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☆ India's economy likely slowed to annual 6.2% in July-Sept: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Indradip Ghosh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Data due at 1200 GMT on Wednesday, Nov. 30BENGALURU, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The Indian economy likely returned to a more normal 6.2% annual growth rate in July-September after double-digit expansion in the previous quarter, but weaker exports and investment will curb future activity, a Reuters poll showed. In April-June, Asia's third-largest economy showed explosive growth of 13.5% from a year earlier thanks mainly to the corresponding period in 2021 having been depressed by pandemic-control restrictions. The 6.2% annual growth forecast for latest quarter in a Nov. 22-28 Reuters poll of 43 economists was a tad lower than the RBI's 6.3% view. Meanwhile, the RBI raised its key policy interest rate to 5.9% from 4.0% in May and is widely expected to add another 60 basis points by the end of March. "Between December and February, the headwinds to growth may become more evident," said Deutsche Bank's Das.

☆ Australia house prices forecast to slump 16% from peak
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Vivek Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Australian house prices have nearly doubled since the financial crisis but that boom has led to a build-up of household debt that could become a risk to financial stability. Although average house prices have fallen 6.5% since a peak late last year, with losses spreading to every state capital, they are still well above pre-pandemic levels. "We expect a peak to trough housing fall of 15-20% and this should be considered an orderly descent," said Adelaide Timbrell, senior economist at ANZ. While lower house prices would help improve affordability, it would be a bitter pill to swallow for recent homeowners, watching their capital decline and facing higher repayments as interest rates rise. AMP, ANZ, Knight Frank and Macquarie said average house prices would have to fall between 25% and 45% to make Australian housing affordable.

☆ Crypto winter highlights gold’s warming qualities
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Edward Chancellor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

That’s why crypto pioneers developed stablecoins, which peg their market price to old-fashioned fiat currencies. The FTX founder agreed that digital tokens were impossible to value since they generated no cash flow. In other words, the entire crypto world has the mechanics of a Ponzi scheme. In such a nightmare scenario, access to a decentralised, anonymised type of digital money could prove indispensable. In this world bitcoin serves as the lifeboat for civilisation, offering protection against both anarchy and the surveillance state.

☆ Breakingviews: Crypto winter highlights gold’s warming qualities
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Edward Chancellor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The crypto winter is bitterly cold. The FTX founder agreed that digital tokens were impossible to value since they generated no cash flow. In other words, the entire crypto world has the mechanics of a Ponzi scheme. In such a nightmare scenario, access to a decentralised, anonymised type of digital money could prove indispensable. In this world bitcoin serves as the lifeboat for civilisation, offering protection against both anarchy and the surveillance state.

☆ New Zealand house prices forecast to drop 18% from peak
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Vivek Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Average house prices in the country rose by more than 40% at the height of the pandemic before reaching a peak in November last year at levels the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) said were unsustainable. Still, that fall would be tiny compared to the 250% rise in New Zealand house prices since 1998, almost four times the average increase across OECD countries. House prices have nearly doubled in the last seven years alone. Asked how much average house prices would fall from peak to trough, analysts who answered an additional question gave a median estimate of 18%, with forecasts in a 14%-23% range. But a lot needs to happen to better balance the housing market here with a horrible undersupply of houses," said Jarrod Kerr, chief economist at Kiwibank.

☆ Provention Bio diabetes drug to cost $13,850/vial
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Provention Bio Inc (PRVB.O) said on Friday its recently approved diabetes drug, teplizumab, would cost $13,850 a vial. A 14-day regimen of the drug would translate to a price of $193,900, the company said on a conference call. In October, Provention signed a co-promotion deal for the drug with Sanofi (SASY.PA), offering the French drugmaker first negotiation for exclusive global rights to commercialize the drug in exchange for an upfront payment of $20 million. As per the deal, the approval also allows Sanofi to purchase up to $35 million of Provention's common shares. Shares of New Jersey-based Provention Bio were down nearly 8% before the bell.

☆ U.S. FDA greenlights Provention Bio's diabetes drug
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Bhanvi Satija | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Provention Bio (PRVB.O) said on Thursday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved the use of its drug teplizumab in those aged eight years and older, the first treatment aimed at delaying the onset of insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes. In October, Provention signed a co-promotion deal for the drug with Sanofi (SASY.PA), offering the French drugmaker first negotiation for exclusive global rights to commercialize the drug in exchange for an upfront payment of $20 million. As per the deal, the approval will also allow Sanofi to purchase up to $35 million of Provention's common stock. Current standard of care for type 1 diabetes requires patients to monitor and manage symptoms such as low or high blood sugar levels through regular insulin intake. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is a disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leaving sufferers reliant on regular insulin injections.

☆ Indonesia Oct trade surplus seen at $4.5 bln as global trade weakens- Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Summary Trade data due at 0400 GMT on Tuesday, Nov. 15JAKARTA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia's trade surplus is seen narrowing slightly in October to $4.5 billion, amid weakening in global trade and moderating commodity prices, a Reuters poll showed on Monday. The median forecast from 15 economists in a Reuters poll was for a $4.5 billion surplus in October, below September's surplus of nearly $5 billion. Export growth was seen at 13.85% annually in October, slower than September's 20.28%, while imports were seen up 23.62% on a yearly basis, versus 22.02% in September. Bank Mandiri's economist Faisal Rachman, who predicted a $4.42 billion October surplus, said while export growth was slowing, demand for imports was rising in preparation for year-end needs. Still, the Indonesian government has forecast the resource-rich nation will book its biggest exports on record this year of $292 billion.

☆ Malaysia's economy likely grew 11.7% in Q3, outlook cloudy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Anant Chandak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Nov. 1-8 poll of 22 economists predicted the economy expanded 11.7% in the July-September quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. In the previous quarter, the economic grew 8.9%. Trade and economic activity was also likely to be affected by China's strict COVID-19 containment measures and a slowdown in global growth. A separate Reuters poll showed Malaysia's growth would average 7.2% this year and then fall to 4.2% in 2023. "The currency is likely to remain under downward pressure until U.S. bond yields peak and market participants remain risk averse amid elevated levels of global economic uncertainty," added Tandon.

Nov 2 (Reuters) - CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) on Wednesday forecast a 2023 profit below Wall Street estimates and said it hoped to mitigate the hit from a performance rating decline for its most popular Medicare plan by encouraging members to shift to other plans. read more CVS took a pre-tax charge of $5.2 billion in the third quarter related to the settlement. The settlement price, which was below investor expectations, according to Evercore ISI analyst Elizabeth Anderson, and other measures announced by the company helped lift CVS Health shares nearly 5%. In its insurance business, CVS said it is trying to move members out of Aetna's National PPO plan, which currently accounts for 59% of its Medicare Advantage plan members. CVS' health insurance business as well as peers Elevance Health (ELV.N) and UnitedHealth (UNH.N) have benefited from a slow recovery in elective procedures and a fall in COVID cases that has kept costs in check.

☆ CVS Health lifts forecast as PBM, insurance units drive profit beat
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 2 (Reuters) - CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) on Wednesday raised its annual profit forecast after topping quarterly estimates on strong performance at its health insurance and pharmacy benefit management businesses, sending its shares up 1% in premarket trade. CVS' health insurance business benefited from a slow recovery in elective procedures and a fall in COVID cases, which kept costs in check, as did peers Elevance Health (ELV.N) and UnitedHealth (UNH.N). Revenue from the insurance and pharmacy benefit management businesses rose around 10% each, while retail and pharmacy sales gained about 7%. Excluding some one-off items, CVS Health reported a profit of $2.09 per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of $1.99 per share. It removes an "overhang" on CVS and is lower than investor expectations, Evercore ISI analyst Elizabeth Anderson said in a note.

☆ Asia would be the biggest loser if the global economy splits up, IMF warns
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Asia-Pacific has more to lose than any other region if the global trade system splits up in the wake of geopolitical tensions, the International Monetary Fund warned. Sectors in Asian countries forced to contract because of reduced trade could suffer average employment losses of as high as 7%, the IMF added. Asia has more to lose than any other region if the global trade system splits up, the International Monetary Fund warned. U.S.-China trade tensionsSigns of global fragmentation emerged during the trade war between the U.S. and China in 2018. The impact of trade fragmentation is greater for emerging markets in Asia and for firms with high debt.

☆ IMF cuts Asia's economic forecasts as China's slowdown bites
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Asia's strong economic rebound early this year is losing momentum, with a weaker-than expected second quarter," said Krishna Srinivasan, director of the IMF's Asia and Pacific Department. "Further tightening of monetary policy will be required to ensure that inflation returns to target and inflation expectations remain well anchored." The IMF cut Asia's growth forecast to 4.0% this year and 4.3% next year, down 0.9% point and 0.8 point from April, respectively. Among the biggest headwinds is China's rapid and broad-based economic slowdown blamed on strict COVID-19 lockdowns and its worsening property woes, the IMF said. The IMF expects China's growth to slow to 3.2% this year, a 1.2-point downgrade from its April projection, after an 8.1% rise in 2021.

☆ Fed to hike by 75 bps again on Nov. 2, should pause when inflation halves -economists: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Prerana Bhat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterResults in the poll are in line with interest rate futures pricing. A majority of economists in the Oct. 17-24 poll forecast another 50 basis point hike in December, taking the funds rate to 4.25%-4.50% by end-2022. The funds rate was expected to peak at 4.50%-4.75% or higher in Q1 2023, according to 49 of 80 economists. The Fed targets the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, but the survey suggests roughly half the current rate of inflation ought to be a turning point. CPI inflation was not expected to halve until Q2 2023, according to the poll, averaging 8.1%, 3.9% and 2.5% in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.

☆ BoC to dial down size of rate rises again but not done yet: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Indradip Ghosh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The expected move at the BoC's next meeting would be the second consecutive reduction in the size of rate rises after a 100 basis point move in July and 75 basis points last month. Given more U.S. Federal Reserve rate rises are due in coming months, the BoC is likely to get the overnight rate, currently at 3.25%, even further above its 2-3% estimate of neutral, where the economy is neither stimulated nor restricted. So far the BoC has matched the 300 basis points of Fed rate rises since March. "We continue to assume the BoC will dial back the pace of rate hikes with a 50 basis point increase later this month," said Josh Nye, senior economist at RBC. Most economists forecast another slowdown in the size of rate rises to 25 basis points in December and January, taking the overnight rate to a peak of 4.25%.

Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty ImagesThe recommendation to free the men was made by an advisory panel appointed by the Gujarat government, led by Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Some lawmakers and activists have petitioned the Supreme Court for the men to be rearrested. Some saw the assailants’ release as a deliberate pitch for votes from BJP supporters ahead of the Gujarat state election. The couple want the decision reversed, as do those who have filed petitions with the Supreme Court. “We strongly believe that what happened with Bilkis was wrong and the convicts should be sent back to jail,” he said.

☆ IMF urges most Asian central banks to tighten policy further
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Most Asian central banks must tighten monetary policy further as rising commodity prices and their currencies' depreciation, driven by steady U.S. interest rate hikes, push inflation above their targets, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday. Many Asian currencies depreciated "quite sharply" as U.S. monetary tightening led to widening interest rate differentials, helping push up import costs for the countries, he said. Large currency depreciations and rising interest rates could also trigger financial stress in Asian countries with high debt, Srinivasan said. "Asia is now the largest debtor in the world besides being the biggest saver, and several countries are at high risk of debt distress," he said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee/FilesMUMBAI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Indian banks may be forced to compete harder to boost deposits amid tightening liquidity and rising credit demand ahead of the festive season, analysts warned. "We think the real challenge is the gap between deposit growth and loan growth, as deposit growth is weak, at 9.5% YoY – a good 600 bps below loan growth," said Suresh Ganapathy, head of financials research at Macquarie. "Borrowing from the market to fund credit growth is just one of the ways and after a while it isn't sustainable. Rates for bulk deposits, or deposits of over 20 million rupees, are rising more rapidly than retail, highlighting banks' focus on raising more funds quicker. The incremental credit deposit ratio has already crossed 100%, suggesting that banks have started lending more than the total deposits they hold.

☆ This 7-page investing memo landed a crypto startup $15.2 million in seed funding from venture giants Tiger Global and Galaxy Digital
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Token management platform, Magna, announced a $15.2 million seed round on Thursday. Tiger Global, Galaxy Digital, Tusk Venture Partners, and Solana Ventures are all Magna backers. Check out this 7-page investing memo that landed the project fundingMagna, a token management platform, announced a $15.2 million seed round on Thursday, notching a $70 million valuation. Backed by industry giants Tiger Global and Tusk Venture Partners, the fresh capital will go towards product development, staff expansion, and forthcoming partnerships. "We started Magna to solve a problem we hear from crypto companies and institutions about managing token distributions.

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