to "decisions to significantly enlarge remediation actions on North American performance issues," but supplied no additional details. Earlier this year, Stellantis was sued by shareholders in the U.S. who claimed the automaker defrauded them by concealing rising inventories and other items, Reuters reported.

Persons: Stellantis Organizations: FCA Headquarters, Technology Center, Chrysler, Dodge, Maserati, U.S ., Reuters Locations: Auburn Hills , Michigan, China, Milan, U.S

☆ Oil alliance OPEC+ zeroes in on group compliance after postponing output hike
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The OPEC+ alliance is once more cracking down on group compliance with oil output cuts, as it presses ahead with a three-pronged plan of formal and voluntary production trims. Eight OPEC+ members, including kingpin Saudi Arabia, were due to begin returning 2.2 million barrels per day of voluntary cuts to the market starting in October. Earlier this month, they postponed this phaseout to start in December instead. OPEC+ nations are operating two other production declines: under official policy, they will produce a combined 39.725 million bpd next year. The same aforementioned eight members are separately curbing their output by another 1.7 million bpd throughout 2025, also on a voluntary basis.

Persons: Undercompliance Organizations: CNBC Locations: OPEC, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China

☆ Swiss central bank cuts rates by a quarter point in third trim this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A view of the headquarters of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), before a press conference in Zurich, Switzerland, March 21, 2024. It was the first major Western central bank to reduce interest rates back in March. Domestically, Swiss inflation remains subdued, with the latest headline print pointing to a 1.1% annual increase in August. Further cuts in the SNB policy rate may become necessary in the coming quarters to ensure price stability over the medium term," it added. He added that the central bank may nevertheless have to reduce rates again to retain inflation in the 0-2% target range.

Persons: exacerbation, Swissmem, SNB, Kyle Chapman, Chapman, Thomas Jordan, Jordan, Adrian Prettejohn, Prettejohn Organizations: Swiss National Bank, European Central Bank, U.S . Federal Reserve, Swiss, U.S ., ING, Ballinger Group, Reuters, Capital Economics Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Swiss, Europe

☆ UniCredit's Andrea Orcel plays a bold hand, with Commerzbank in his sights
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

UniCredit 's CEO Andrea Orcel revealed his hand this week as the Italian lender built a 9% stake in Commerzbank — and a takeover bid for the German rival could still be in the cards. UniCredit faces a number of hurdles before increasing its stake after filing a request to "potentially exceed 9.9% of Commerzbank if and when necessary." Commerzbank shares soared on Wednesday when news of UniCredit's position was announced, and compounded gains on Thursday following speculation of an imminent takeover. Whispers cooled in January, however, when Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing said that merger and acquisition activity was not a priority for the group at the time. A UniCredit takeover of Commerzbank would emerge as a rare, if long-awaited, instance of consolidation among Europe's banking titans.

Persons: UniCredit, Andrea Orcel, Orcel, it's, Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing Organizations: Bloomberg, HypoVereinsbank, Alpha Bank, Hellenic Financial Stability, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Bank CEO Christian, Commerzbank, titans Locations: Commerzbank, Germany, Munich

☆ Commerzbank shares jump 17% after UniCredit buys 4.5% stake from the German government
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Commerzbank shares jumped on market open on Wednesday, after Italian bank UniCredit acquired a 4.5% stake in the Frankfurt-based lender from the German government. Commerzbank stock was up 17.5% at 9:37 a.m. London time. The stake acquisition marks the first step in Berlin's exit from its position in the German lender. The German government said it had sold around 53.1 million shares — or a roughly 4.49% tranche out of its 16.49% total shareholding — in Commerzbank for roughly 702 million euros ($775 million) to UniCredit. Also on Wednesday, the German lender said Commerzbank chief Manfred Knof will fulfil but not seek to renew his term after the end of his contract in December 2025.

Persons: Commerzbank, Eva Grunwald, UniCredit, Manfred Knof Organizations: UniCredit, Bank, CNBC Locations: Frankfurt, London, Commerzbank, Berlin, Milan

☆ Many 'doubted the vision': Saudi investment minister touts 'green shoring' on path to diversification
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih pushed back against skepticism over the country's economic diversification plan, as Riyadh touts "green shoring" investment opportunities to woo foreign financing. The Saudi minister on Saturday said that, eight years into manifesting Vision 2030, the kingdom is now "more committed, more determined" to the program and has already implemented or is about to complete 87% of its targets. The number of foreign investment licenses issued in Saudi Arabia nearly doubled in 2023, the IMF noted, with government data pointing to a 5.6% annual increase in net flows of foreign direct investment in the first quarter. Concerns have nevertheless lingered over the potential uncertainty and unpredictability of the kingdom's legal framework and its dispute resolution system for foreign investment. Al-Falih insisted that Saudi Arabia boasts predictability, as well as domestic political and economic stability.

Persons: Khalid, Falih, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Mohammed bin Salman's Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Cernobbio, Italy, U.S, Saudi Arabia

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