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☆ EV charging growth plans slowed by EU's power grid problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

These are due to be implemented in 18 months and include addressing EV charging station power shortages. The ease of building an EV charging hub varies considerably country by country. To do so, it will ban sales of CO2-emitting vehicles from 2035 and wants to develop a network of EV charging stations. "Sometimes we have to send physical mail," said Peter Badik, co-founder of EV charging firm Greenway Network, which has set up 1,300 EV chargers in Slovakia, Croatia and Poland. "There is a clear need for more standardisation (of requirements for charging hubs)," BP's van Dobschuetz added.

Persons: Repsol, It's Kafka, Lucie Mattera, Mattera, Miguel Stilwell de Andrade, Peter Badik, Stefan van Dobschuetz, Dobschuetz, ChargeUp Europe's Mattera, Julia Payne, Alexander Smith Organizations: European Union, European Commission, EV, Reuters, Industry, Greenway Network, BP Pulse, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Germany, Spain, Europe, EU, Slovakia, Croatia, Poland

New networks by Dish (DISH.O) and Japan's Rakuten (4755.T) use Open RAN. "All of the new equipment that we are going to be putting out will be Open RAN capable," Chris Sambar, president of AT&T Network, told Reuters. Winning the Open RAN deal will make Ericsson the largest supplier to AT&T as it slowly takes over Nokia's share, the company said. AT&T will still have contracts which other Open RAN vendors outside this deal. AT&T expects fully integrated Open RAN sites operating in coordination with Ericsson and Fujitsu (6702.T), starting in 2024.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Japan's Rakuten, Chris Sambar, Sambar, You've, Supantha Mukherjee, Matthew Lewis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Telefonica, Vodafone, RAN, AT, T Network, Reuters, Samsung, Verizon, U.S ., Fujitsu, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, ORAN, United States, Stockholm

☆ Spanish media association files $598 mln lawsuit against Facebook owner Meta
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Meta logo is seen at the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A group representing 83 Spanish media outlets on Monday said it has filed a 550 million euro ($598 million) lawsuit against Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O), citing unfair competition in the advertising market. The lawsuit was filed by the AMI newspaper publishing association in a commercial court on Friday, the association said in a statement on Monday. The complaint is the second time Spanish media are challenging tech companies to protect their turf. In 2014, the Spanish government forced the closure of Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google News service until 2022 when new legislation allowing media outlets to negotiate directly with the tech giant was passed.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, El, Inti Landauro, Jakub Olesiuk, David Goodman, Emelia Organizations: Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, Meta, AMI, El Pais, ABC, Google, Thomson Locations: Porte, Paris, France, Spanish

☆ Mexico's Samuel Garcia pulls out of 2024 presidential race
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Governor of Nuevo Leon state Samuel Garcia poses for a picture with students as he arrives at an event of school equipment delivery at the Prepa Tec high school, in Monterrey, Mexico April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Samuel Garcia, one of the two main opposition hopefuls competing in Mexico's 2024 presidential election, has withdrawn from the contest to return to his post as governor of the northern state of Nuevo Leon, his party said on Saturday. "I have decided to not participate in the electoral race for President of the Republic," the 35-year-old Garcia said in a statement from the Nuevo Leon government made public by his center-left Citizens' Movement (MC) party. Garcia then became embroiled in a dispute about who would replace him in Nuevo Leon, where his political opponents control the state legislature, which votes in the interim governor. Recent opinion polls have given Garcia around 10% support in the presidential race, putting him behind Xochitl Galvez, candidate of the main opposition alliance.

Persons: Samuel Garcia, Daniel Becerril, Garcia, Luis Enrique Orozco, Garcia's, Orozco, Xochitl Galvez, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, MORENA, Dante Delgado, Dave Graham, Adriana Barrera, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Tec, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Nuevo, ' Movement, Regeneration, Mexico City Mayor, Thomson Locations: Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico, MEXICO, Republic

A pedestrian carrying an umbrella walks along the River Thames in view of City of London skyline in London, Britain, July 31, 2023. Finance executives, consultants and headhunters interviewed by Reuters predict subdued deal flows, modest bonuses for most and heavy job cuts in 2024. "2023 will ultimately be one of the lowest corporate finance fee pools in modern history," said Fabrizio Campelli, head of Corporate Bank and Investment Bank at Deutsche Bank. JOB CUTSBanks have already turned to cost cuts to try to weather the downturn, which in a people-intensive business means job losses. And although some bankers expect a tough 2024, others sense an opportunity for European banks from the Basel Endgame.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Fabrizio Campelli, Banks, Ronan O'Kelly, Oliver Wyman, O'Kelly, Dominic Hook, Goldman Sachs, Vis Raghavan, JP Morgan, Morgan McKinley's, Stephane Rambosson, headhunter, Rambosson, Ana Botin, Morgan's Raghavan, there's, Oliver Wyman's O'Kelly, Deutsche's Campelli, Anousha Sakoui, Carolyn Cohn, Jesus Aguado, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, LONDON, Finance, Reuters, Corporate Bank, Investment Bank, Deutsche Bank, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, Barclays, Lloyds, Challenger Metro Bank, UBS UBSG.S, Citi, Workers, Global Investment Banking, Employment, European Union, Santander, Global, Basel, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Ukraine, West, China, United States, India, Madrid

An oil pump jack is seen in an oil field near Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela October 14, 2022. REUTERS/Issac Urrutia/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHOUSTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Venezuela's oil exports remained almost unchanged in November at 651,000 barrels per day (bpd) even as an easing of U.S. sanctions is now allowing sales to trading houses, according to shipping and tanker tracking data. Washington in October temporarily lifted oil sanctions on the country as a way to encourage a presidential election in 2024, which prompted spot sales of Venezuelan crude and fuel oil to traders mostly bound for China. The stagnant production has driven PDVSA to offer trading houses and intermediaries a large portion of its oil stocks for exports. Besides seeking spot cash oil sales, PDVSA also has ramped up fuel imports since October.

Persons: Issac Urrutia, PDVSA, Marianna Parraga, Mircely Guanipa, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China ., Reuters, Analysts, Chevron, Spain's, Thomson Locations: Lake Maracaibo, Cabimas, Venezuela, Washington, China, China . State, India, Venezuelan, United States, U.S, Houston, Maracay

☆ ECB raises minimum capital requirements for Spanish banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank has raised the minimum capital requirements for Spanish lenders BBVA (BBVA.MC), Caixabank (CABK.MC), Sabadell (SABE.MC) and Bankinter (BKT.MC) as part of a supervisory review and evaluation process (SREP). The process provides an overall assessment of the challenges that face significant institutions, together with the corresponding solvency requirements and other supervisory measures that banks are expected to comply with for the year ahead. BBVA's capital threshold was also raised to 9.09% for next year from 8.72%. For Unicaja (UNI.MC), the supervisor however maintained its solvency threshold for 2024 unchanged at 8.27% compared to 2023.

Persons: Heiko Becker, Caixabank, Jesús, Emma Pinedo, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, BBVA, ECB, Spain's Santander, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Sabadell

☆ Exclusive: Four banks quit initiative assessing climate targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Four major banks, including Standard Chartered Plc (STAN.L) and HSBC Plc (HSBA.L), have quit a United Nations-backed initiative to scrutinise climate targets set by corporations, according to people familiar with the matter. Many lenders say they should finance fossil fuels as long as economies depend on them. The spokesperson added that Standard Chartered was seeking alternative third-party validation of its climate targets and that it was setting science-based targets through the NZBA. It will still require them to cease the financing of fossil fuel projects that would weigh on their longer-term emissions targets. Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA), ING (INGA.AS), BBVA (BBVA.MC) and Swedbank (SWEDa.ST) told Reuters they remained committed to SBTi validating their emissions targets.

Persons: SBTi, SBTi's, Pietro Rocco, haven't, it's, Rocco, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Simon Jessop, Josie Kao Organizations: Standard Chartered, HSBC Plc, United, Societe Generale SA, ABN Amro Bank, Zero Banking Alliance, HSBC, Societe Generale, ABN Amro, Reuters, Credit, ING, BBVA, NatWest, Commerzbank, BNP, Allianz, Alliance, Zero, Carbon Trust, Thomson Locations: United Nations, Nations, Paris, U.S, decarbonising, London

☆ Mexican presidency race tightens slightly, Sheinbaum retains big lead -poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former Mexico City Mayor and ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party, candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, gestures during her registration as oficial candidate for MORENA for the 2024 presidential election, in Mexico City, Mexico November 19, 2023. A prior survey by the firm published early last month had given former Mexico City Mayor Sheinbaum 55% support, and Galvez, a businesswoman-turned-politician, 20%. The latest Parametria poll gave a third contender, Samuel Garcia of the opposition center-left Citizens' Movement (MC), 10% backing. "That said, it's a big lead and we're looking at a scenario where she would have an absolute majority (in Congress)," Abundis told Reuters. Reporting by Dave Graham in Mexico City Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Claudia Sheinbaum, MORENA, Luis Cortes, Parametria, Xochitl Galvez, Galvez, Sheinbaum, Samuel Garcia, Francisco Abundis, it's, Abundis, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez, Dave Graham, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Mexico City Mayor, Regeneration, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Mexico City Mayor Sheinbaum, ' Movement, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Congress, North America, Asia

☆ How China's Shein became a fast-fashion giant
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Shein logo is pictured at the company's office in the central business district of Singapore, October 18, 2022. REUTERS/Chen Lin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 28 (Reuters) - China-founded fashion company Shein has confidentially filed to go public in the United States, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. Shein says the approach has helped it consistently achieve average unsold inventory rates in the low single digits. At that valuation, Shein would still trail Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing's (9983.T) $80 billion valuation and Zara owner Inditex's (ITX.MC) $126 billion. Shein moved its headquarters to Singapore from Nanjing, capital of China's eastern Jiangsu province, around late 2021, a shift that analysts said helps the firm circumvent China's tough new rules on overseas listings.

Persons: Chen Lin, Shein, Chris Xu, PDD, Inditex's, Miyoung Kim, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, WHO, Shein, Walmart, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, United States, Europe, Asia, U.S, Swedish, Zara, Nanjing, China's, Jiangsu

☆ ADNOC German oil deal has bad timing, good logic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Karen Kwok | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned Abu Dhabi oil giant he runs, is considering a bid for BASF-owned (BASFn.DE) Wintershall Dea, at a potential $11 billion valuation. The UAE firm is already in talks to buy chemical company Covestro (1COV.DE), Wintershall’s German compatriot, for $12 billion. Abu Dhabi's oil riches mean the UAE firm has the wherewithal to pay 5.5 billion euros for BASF’s Wintershall stake. Any deal could value Wintershall Dea at more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion), Bloomberg reported. BASF holds a 72.7% stake in Wintershall Dea.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Wintershall, Jaber, It’s, Austria’s, Abu, LetterOne, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, BASF, The, Shell, Russian, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Abu, National Oil Company, Bloomberg, Wintershall Dea . Investment, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, Abu Dhabi, The UAE, Germany, Norway, UAE, Europe, United Kingdom, Abu, Russia, Wintershall Dea

☆ Barclays in talks to buy Metro Bank's mortgage book worth $3.74 bln - Sky News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows signage on a branch of Barclays Bank in London, Britain, March 17, 2023. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - Britain's Barclays (BARC.L) is in exclusive talks to buy embattled lender Metro Bank's (MTRO.L) 3 billion pound ($3.74 billion) residential mortgages portfolio, Sky News reported on Monday. Both Barclays and Metro Bank declined to comment. The report comes after Britain's best-known challenger bank announced a 325 million pound capital raise and 600 million pound debt refinancing in early October, in a bid to bolster its finances. Last month, Santander's (SAN.MC) chief executive officer Hector Grisi had said the Spanish bank may consider looking into acquiring a mortgage portfolio from Metro.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Britain's, Jaime Gilinski, Hector Grisi, Eva Mathews, Anil D'Silva, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Barclays Bank, REUTERS, Britain's Barclays, Metro, Sky News, Barclays, Metro Bank, Separately, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Colombian, Metro, Spanish, Bengaluru

☆ Mexico Presidency Race Narrows Slightly, Sheinbaum Still Way Ahead -Poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The race to become Mexico's next president has closed slightly, but former Mexico City mayor and ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum still has double the support of her main opposition rival, an opinion poll showed on Monday. Samuel Garcia, who is competing for the candidacy of another center-left party, Citizens Movement (MC), polled 8% support. A poll published in early October had given Sheinbaum 50% support versus 20% for Galvez, although that survey included a fourth, right-wing candidate who did not feature this time. "With the entry of Samuel Garcia as sole MC contender, the presidential ballot has been practically set in stone," Buendia & Marquez head Jorge Buendia wrote in El Universal. Separately, an analysis of several polls by research firm Consulta Mitofsky which stripped out undecided voters and those not backing any candidate showed Sheinbaum with 62.7% of effective support.

Persons: Mexico's, Claudia Sheinbaum, pollster Buendia, Marquez, Xochitl Galvez, Galvez, Samuel Garcia, Sheinbaum, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Buendia, Jorge Buendia, Garcia, Raul Cortes, Sarah Morland, Dave Graham, Andrea Ricci Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Mexico City, El Universal, Sheinbaum, Regeneration, Citizens Movement Locations: MEXICO, Mexico

☆ UK's Sunak hails $37 billion investments before FDI summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australian funds IFM Investors and Aware Super will pump 10 billion pounds and 5 billion pounds, respectively, into projects ranging from infrastructure and energy transition to affordable housing, Sunak's Downing Street office said in a statement. Spanish power giant Iberdrola (IBE.MC) will add 7 billion pounds to its investment plans in Britain, which include transmission and distribution electricity networks, it said. France last year overtook Britain as the European country with the highest number of new FDI projects. French President Emmanuel Macron announced 13 billion euros ($14.18 billion)of investment commitments in his country at a similar FDI gathering in May. It wants to deal with one person," investment minister Dominic Johnson told Reuters ahead of Monday's event at Hampton Court.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Ian Forsyth, Sunak's, Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Stephen Schwarzman, David Solomon, Goldman Sachs, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase, Dominic Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, IFM, William Schomberg, Alistair Smout, Louise Heavens Organizations: Britain's, Nissan, IFM, Microsoft, Britain, Blackstone, Hampton Court, Thomson Locations: Sunderland, Britain, Spanish, Hampton, London, France, Germany, England, British

☆ 'Vote of confidence': UK hails $37 billion of foreign investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Australian funds IFM Investors and Aware Super will pump 10 billion pounds and 5 billion pounds, respectively, into projects ranging from infrastructure and energy transition to affordable housing, Sunak's Downing Street office said in a statement. It added that Spanish power giant Iberdrola (IBE.MC) would add 7 billion pounds to its investment plans in Britain, which include transmission and distribution electricity networks. France has overtaken Britain as the European country with the highest number of new FDI projects. President Emmanuel Macron announced 13 billion euros ($14 billion) of investment commitments in France at a similar FDI gathering in May. "It wants to deal with one person," investment minister Dominic Johnson told Reuters, adding ministers could then have "very strong, frank discussions with the international investment community about how we can make the environment more investable".

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Kemi Badenoch, Sunak's, Iberdrola, Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Stephen Schwarzman, David Solomon, Goldman Sachs, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase, Amanda Blanc, Dominic Johnson, IFM, King Charles, William Schomberg, Alistair Smout, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: British, Global Investment, Business, IFM, Microsoft, Blackstone, LBC, Nissan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hampton, East Molesey, Surrey, Britain, France, Germany, England, Buckingham

Brokerage TD Cowen lowered its U.S. holiday spending estimate to 2% to 3% growth, from 4% to 5%, as it forecast flat Black Friday traffic. With many consumers squeezed by persistent inflation and high interest rates, U.S. holiday spending is expected to rise at the slowest pace in five years. A record 130.7 million people are expected to shop in stores and online in the U.S. on Black Friday this year, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates. In France, Italy, and Spain, most shoppers planned to buy clothing on Black Friday, with electronic goods coming second, according to a PwC survey. Thanksgiving Day discounts online peaked at about 28% for toys, while electronics had discounts as steep as 27%, Adobe said.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Cowen, Theresa Forsberg, “ It’s, ”, Jill Lizzo, she’s, “, I’m, Lizzo, PwC, hasn’t, Naomi Ojomo, Jeff Gennette, Barbie, John Roberts, Apple AirPods, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Oscar de, Katherine Masters, Arriana McLymore, Helen Reid, Mimosa Spencer, Corina Pons, James Davey, Siddharth Cavale, Arriana, Deboarh Sophia, David Gaffen, Miral Fahmy, Nick Zieminski, Frances Kerry Organizations: Black, REUTERS, Shoppers, National Retail Federation, Insider Intelligence, Barclays, Macy's, Adobe Analytics, Adobe, Walmart, Argos, PlayStation, Apple, Thomson Locations: Westbury , New York, U.S, RALEIGH, N.C, New Milford , Connecticut, . U.S, Harlem, Manhattan, France, Italy, Spain, Zara, Canary Wharf, London, British, Paris, Madrid, New York, Raleigh , North Carolina, Bengaluru

☆ Bank of Spain seeks details on pre-Black Friday payment network crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Jesús Aguado | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Bank of Spain has asked for detailed information after recent disruptions to the country's payments network, a source close to the central bank said. Customers complained on social media about failed ATM withdrawals and credit card payments on Nov. 18. "A technical incident has occurred which has caused temporary instability in the system responsible for processing payment transactions. The central bank is looking into both incidents, which come as European Central Bank (ECB) data shows cash payments in Spain fell by 18% between 2019 and 2022, a figure only surpassed in the euro zone by Cyprus, where transactions fell 23%. Redsys competes with another payment provider in Spain, which belongs to Cecabank and holds a market share of about 15%.

Persons: Redsys, Jesús Aguado, Emma Pinedo, Inti Landauro, Alexander Smith Organizations: Bank of Spain, BBVA, Central Bank, Redsys, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Santander, Spain, Cyprus

☆ European mobile data traffic to triple by 2028 -GSMA
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The GSMA, which brings together more than 1,000 mobile phone operators and businesses, said 5G subscribers were interested in adding high-bandwidth services and content to their mobile contracts, as demand for high-quality gaming, extended reality, and video content grows. Mobile data traffic per smartphone will increase in Western Europe to 56 gigabytes (GB) per month in 2028, compared with 20 GB last year. In Central and Eastern Europe, it will rise to 37 GB per month from 14 GB in 2022, the lobby group said in its annual mobile economy report. More than 460 million Europeans, or 85% of the population, were connected to mobile internet in 2022, according to the GSMA. ($1 = 0.9168 euros)Reporting Diana Mandiá, editing by Milla Nissi and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, GSMA, We're, Daniel Pataki, Diana Mandiá, Milla Nissi, Emelia Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Qatar, REUTERS, Telecom Italia, Big Tech, Netflix, Microsoft, European Commission, Reuters, Thomson Locations: France, Argentina, Paris, Mobile, Western Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Orange, Europe

☆ Italy raises $1 bln as reduces Monte dei Paschi stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NOVEMBER 2007 - MPS buys Antonveneta from Santander (SAN.MC) for 9 billion euros in cash, months after the Spanish bank paid 6.6 billion euros for it. JULY 2011 - MPS raises 2.15 billion euros in a rights issue ahead of European stress test results. JUNE 2014 - MPS raises 5 billion euros in a rights issue and repays the state 3.1 billion euros. JUNE 2015 - MPS raises 3 billion euros in cash after a 5.3 billion euro net loss for 2014 on record bad loan writedowns. It repays the remaining 1.1 billion euro state underwritten special bond.

Persons: Valentina Za, Keith Weir Organizations: MILAN, Monday, MPS, JPMorgan, Treasury, Bank of Italy, Antonveneta, Italy's, ECB, EU Commission, Thomson Locations: Italy, Siena, Santander, Europe

☆ 'Dupes' clothing, perfume craze lures holiday shoppers as major brands fret
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Katherine Masters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Hashtag searches for dupes of major brands - including Skims underwear and Deckers' (DECK.N) Ugg boots - have been viewed millions of times on TikTok. Graphic shows pictures of four original products and their original prices under named brands compared with the prices of their 'dupe' counterparts. Newer technologies like the Google Lens app allow people to take photos of items they like and find similar products for sale. In other cases, dupe sellers opt to replicate the look of higher-priced originals with cheaper materials to maximize profit. However, experts say dupe sellers have grown increasingly skilled at avoiding brand logos and other design features that could infringe existing patents or copyrights.

Persons: Lauren Maginness, Shannon Stapleton, Maginness, Estee, Tom Ford, Dupes, “, ”, Penny Pincher, Leslie Ghize, Doneger Tobe, Calvin McDonald, Ian Taplin, Juozas Kaziukenas, Kaziukenas, Maria Boschetti, Mike Scheschuk, Birkenstock, Katherine Masters, Dorothy Kam, Vanessa O'Connell, Rod Nickel, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Abercrombie, Fitch, Scout, Walmart, Department, Nordstrom, Circana Inc, COMMERCE, Wake Forest University, eBay, Google, HK, Amazon, New, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Hong Kong, TikTok, Los Angeles, Zara, Italy, New York

☆ Shares in Argentina's YPF soar as Milei hints at privatization
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Ypf Sa FollowRepsol SA FollowBUENOS AIRES, Nov 20 (Reuters) - New York-traded shares in Argentine state-run oil company YPF soared more than 40% on Monday after President-elect Javier Milei said he would seek to privatize the firm. The South American country nationalized 51% of the oil company more than a decade ago from Spain's Repsol (REP.MC). YPF is Argentina's largest oil firm and oversees development of Vaca Muerta, the world's second-largest shale gas reserve and fourth-largest shale oil reserve. Shares of YPF jumped more than 40% early in the session, before paring some gains to trade up 35.2%. Global X analyst Trevor Yates said the YPF gains were related to the increasing likelihood of it being privatized and implementing an international price parity policy.

Persons: Alberto Fernandez, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, Sergio Massa, YPF, Milei, Spain's, Vaca Muerta, Trevor Yates, Yates, Eliana Raszewski, Bansari Mayu, Grant McCool Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Global, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, New York, Argentine, American

Electric power transmission pylon miniatures and Iberdrola logo are seen in this illustration taken, December 9, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Spanish utility Iberdrola is planning to make an offer for Electricity North West (ENWL) that could value the British power distribution network at a maximum of 3.5 billion pounds ($4.34 billion), two sources familiar with the matter said. Iberdrola (IBE.MC) declined to comment on any involvement in the ENWL sale process, which one of the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said is expected to start in December. Iberdrola is ramping up its investments in electricity networks, aiming to deploy 27 billion euros until 2025, with the goal of achieving 30% growth in core earnings of its networks unit to up to 8.5 billion euros. Iberdrola expects to receive around 6 billion euros from partnerships and asset sales by the end of the year that will help it close 2023 with a net debt of around 43 billion euros, roughly in line with 2022.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jefferies, KKR spokespeople, JP Morgan, Andres Gonzalez, Pietro Lombardi, Anousha Sakoui, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Electricity, Reuters, Japan's Kansai Electric Power Co, Macquarie, KKR, ENWL, Scottish Power, Colonial First State, Iberdrola, Thomson Locations: Manchester , Lancashire, Cumbria, Iberdrola, ENWL, Merseyside , Cheshire, North Wales, North Shropshire, England, Central, Southern Scotland

☆ Britain to boost offshore wind auction power price guarantees by 66%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Susanna Twidale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Iberdrola SA FollowLONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Britain will increase the guaranteed price offered for offshore wind projects in its next renewables auction by 66%, the government said on Thursday, as it seeks to spur more projects after its last auction failed to attract any offshore wind investment. Britain, which is already the world’s second largest offshore wind market after China, is seeking to ramp up its capacity to 50 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 from around 14 GW now, to help meet its climate targets and boost energy security. The offshore wind sector has been hit by surging supply chain and interest rate costs over the past year with some developers cancelling projects, while Britain's last auction yielded no offshore wind projects when the results were announced in September with developer saying the price offered was too low. The government said despite the absence of offshore wind, the last auction had succeeded in supporting other technologies such as solar, tidal and onshore wind projects capable of generating 3.7 GW, the equivalent to powering some 2 million homes. “The real test of that ambition will come when the overall budget for the next auction round is set next year.

Persons: Claire Coutinho, ”, ” Keith Anderson, ScottishPower, Susanna Twidale, Marguerita Choy Organizations: ” Energy, Thomson Locations: Britain, China

☆ Bank of Portugal imposes capital buffer for mortgages at four large banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man walks with his dog outside Bank of Portugal in downtown Lisbon, Portugal, February 21, 2017. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The Bank of Portugal has told Millennium bcp (BCP.LS), Novo Banco, Banco BPI and the local unit of Spain's Santander (SAN.MC), to create a new capital buffer equivalent to 4% of their loan portfolios that are collateralised by home mortgages. It said in a statement on Wednesday the measure addressing "sectoral systemic risk" would come into effect on Oct. 1, 2024, and be reviewed at least every two years. "This instrument has a preventative nature and aims to increase the resilience of institutions in the face of a potential future materialisation of systemic risk in the residential real estate market in Portugal," it said. BPI is owned by Spain's Caixabank and Novo Banco by the U.S. fund Lone Star.

Persons: Rafael Marchante, Spain's Caixabank, Sergio Goncalves, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Bank of Portugal, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of, bcp, Novo Banco, Banco BPI, Spain's Santander, BPI, U.S, Lone Star, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Rights LISBON, Bank of Portugal, Novo

☆ Mexico's Ebrard sticks with ruling party, avoids break with president
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mexico's former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who was a runner-up to Claudia Sheinbaum in the ruling National Regeneration Movement's (MORENA) presidential primary, holds a press conference in Mexico City, Mexico, September 11, 2023. Afterwards, he had held out the possibility of seeking the presidency with the center-left opposition Citizens' Movement (MC) party. However, this weekend MC closed its register of contenders for its presidential candidacy without Ebrard. He was also a key interlocutor for Mexico's negotiations over trade and immigration with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, and the succeeding Biden administration. That has helped polarize public opinion, and Ebrard urged MORENA to broaden its base and cultivate middle class support.

Persons: Marcelo Ebrard, Claudia Sheinbaum, Raquel Cunha, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Ebrard, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Lopez, Donald Trump, Biden, Lopez Obrador, MORENA, Dave Graham, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Regeneration, Mexico City Mayor, Citizens ' Movement, Thomson Locations: MORENA, Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Asia

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