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☆ Sri Lanka's economy shrinks 11.5% in first quarter as financial crisis continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO, June 15 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's economy (LKGDP=ECI) shrank 11.5% in the first three months of 2023, official data showed on Thursday, as the country remained in the grip of its worst financial crisis in decades. Sri Lanka's central bank projects that GDP will shrink by 2% this year while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates a contraction of 3%. "A pickup in private sector credit will be a growth positive and credit growth will increase over the next six to nine months," Cooray added. Sri Lanka's economy contracted by a record 7.8% last year after its foreign exchange reserves hit record lows, plunging the island into the worst financial crisis since it gained Independence from the British in 1948. But Sri Lanka still needs to complete debt restructuring talks by September in time for the first IMF review.

Persons: ”, Shehan Cooray, Cooray, Uditha, John Stonestreet, Susan Fenton Organizations: Statistics Department, Sri, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka's, Sri, Sri Lanka

☆ European equity investors hunt for big returns in small places
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Lucy Raitano | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The MSCI Europe SMID index of European small to mid-cap firms (.MIEU000D0PEU) is trading near 2008 lows versus the wider market in terms of valuations, including both price/earnings and price-to-book ratios. The bank's small cap basket is invested across sectors, or 'sector neutral', to make it "less prone to the ups and downs of cyclical acceleration and deceleration." But M&A remains a supportive theme, said Amundi's Matti, as big players seeking external growth can look to the small cap sector for niche expertise to add to their portfolios. "When people are trying to find alpha to add to their portfolio, small caps tend to be the place to look at," said Matti. "Ultimately, they (small caps) are a rich hunting ground for long-term investors."

Persons: Dash, Emmanuel Cau, Amundi, Cristina Matti, Amundi's Matti, Matti, Graham Secker, Morgan Stanley, ”, Bernie Ahkong, Morgan Stanley's Secker, Thomas McGarrity, Lucy Raitano, Susan Fenton Organizations: Barclays, Energy, Reuters Graphics, O’Connor, Alpha, UBS Asset Management, Data, RBC Wealth Management, Thomson Locations: Europe, Amundi

☆ IKEA bets on remote interior design as AI changes sales strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Helen Reid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, June 13 (Reuters) - IKEA is training call centre workers to become interior design advisers as the Swedish furniture giant aims to offer more home improvement services and hand run-of-the-mill customer queries to an artificial intelligence bot called Billie. In April, IKEA expanded its interior design services to the UK and United States, after previous launches in parts of Europe, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere. In the UK, customers pay 25 pounds ($31.44) for a 45-60 minute interior design advice video call and suggested product list, and can pay 125 pounds for three workspace design consultations, a floorplan and 3D visuals. Sales by phone or video of products and services through Ingka's remote interior design channel accounted for 1.3 billion euros ($1.40 billion) of revenue in Ingka's 2022 financial year - 3.3% of the total. These virtual services require significant investment, she said, to ensure items' colours, textures and sizes are accurately reflected and to minimise returns.

Persons: Billie, IKEA's Billy bookcase, We're, Ulrika Biesert, Biesert, Wayfair, It's, Jocelyn Paulley, Helen Reid, Susan Fenton Organizations: IKEA, United Arab, Ingka Group, Reuters, Ingka, Gowling, Thomson Locations: Swedish, United States, Europe, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Ingka, headcount, London

☆ Morning Bid: Inflation anxiety, yet S&P 500 keeps on running
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Samuel Indyk. Jerome Powell and his band of brothers on the Federal Open Market Committee will be sitting nervously. Money market traders are pricing around a three-in-four chance the Fed keeps rates on hold and a one-in-four shot of a 25 basis point hike. The S&P 500 (.SPX) closed on Monday at its highest level since April last year and is up well over 20% from its October 2022 low - a bear market rally or a new bull market? They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Samuel Indyk, Jerome Powell, Jim Reid, they're, Reid, FOMC, Susan Fenton Organizations: Federal, of Labor Statistics, Reuters, CPI, Deutsche Bank, Money, People's Bank of China, Nikkei, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, Japan

☆ Odey Asset Management freezes funds as clients pull money, prime brokers flee
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Nell Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, June 13 (Reuters) - Odey Asset Management (OAM) is closing one fund and restricting money clients can pull from another, two investor letters showed, just as the hedge fund was scrambling on Tuesday to keep its prime brokers from ending vital relationships with the firm. Odey Asset Management has closed its Odey Swan Fund and is restricting the money clients can pull from its Brook Developed Markets Fund, according to investor letters seen by Reuters. An OAM spokesperson declined to comment but confirmed the letter about the Brook Developed Markets Fund and was not immediately available to respond to a request about the closure of the Swan Fund. He did not respond when contacted by Reuters on Tuesday about either the Brook or Swan fund. Brook Developed Markets Fund is open to retail investors and had about $216 million, as of the end of February, the latest data from Morningstar showed.

Persons: Crispin Odey, Odey, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Swan, Nell Mackenzie, Dhara Ranasinghe, Elisa Martinuzzi, Susan Fenton Organizations: Odey, Management, Financial Times, Tortoise Media, Reuters, JPMorgan, Swan, Swan Fund, Morningstar, Thomson

☆ Volkswagen supervisory board to discuss savings programme on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, June 12 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) supervisory board will meet on Tuesday to discuss a planned savings programme ahead of its capital markets day on June 21, two sources close to the company said on Monday. The board will discuss cost-cutting measures amounting to at least 3 billion euros ($3.22 billion) across the Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda and Cupra brands, said one source. Germany daily Handelsblatt, which first reported on the savings programme, reported that Chief Executive Oliver Blume wants to curb duplicate development work and better utilise German plants, particularly at Audi and Volkswagen. Volkswagen brand chief Thomas Schaefer said in an internal memo in May that the brand was targeting a 6.5% return on sales, compared to 3% achieved in the first quarter of this year. The Volkswagen brand must act," he wrote at the time.

Persons: Oliver Blume, Arno Antlitz, Thomas Schaefer, Jan Schwartz, Miranda Murray, Victoria Waldersee, Susan Fenton Organizations: Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany

☆ Investors in biggest climate pressure group don't like to pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Climate Action 100+ (CA100+), set up in 2017, comprises more than 700 investment firms representing $68 trillion in assets. At stake is whether CA100+ members use all the tools at their disposal to pressure climate laggards. FLAGGING CLIMATE LAGGARDSCA100+ posts on its website upcoming shareholder resolutions and board re-election votes but it doesn't recommend voting against directors at climate laggards. Wespath's sustainability director, Jake Barnett, said that challenging board directors over their climate policies was not being used widely enough "as a method of accountability". In at least one area there is compulsion; CA100+ members not responding to a survey asking for their engagement interests within a year could be delisted.

Persons: laggards, Xander Urbach, CA100, Francois Humbert, bodes, Eli Kasargod, Staub, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Jake Barnett, MN's Urbach, Shell, Wael Sawan, Vincent Kaufmann, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Greg Roumeliotis, Susan Fenton Organizations: Reuters, MN, Generali Investments, Exxon Mobil Corp, Chevron, Valero Energy, Warren, Investments, The United Methodist Church, Shell, Ethos Foundation, Thomson Locations: Paris, Swiss

☆ EU countries amend draft proposal on gig workers' rights, companies unhappy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Toby MelvilleBRUSSELS, June 12 (Reuters) - EU countries on Monday tweaked draft rules aimed at giving workers at online companies such as Uber (UBER.N) and Deliveroo (ROO.L) employee benefits, ahead of negotiations with EU lawmakers who want more comprehensive rules than both EU governments and the European Commission. In their draft version agreed on Monday, EU countries propose that companies will be considered employers if they meet three out of seven criteria. The EU executive said the rules would cover some 4.1 million of the 28 million workers at online platform companies across the 27-country European Union. Uber criticised the proposals from both EU countries and lawmakers. EU countries, EU lawmakers and the Commission will now thrash out the details before the draft becomes legislation.

Persons: Toby Melville BRUSSELS, Uber, Anabel Diaz Calderon, Glovo, Foo Yun Chee, Susan Fenton Organizations: Chopin, REUTERS, European Commission, EU, Union, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Europe, EU

The economy shed a net 17,300 jobs in May, entirely in full-time work, while the jobless rate inched up to 5.2%, Statistics Canada said. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast a net gain of 23,200 jobs and for the unemployment rate to edge up to 5.1% in May after staying at 5.0% since December. A series of surprisingly strong economic data and stubbornly high inflation led the Bank of Canada to raise its overnight rate to a 22-year high of 4.75% on Wednesday. "While this is an ugly set of jobs data, the labour force survey is notoriously volatile," said Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy at Desjardins Group. Reports on jobs, inflation and gross domestic product are due out ahead of the next policy announcement on July 12.

Persons: Andrew Grantham, Paul Beaudry, Beaudry, Royce Mendes, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Dale Smith, Susan Fenton, Nick Macfie, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: OTTAWA, Statistics, Reuters, Bank of Canada, Bank of, CIBC Capital Markets, Desjardins Group, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Canada, Statistics Canada, Bank of Canada, Ottawa, Toronto

☆ Morning Bid: Wall St 'bull', China deflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Its annual consumer price inflation rate was just 0.2% - also below forecast. But along with easing supply chain pressures and annual crude oil price deflation still near 40%, there was enough to restore hopes that central bank tightening is gaining traction and further extreme moves unnecessary. The Bank of Japan is expected to retain its super-easy money policy and the European Central Bank is due to nudge up rates another quarter point. On the hawkish side, the International Monetary Fund on Thursday urged global central banks to "stay the course" on monetary policy and remain vigilant. Events to watch for later on Friday:* Canada May employment reportReuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsBy Mike Dolan, editing by Susan Fenton <a href="mailto:mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com" target="_blank">mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com</a>.

Persons: Mike Dolan, abating, El Nino, Binance.US, Donald Trump, Susan Fenton Organizations: Bank of, European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund, U.S, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Bank of Japan, Ukraine, Miami

☆ ECB to hike rates in June and July to break sticky inflation - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Prerana Bhat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Price pressures and inflation expectations have moderated, but not by enough to deter the ECB from continuing its most aggressive tightening cycle on record. The ECB slowed the pace of its rate rises to 25 basis points at its May meeting after a flurry of 75 and 50 basis point moves. About three-quarters of economists, 43 of 59, forecast another 25 basis point rate hike in July, a stance hardly changed from a May poll. "A 25 basis point rate hike looks like a done deal for next week's meeting," said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING. "The ECB might not be convinced by the September meeting inflation is declining sufficiently to pause," he said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Price, Christine Lagarde, Carsten Brzeski, Mark Wall, Prerana Bhat, Milounee Purohit, Ross Finley, Jonathan Cable, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, European Central Bank, Reuters, ECB, ING, U.S . Federal, Deutsche Bank, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Germany, Europe

LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) - Europe’s gas storage is refilling much more slowly than usual as the drop in prices encourages more consumption by industrial users and power generators while diverting liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes to Asia. The surplus has narrowed from +282 TWh (+80% or +2.41 standard deviations) at the end of the traditional winter drawdown season on March 31 (“Aggregated gas storage inventory”, Gas Infrastructure Europe, June 8). Chartbook: Europe gas inventories and pricesInventories have responded to lower prices, with front-month futures prices down by more than 90% from its peak in August 2022. Lower prices in Europe are also diverting more LNG cargoes to price-sensitive customers in South and East Asia for power generation. Related columns:- Europe’s gas prices slide on swollen inventories (May 11, 2023)- Europe only has space for a small gas refill in 2023 (April 14, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: John Kemp, Susan Fenton Organizations: European Union, Gas Infrastructure, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Asia, United Kingdom, Gas Infrastructure Europe, Chartbook, Europe, South, East Asia

"There's still discussion in Portugal how that privatisation will take place and it's not supposed to be 100 percent privatisation," Spohr told journalists at the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Istanbul. At least three major global carriers, Lufthansa, Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA) and British Airways-owner IAG (ICAG.L), have shown an interest. Lufthansa said last month that it was taking a 41% stake in Italian carrier ITA Airways in the latest major consolidation in the aviation sector in Europe. "Boeing are saying it's delivery in late 24 or early 25 - which means it's early '25," Spohr said. Reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Tim Hepher; Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carsten Spohr, Joao Nuno Mendes, it's, Spohr, IAG, Joanna Plucinska, Tim Hepher, Susan Fenton Organizations: TAP, International Air Transport Association, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways, ITA Airways, Boeing, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL, Portugal, Istanbul, Europe

☆ Polish opposition supporters, seeking change, mark 1989 Solidarity win
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] People wait for a march organised by main opposition party the Civic Platform (PO) on the 34th anniversary of the first democratic elections in postwar Poland, in Warsaw, Poland, June 4, 2023. On Sunday, hundreds of buses were arriving in Warsaw to bring opposition supporters from across the country. Some said they were motivated by a row over legislation proposed by PiS to weed out undue Russian influence from the country. The opposition sees the legislation as a government attempt to launch a witchhunt against political opponents. "It's beyond comprehension," said Andrzej Majewski, 48, from Slupca in western Poland who was in Warsaw to join Sunday's protest march.

Persons: Mateusz Morawiecki, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Andrzej Duda, Andrzej Majewski, Marek Strzelecki, Nick Macfie, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Law and Justice, Kremlin, European Union council, Solidarity, U.S . State Department, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Poland, Warsaw, WARSAW, Ukraine, Europe, Slupca

☆ Turkish economy to return to 'rational ground', new finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Nevzat Devranoglu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ANKARA, June 4 (Reuters) - Turkey's newly appointed Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Sunday that the country has no choice but to return to "rational ground" to ensure predictability in the economy. In a handover ceremony, Simsek said the main goal of the new government will be to increase social welfare. "Turkey has no other choice than to return to a rational ground. A rules-based, predictable Turkish economy will be the key to achieving the desired prosperity." Fiscal policies and structural reforms will support Turkey's central bank to help lowering inflation, Simsek also said.

Persons: Mehmet Simsek, Tayyip Erdogan, Simsek, Goldman Sachs, Huseyin Hayatsever, Hugh Lawson, Susan Fenton Organizations: Thomson Locations: ANKARA, Turkey

ISTANBUL, June 4 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA) is closing towards a potentially record deal to sell 500 narrow-body A320-family jets to India's largest carrier IndiGo (INGL.NS), industry sources said on Sunday. Airbus and Boeing (BA.N) are also still competing in separate talks to sell 25 A330neo or Boeing 787 wide-body jets to the same airline, the industry sources said. IndiGo is already one of Airbus's largest customers and has so far ordered a total of 830 Airbus A320-family jets of which nearly 500 are still to be delivered. IndiGo aims to double its capacity by the end of the decade and expand its network, especially in international markets. The airline has a codeshare partnership with seven carriers including Turkish Airlines, American Airlines and KLM.

Persons: Pieter Elbers, Carsten Spohr, Elbers, Tim Hepher, Aditi Shah, Joanna Plucinska, Hugh Lawson, David Holmes, Susan Fenton Organizations: Airbus, Boeing, IndiGo, International Air Transport Association, Reuters, Turkish Airlines, Barclays, Lufthansa Group, American Airlines, KLM, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL, Istanbul, United States, Europe

ABUJA, June 4 (Reuters) - Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC Ltd is winding down crude swap contracts with traders and will pay cash for gasoline imports, its chief executive told Reuters, adding that private companies could begin importing petrol as soon as this month. And we now have an arm's-length process where we can pay cash for the imports," Kyari told Reuters in an interview late on Saturday. This is the first time NNPC has said it is terminating crude swap contracts. In its report detailing March crude oil loadings, NNPC also allocated crude to the swap contracts held by the consortiums. Nigeria has struggled to meet its OPEC oil quota of 1.742 million bpd due to grand oil theft and illegal refining.

Persons: Bola Tinubu's, Tinubu, NNPC, Kyari, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Camillus Eboh, Julia Payne, Susan Fenton Organizations: NNPC, Reuters, Dangote Refinery, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Ukraine, Dangote, NNPC, Vienna

☆ Polish opposition supporters mark 1989 Solidarity win
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/8] People carry Polish and European Union flags as they take part in a march on the 34th anniversary of the first democratic elections in postwar Poland, in Warsaw, Poland, June 4, 2023. Crowds stretching for at least a mile marched with banners reading "Free, European Poland", "European Union yes, PiS no", referring to the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party. Donald Tusk, head of the Civic Platform grouping and a former European Union council chief, welcomed supporters saying that the voice of Poles could not be silenced. On Sunday, hundreds of buses arrived in Warsaw to bring opposition supporters from across the country. The opposition sees the legislation as a government attempt to launch a witchhunt against political opponents.

Persons: Jaroslaw Kaczynski, I've, Jacek Gwozdz, Mateusz Morawiecki's, Donald Tusk, Tusk, I'm, Andrzej Duda, Andrzej Majewski, Marek Strzelecki, Nick Macfie, Susan Fenton, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Justice, Police, Law and Justice, Kremlin, European Union council, Solidarity, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Poland, Warsaw, WARSAW, Nowy Sacz, Ukraine, Europe, it's, United States, Slupca

[1/2] A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. WTI was headed for its highest close since May 26 and Brent on track for its highest close since May 29. Open interest in futures contracts rose on Thursday to the highest since July 2021 for Brent and March 2022 for WTI. Oil traders have turned their attention to the June 4 meeting of OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia. On the demand side, manufacturing data out of China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, painted a mixed picture.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Brent, WTI, Baker Hughes, Craig Erlam, Erlam, Shadia Nasralla, Andrew Hayley, Susan Fenton, Kirsten Donovan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Congress, YORK, U.S, . West Texas, WTI, Senate, U.S . Federal Reserve, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Russia, OPEC, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, London, Beijing

[1/2] A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidLONDON, June 2 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday after a U.S. debt ceiling deal averted a default in the world's biggest oil consumer and jobs data indicated a possible rate hike pause, while attention turned to a meeting of OPEC ministers and their allies at the weekend. Earlier signals of a potential pause in rate hikes by the Federal Reserve also provided support to oil prices, not least by weighing on the U.S. dollar , making oil cheaper for holders of other currencies. Meanwhile, manufacturing data out of China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, painted a mixed picture. Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; additional reporting by Andrew Hayley; editing by Susan Fenton and Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid LONDON, Shadia Nasralla, Andrew Hayley, Susan Fenton, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Federal Reserve, U.S ., Organization of, Petroleum, U.S . Institute for Supply Management, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Russia, China

[1/2] A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidLONDON, June 2 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday after a U.S. debt ceiling deal averted a default in the world's biggest oil consumer, while attention turned to a meeting of OPEC ministers and their allies at the weekend. Earlier signals of a potential pause in rate hikes by the Federal Reserve also provided support to oil prices, not least by weighing on the U.S. dollar , making oil cheaper for holders of other currencies. Investor attention is also fixed on the June 4 meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, collectively called OPEC+. Meanwhile, manufacturing data out of China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, painted a mixed picture.

Persons: Brendan McDermid LONDON, Shadia Nasralla, Andrew Hayley, Susan Fenton, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Federal Reserve, U.S ., Organization of, Petroleum, U.S . Institute for Supply Management, PMI, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Russia, China

☆ EU countries weaken nature law in hunt for deal -document
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 2 (Reuters) - European Union countries want to water down parts of the bloc's flagship nature law by adding loopholes to dodge certain targets, as they attempt to find a deal on the contested proposal, a draft document showed. The EU's proposed law would set binding targets for countries to restore damaged natural environments. A draft negotiating document, seen by Reuters, showed countries plan to weaken proposed targets to revive drained peatlands used in agriculture, and insert a loophole so countries can avoid these targets in certain circumstances. "Ireland supports the ambition of the Nature Restoration Law and is working with colleagues across Europe to ensure appropriate flexibilities that enable implementation," the spokesperson said. EU countries and the European Parliament must both approve the nature law.

Persons: Ireland, Kate Abnett, Susan Fenton Organizations: Union, Reuters, European Commission, Restoration, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, France, Belgium, Ireland, peatlands, Irish, Europe

☆ Pound heads for biggest weekly gain in six months
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, June 2 (Reuters) - Sterling headed for its biggest one-week rally against the dollar in six months on Friday, as U.S. interest rates looked increasingly likely to plateau sooner than UK rates. The pound has gained 1.5% against the dollar this week, the most since early December, and nearly 1.1% against the euro - which would be its largest weekly increase in nearly four months. Meanwhile, as UK inflation remains stubbornly high, traders have reassessed the outlook for monetary policy in Britain too. Money markets show markets are pricing for UK rates to peak at 5.32% by year-end, up from 4.50% now. A month ago, the expectation was that UK rates would be around 4.80% by December.

Persons: Sterling, Warren Venketas, Jordan Rochester, Amanda Cooper, Susan Fenton Organizations: NFP, Federal Reserve, Treasury, U.S, Nomura, Thomson Locations: Washington, Britain, Rochester

☆ GQG adds more Nvidia as chipmaker has a 'new leg', says CIO
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based GQG, which manages almost $100 billion in assets, added 8.2 million shares in Nvidia in the first quarter, worth $2.3 billion then, according to a regulatory filing. Since then, GQG has "meaningfully increased" its position in Nvidia, Chief Investment Officer Rajiv Jain said in an interview. The chipmaker is likely to give a boost to funds which have invested in it, as Nvidia's shares have more than doubled year to date amid an artificial intelligence boom. Two years ago, concerned about the company's high valuation, GQG had dumped all its Nvidia's shares, just to invest again in the first quarter. "Now Nvidia has gotten a new leg because of the ChatGPT-lead, AI narrative, which is very strong," said Jain, explaining his decision to reinvest.

Persons: Nvidia Corp's, GQG, Rajiv Jain, Jain, Adani, “ There's, Carolina Mandl, Susan Fenton Organizations: YORK, Nvidia, GQG Partners, Adani, Energy, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: Australia, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, India, Adani, U.S

☆ Analysis: Germany leads big bond rally as inflation finally heads down
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Yoruk Bahceli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Borrowing costs, or bond yields, in the benchmark euro area issuer are down at least 20 basis points (bps) this week , . Yet this week's notable moves suggest investors are plumping with the view that easing inflation and recession risks are strong bond buy signals. Traders now expect the ECB hikes to peak at around 3.7% by September, suggesting two more hikes from 3.25% currently. COMPLICATEDInvestors cautioned that the European inflation outlook remained more complicated than in the United States, where inflation broadly is down sharply from peaks. This week's fall in borrowing costs followed sharp rises the previous two weeks on bets for more rate hikes.

Persons: Kaspar Hense, Flavio Carpenzano, It's, Cosimo Marasciulo, Marasciulo, BlueBay's Hense, Oliver Eichmann, DWS, Eichmann, Yoruk Bahceli, Harry Robertson, Dhara Ranasinghe, Susan Fenton Organizations: Bank, British, Thursday's, Traders, BlueBay Asset Management, Capital Group, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, General Investment Management, Bank of England, NatWest, Pictet Wealth Management, Thomson Locations: Germany, United States, Europe, Amundi, U.S, Britain, DWS

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