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☆ Court auction to sell Shimao land in Shenzhen fails again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of property developer Shimao Group is seen on the facade of Shimao Tower in Shanghai, China January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A court auction to sell vast commercial land plots owned by defaulted Shimao Group (0813.HK) in Shenzhen failed for a second time on Thursday as there were no bidders, highlighting weak demand in China's property market. Twelve land plots totalling 243,602 square metres, together with some uncompleted buildings on them, have asked for 10.4 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), 20% lower than the 13 billion yuan starting price in the first auction in July, according to e-commerce company JD.com's (9618.HK) online auction platform. The Shenzhen plots were part of the land parcel bought by Shanghai-based Shimao in 2017, which planned to build a new landmark complex in China's tech hub with the city's tallest skyscraper. Media reports said the land plots, valued at 16.3 billion yuan, were the most valuable assets being auctioned by Chinese courts in seven years.

Persons: Aly, Clare Jim, Stephen Coates Organizations: Shimao, REUTERS, HK, Media, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Shenzhen

☆ Xi tells US firms China ready to be partner and friend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Xi received a standing ovation as he entered the room, and two more before and after he took the stage to speak. "Whatever stage of development it may reach, China will never pursue hegemony or expansion, and will never impose its will on others. China does not seek spheres of influence, and will not fight a cold war or a hot war with anyone," Xi said. China and the U.S. reached an agreement to curb fentanyl production in earlier talks between Xi and Biden. Analysts have said Xi's speech alone is unlikely to dramatically alter U.S. business sentiment about China.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Xi, Joe Biden, Biden, Tim Cook, Laurence Fink, Broadcom's, Hock Tan, Ray Dalio, Albert Bourla, Gina Raimondo, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, Gary Dvorchak, Dvorchak, Michael Martina, Valerie Insinna, Stephen Nellis, Lisa Baertlein, Niket, Ethan Wang, Liz Lee, Stephen Coates Organizations: National Committee, China Relations, China Business Council, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Apple, BlackRock, Pfizer, SAN FRANCISCO, U.S, Beijing, Congress, Bridgewater Associates, Commerce, U.S . House, Representatives, Muslim, U.S ., Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, China, United States, San Francisco, Beijing, Washington, China . U.S, Iowa

☆ Two former NBA players are convicted over roles in health care fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 17, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; Power power forward Glen Davis (0) during the game at the American Airlines Center. Glen Davis, 37, who played for three NBA teams and won a championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics, was convicted on four counts including wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiring to commit fraud, and conspiring to make false statements. Will Bynum, 40, who played for three teams including the Detroit Pistons, was found guilty of conspiring to make false statements, but acquitted on a fraud conspiracy charge. At least two dozen people including 19 former NBA players, a dentist, a doctor and a chiropractor were implicated in the fraud scheme, with charges first announced in October 2021. Williams, who played with the New Jersey Nets and three other teams, pleaded guilty over his role last year.

Persons: Glen Davis, Jerome Miron, Will Bynum, Damian Williams, Sabrina Shroff, Davis, Victor Henderson, Mr, Bynum, Terrence Williams, Williams, Jonathan Stempel, Stephen Coates Organizations: American Airlines Center, National Basketball Association, NBA, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, U.S, Attorney, Prosecutors, New Jersey Nets, Thomson Locations: Dallas , TX, USA, Manhattan, Beverly Hills, Nevada, Encino , California, New York

The Transamerica Pyramid building is seen as tourists ride a cable car in downtown San Francisco, California, U.S., July 7, 2023. San Francisco has been waging for years a multi-pronged war on drugs and related crime, homelessness and unaffordable housing. "They do this for the Superbowl, they do this for conferences ... but nothing ends homelessness like a home," Boden said. The city has a homelessness rate of 887 people per 100,000 residents, according to a 2023 report from the San Francisco controller's office on 16 American cities. Reporting by Peter Henderson and Anna Tong in San Francisco; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Joe Biden's, Christopher Crandall, he'd, He'd, Gavin Newsom, Biden, China's Xi, Paul Boden, " Boden, Tesla, Elon Musk, Trevor Chandler, I’ve, Peter Henderson, Anna Tong, Sayantani Ghosh, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Economic Cooperation, United Nations, Police, APEC, Western Regional Advocacy, San, Fox News, Twitter, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, U.S, Asia, San Francisco, California, Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles

☆ Russia will pay heavy price for Avdiivka, says Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Moscow's forces have focused on eastern Ukraine since failing to advance on Kyiv in the first days of the February 2022 invasion. Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, said Russian assaults in the eastern Donetsk region including Avdiivka had been "very intense". "Russia is already losing men and equipment near Avdiivka faster and on a larger scale than, for example, near Bakhmut," he said, referring to months of heavy fighting that culminated in Russian forces capturing the eastern town of Bakhmut in May. The more Russian forces that are destroyed near Avdiivka, the worse the overall situation will be for the enemy and the overall course of this war." Ukrainian forces, he said, had repelled 18 Russian attacks over the past 24 hours.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Moscow's, Avdiivka, Rybar, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Andriy Yermak, Yermak, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Leslie Adler, Stephen Coates Organizations: Russia's Defence Ministry, Reuters, Ukraine's Defense Forces, Hudson Institute, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Kherson, Dnipro, Crimea, Ukraine, Kyiv, Donetsk, Russia, Bakhmut, Russian, Ukrainian, United States, Moscow

☆ Biden Calls Xi a Dictator After Carefully Planned Summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Biden held a solo news conference after four hours of talks with Xi on the outskirts of San Francisco. At the end of the news conference, he was asked whether he still held the view that Xi was a dictator, something he said in June. Xi is considered the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, after a decade of consolidating power in policy-making and the military, and stifling media freedoms. When Biden made a similar dictator reference in June, China called the remarks absurd and a provocation. Xi told Biden that the negative views of the Communist Party in the United States were unfair, a U.S. official told reporters after the meeting.

Persons: Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason WOODSIDE, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, He's, Mao Zedong, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates Organizations: National People's Congress, Economic Cooperation, Communist Party, U.S Locations: Jeff Mason WOODSIDE , California, Beijing, San Francisco, United States, Asia, San Francisco ., Tibet, Hong Kong, China, Wednesday's

☆ US appeals court scraps Sempra's Port Arthur LNG emissions permit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Curtis Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHOUSTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - A U.S. court has removed an emissions permit for Sempra's (SRE.N) Port Arthur LNG export terminal in Texas, but the company said construction of the facility will continue for now. The approximately 13.5 million-metric-tons-per-annum (mtpa) Port Arthur plant has approval to export LNG to both Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and non-FTA countries, including Europe, and is part of the U.S. LNG expansion to meet growing global demand for the superchilled gas. The decision sends the Port Arthur LNG permit application back to the TCEQ for new evaluation. Investment firm KKR (KKR.N) owns a 20% stake in Sempra Infrastructure while Sempra Energy owns 70% and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority owns 10%. John Beard, executive director of the Port Arthur Community Action Network, which brought the lawsuit challenging TCEQ, said of the ruling: “We’ve won by standing up for Port Arthur communities of color to breathe free from toxic pollution.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Port Arthur, Sempra, John Beard, “ We’ve, –, Biden, Alex Munton, Munton, Curtis Williams, Deepa Babington, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Port Arthur, Free, U.S, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Texas Commission, Environmental, Rio, Rio Grande LNG, Port, Sempra Infrastructure, ConocoPhillips, Investment, KKR, Sempra Energy, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Port Arthur Community Action Network, Global Gas & LNG Research, Rapidan Energy, Thomson Locations: Port, Texas, Europe, Rio Grande, Port Arthur, Abu Dhabi, Houston

☆ China c.bank boosts liquidity injection through policy loan, rate unchanged
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A gardener works outside the headquarters of the central bank of the People's Republic of China in Beijing October 8, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, Nov 15 (Reuters) - China's central bank ramped up liquidity injection but kept the interest rate unchanged when rolling over maturing medium-term policy loans on Wednesday, matching market expectations. The central bank said the loan operation was meant to maintain banking system liquidity reasonably ample to counteract short-term factors including tax payments and government bond issuance. All 31 market watchers polled by Reuters this week had expected the central bank to inject fresh funds to exceed the maturity. The most likely outcome is for PBOC to inject more support through open market operations, while leaving the MLF rate unchanged."

Persons: Jason Lee, Carlos Casanova, corporates, Xing Zhaopeng, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Christian Schmollinger, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, People's Bank of China, Reuters, AAA, ANZ, Thomson Locations: People's Republic of China, Beijing, China, CHINA, Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Asia, UBP, United States

☆ South Korea's Yoon to warn APEC about risks from North Korea-Russia ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol gives a speech on the government budget at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, 31 October 2023. Washington has said North Korea is supplying military equipment to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, while Moscow is providing technical support to help North Korea advance its military capabilities. North Korea and Russia have denied any arms deals, though their leaders pledged closer military cooperation at their September summit. In San Francisco, Blinken held talks with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on Tuesday and vowed a coordinated response to the North Korea-Russia cooperation. South Korea and China are also in talks for a possible meeting between their leaders, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Persons: Yoon Suk, JEON HEON, Yoon, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Washington, Alexander Kozlov, Blinken, Fumio Kishida, Soo, hyang Choi, Ed Davies, Stephen Coates Organizations: South, National Assembly, Rights, APEC, Economic Cooperation, Associated Press, U.S, Defense, China, Economic, Japanese, Stanford University, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, United States, North Korea, Russia, San Francisco, Gaza, Ukraine, Moscow, Korea, Russian, Pyongyang, China

REUTERS/Cheriss May/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers asked Apple Inc to explain the abrupt end of political comedian Jon Stewart's television show on its streaming service, according to a letter made public on Wednesday, citing concerns that content related to China was behind the cancellation. The New York Times reported last month that Stewart's show on Apple's streaming service was ending, the result of creative differences. The newspaper said Stewart told members of his staff that potential show topics related to China and artificial intelligence were causing concern to Apple executives. The letter asked representatives of Apple for a briefing on its concerns by Dec. 15, 2023. U.S. lawmakers have long expressed concerns about potential Chinese government censorship given the ruling Communist Party’s strict media controls.

Persons: Jon Stewart, Mark Twain, Cheriss, Jon Stewart's, Stewart, Tim Cook, Apple, Michael Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Stephen Coates Organizations: The Kennedy Center, REUTERS, Rights, Apple Inc, New York Times, Apple, Times, Republican, Democratic, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Economic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, China, San Francisco, Asia, U.S

☆ Biden, Xi meet as US-China military, economic tensions grind on
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Biden and Xi arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday, where they were set to hold their meeting on the sidelines the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Xi and Biden are expected to meet far from the conference location at a vast estate miles outside of San Francisco carefully chosen for its security, serenity and remoteness. [1/2]U.S. President Joe Biden disembarks from Air Force One at San Francisco International Airport, as he arrives to attend the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 14, 2023. Xi, a decade Biden's junior, has tightened control over policy, state leaders, the media and military and changing the constitution. Biden is expected to tell Xi that U.S. commitments in the Indo-Pacific are unchanged.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Xi, Biden, China's, Mao, San Francisco, John Kirby, Joe Biden disembarks, Brittany Hosea, Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Michael Martina, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates Organizations: FRANCISCO, Biden, Economic Cooperation, Communist Party, Air Force, San Francisco International Airport, APEC, REUTERS, Rights, Washington, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, South China, Israel, Ukraine, North Korea, San Francisco, Asia, United States, Northern California, San, San Francisco , California, U.S, Rights IRAN, Iran, Washington, China . U.S, China, Europe, Russia, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, East China, Philippines

It also slightly raised its 2023 forecast for growth in global oil demand and stuck to its relatively high 2024 prediction. Last week, oil prices slid to their lowest level since July, hurt by concerns that demand could wane in in top oil consumers U.S. and China. A U.S. crackdown on Russian oil exports could potentially disrupt supply, supporting prices further. Iraq's oil minister expects to reach an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government and foreign oil companies to resume oil production from the Kurdish region's oilfields and resume northern oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. Focal points for the market include the International Energy Agency's latest monthly oil market report later in the day.

Persons: Dun Jiao, Tatiana Meel, Leon Li, Emily Chow, Edwina Gibbs, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brent, ING, Organization of, Petroleum, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, U.S . Treasury Department, Kurdistan Regional Government, of Commerce, International Energy, APEC, Markets, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka, Russia, Rights SINGAPORE, U.S, China, Washington, Moscow, Iraq, Kurdish, Turkey, Shanghai

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin wrote to Biden to push for immediate freedom for Mark Swidan, Kai Li and David Lin, whom the U.S. government has classified as wrongfully detained in China. Families of Americans the U.S. government has classified as wrongfully detained in China have also repeatedly urged the government to prioritize the release of their loved ones in talks with Chinese officials. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns about her son Mark over the weekend, but called the conversation "disappointing" because Burns would not say whether Biden would raise Mark’s name with Xi. A State Department spokesperson commented that the department has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens and noted that it continually raises wrongfully detained U.S. nationals during engagements with senior Chinese officials. Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Michael Martina; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ben Cardin, Craig Hudson, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, David Lin, Xi, Cardin, Katherine Swidan, China Nicholas Burns, Mark, Burns, Patricia Zengerle, Michael Martina, Stephen Coates Organizations: Senate Foreign, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Foreign, Reuters, Democratic, Economic Cooperation, State, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, China, Asia, San Francisco, United, United States, U.S

Buy With Prime, which launched in 2022, gives retailers who are not Amazon merchants fulfillment and delivery through its logistics network. Its newest features aim to pull in fee revenue from shops outside of Amazon.com during the peak holiday season. Along with speedy deliveries, Prime shoppers can now return items purchased through Buy With Prime outside of Amazon.com without shipping labels and boxes. Amazon also announced that Prime customers who buy from Buy With Prime merchants can now see their order history on their apps and have 24-hour access to customer service representatives. Amazon last week launched a Shopify app for Buy With Prime, giving the Canadian e-commerce giant's 2 million merchants access to Amazon's 175 million Prime members.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Peter Larsen, Arriana McLymore, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Amazon.com, National Retail Federation, Amazon, Thomson Locations: Staten Island , New York, U.S, New York City

☆ Heavy machinery brought in to pull out Indian workers from collapsed tunnel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Saurabh Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Members of rescue teams are pictured during a rescue operation after a portion of an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, October 13, 2023. Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLUCKNOW, India, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Excavators began drilling with heavy machinery on Tuesday to fix a wide steel pipe that will help pull out almost 40 Indian workers trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan highway tunnel that caved in two days ago in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. Patwal said it was not easy to ascertain the time required to pull out the workers. But some work has been halted by local authorities after hundreds of houses were damaged by subsidence along the routes, including in Uttarakhand. Reporting by Saurabh Sharma in Lucknow and Tanvi Mehta in New Delhi; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Devendra Singh Patwal, Patwal, Char, Narendra Modi's, Saurabh Sharma, Tanvi Mehta, Stephen Coates Organizations: Disaster, REUTERS Acquire, Thomson Locations: Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India, LUCKNOW, North India, Lucknow, New Delhi

☆ Brokerage firm BTIG accuses rival StoneX of stealing technology
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 13 (Reuters) - U.S. brokerage firm BTIG on Monday filed a lawsuit against rival StoneX Group Inc (SNEX.O), accusing it of stealing trade secrets, and sought at least $200 million in damages. "Defendant StoneX recruited a team of BTIG traders and software engineers to exfiltrate BTIG software code and proprietary information and take it to StoneX," lawyers for BTIG wrote in the suit filed in the California Superior Court, San Francisco County. StoneX used the software code and proprietary information to build competing products and business lines "that generate tens of millions of dollars annually," they said. StoneX did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment outside of regular business hours. BTIG's lawyers also requested the court issue an injunction to prevent StoneX from using or disclosing BTIG's trade secrets or other proprietary information.

Persons: Defendant StoneX, BTIG, StoneX, Akanksha, Blake Brittain, Stephen Coates Organizations: StoneX, California Superior Court, Thomson Locations: California, San Francisco County, Bengaluru, Washington

☆ Boeing sets sights on annual airplane delivery target after slow October
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view of several Boeing 737 MAX airplanes parked at King County International Airport-Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S, June 1, 2022. Delivery numbers are typically largest in the final months of the year as planemakers race to meet annual goals. Boeing slowed 737 deliveries in August after the discovery of a supplier defect involving misdrilled holes on some aircrafts' aft pressure bulkhead. Boeing booked 123 gross orders last month, bolstered by a deal with Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) for 111 MAXs. Boeing's gross orders since the start of January rose to 971, or 841 net orders after factoring in cancellations and conversions and 1,066 net orders after accounting adjustments.

Persons: Lindsey Wasson, Dave Calhoun, Argentinas, Valerie Insinna, Stephen Coates Organizations: Boeing, King County International Airport, Boeing Field, REUTERS, Rights, planemaker, Airbus, U.S . Navy, Southwest Airlines, Thomson Locations: Seattle , Washington, U.S

☆ South Korea's Yoon to Warn APEC About Risks From North Korea-Russia Ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Yoon has criticised what he called illegal cooperation between North Korea and Russia, describing it as a "serious threat" to regional security in an interview with the Associated Press this week. Washington has said North Korea is supplying military equipment to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, while Moscow is providing technical support to help North Korea advance its military capabilities. North Korea and Russia have denied any arms deals, though their leaders pledged closer military cooperation at their September summit. In San Francisco, Blinken held talks with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on Tuesday and vowed a coordinated response to the North Korea-Russia cooperation. South Korea and China are also in talks for a possible meeting between their leaders, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Persons: hyang Choi SEOUL, Yoon Suk, Yoon, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Washington, Alexander Kozlov, Blinken, Fumio Kishida, Soo, hyang Choi, Ed Davies, Stephen Coates Organizations: APEC, Economic Cooperation, Associated Press, U.S, Defense, China, South, Economic, Japanese, Stanford University Locations: United States, North Korea, Russia, San Francisco, Gaza, Ukraine, Seoul, Moscow, Korea, Russian, Pyongyang, South Korea, China

☆ Europe primed for industrial reboot after key power price deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

LITTLETON, Colorado, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Mainland Europe's two largest economies have reached key power price deals this month that should set the stage for increased power consumption by industry from 2024 onwards. Higher power and industrial output will in turn likely generate higher total emissions, even amid ongoing efforts to deploy more clean energy throughout Europe's power systems. Both power deals aim to reduce costs and boost energy supplies to households and businesses next year, and will likely spur a rise in total power consumption across Europe following a rare contraction in Europe's power use so far in 2023. Power output from fossil fuels also dropped by around 10% through October, while power generation from clean sources rose by 3.6% to result in a 2.4% decline in Europe's total power generation through the first 10 months of the year. Europe's power generation and power sector emissions dip in 2023Europe's power emissions look set to rebound in 2024 if overall power output increases, as more generation from power plants fuelled by natural gas and coal will be needed alongside greater generation from renewable sources to ensure higher stable power supplies to consumers.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, Stephen Coates Organizations: EDF, FOCUS, Eurasia Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Germany, Ukraine, Europe, France, Eurasia

☆ Spanish government in talks with banks to support Siemens Gamesa
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Miniatures of windmill, solar panel and electric pole are seen in front of Siemens Energy logo in this illustration taken January 17, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The Spanish government said on Tuesday it is working with banks to provide financial support to Siemens Gamesa, with the ultimate aim of protecting the workers the company employs in the country. "The future of Siemens Gamesa in Spain is a priority for the government," the Industry Ministry said in a statement. Siemens Gamesa has provided wind turbines to some of the biggest power companies and oil and gas majors worldwide and has warned troubles with its onshore wind turbines could take years to resolve. In Spain, the industry minister considers the government has several avenues of funding and support for the wind industry in the short term.

Persons: Dado, Siemens Gamesa, Corina Pons, Stephen Coates Organizations: Siemens Energy, REUTERS, Rights, Siemens Gamesa, Industry Ministry, Siemens, Thomson Locations: Rights MADRID, Germany, Spain

The logo of Fisker Automotive is pictured on a car at the 2022 Paris Auto Show in Paris, France, October 18, 2022. But Fisker was limited by its delivery and service infrastructure rather than production and demand. "We have not been able to follow through with deliveries fast enough," CEO Henrik Fisker said on the call. "In the course of completing the preparation of the report, the company determined that it has material weaknesses in the company's internal control over financial reporting," Fisker said. The EV company reported a loss of $91 million, missing analysts' estimates for a loss of $75 million, according to Visible Alpha.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Fisker, Geeta Fisker, Tesla, Elon, Henrik Fisker, Samrhitha Arunasalam, Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat, Akash Sriram, Abhirup Roy, Shounak Dasgupta, Stephen Coates Organizations: Fisker, REUTERS, Ford, General Motors, EV, Alpha, stoke, Revenue, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, U.S, Canada, Austrian, Bengaluru, San Francisco

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Shares of financial services firm B. Riley (RILY.O) plummeted nearly 35% on Monday, extending losses for the fourth consecutive session, after it disclosed unrealized investment losses and S&P Global Ratings downgraded a key asset. That markdown resulted in B. Riley reporting a net loss of $75.8 million in the third quarter, compared with a profit of $45.8 million a year earlier. "We do not believe that the recent movement in our share price is warranted based on the fundamental strength and performance of our diversified platform," a B. Riley spokesperson said in a statement. B. Riley has also been targeted by a short seller. "Although B Riley attempted to address short seller concerns on their recent earnings call, the information they provided was limited," said Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Riley, Brian Kahn, Kahn, John Hughes, Bryant Riley, Rick Meckler, Meckler, Chibuike Oguh, Medha Singh, Niket, Deepa Babington, Stephen Coates Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Reuters Graphics, Group's, Bloomberg, Reuters, Wolfpack Research, Cherry Lane Investments, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Los Angeles, New York

☆ Volkswagen to cut administrative personnel costs 20% in savings drive -Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) plans to cut administrative personnel costs by a fifth as part of a cost-cutting package to save 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) by 2026, the Handelsblatt daily reported on Monday, citing an internal company podcast. Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen's board member for human resources, said in conversation with VW brand chief Thomas Schaefer that the cuts would focus on cost reduction rather than headcount, according to the Handelsblatt report. The specific details of the drive at Volkswagen's passenger car brand, announced in June and currently being defined in talks between management and the workers council, are due to be set by December. Volkswagen has signed an agreement with the workers council to secure jobs until 2029, and the council has repeatedly said it will not allow changes to that agreement. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann; Writing by Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray; Editing by Stephen Coates and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen's, Thomas Schaefer, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Miranda Murray, Stephen Coates, Bernadette Baum Organizations: VW, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wolfsburg, Germany

The logo of Australian energy company Origin is pictured in Melbourne, Australia, July 3, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Reed/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Australian pension fund AustralianSuper said on Monday it had rejected an "eleventh hour" offer from a Brookfield-led consortium and its partner EIG to drop its opposition to their $10.5 billion bid for Origin Energy and join the takeover. AustralianSuper said it was Origin Energy's largest shareholder, but did not specify the size of its stake as it has done in previous releases. Brookfield argues its bid, which comes with the commitment of A$20 to A$30 billion worth of investment, will decarbonise Origin Energy faster than if the company remains in public hands. However, AustralianSuper said on Monday it was also open to stumping up cash to fund Origin's transition.

Persons: Jason Reed, AustralianSuper, EIG, Luke Edwards, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Origin Energy, Financial, Brookfield, Renewable, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Brookfield, Sydney

SYDNEY, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Australia's financial position will be more precarious and credit rating at risk should the government succumb to the temptation to spend the sovereign wealth fund on political projects, its outgoing chair said in a speech on Monday. The A$205 billion ($130 billion) Future Fund will come under pressure to fund state priorities as an aging population reduces taxpayers and consumes a larger chunk of spending, Chairman Peter Costello said on Monday at a UBS conference in Sydney. "As government's financial position declines, I expect we'll see more plans to spend it," he said. "Once it is spent there is nothing to offset government sovereign debt, unfunded pension and unfunded military claims. Once it is spent the pressure to raise taxes and borrow more will accelerate."

Persons: Peter Costello, Costello, telco, Lewis Jackson, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, UBS, Labor, Liberal, Australia's AAA, telco Telstra, Thomson Locations: Sydney, China

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