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☆ Bosch opens chip test centre in Malaysia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Robert Bosch (ROBG.UL) has opened a new test centre for chips and sensors in Malaysia for 65-million-euro ($71.62 million) and plans to invest a further 285 million euros by the middle of next decade, the German technology group announced on Tuesday. Up to 400 jobs will be created by the mid-2030s, it added. Bosch currently carries out most of the final testing of its semiconductors from its factories in the German cities of Reutlingen, Germany, Suzhou, China and Hungary. Those locations will be joined by the new test centre in Penang, for which Bosch is receiving funding from Malaysia. ($1 = 0.9075 euros)Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, Writing by Miranda Murray; Editing by Riham AlkousaaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robert Bosch, Bosch, Ilona Wissenbach, Miranda Murray, Riham Organizations: Bosch, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Reutlingen, Germany, Suzhou, China, Hungary, Penang

☆ Silver Lake raises 1 bln euros in loans for Software AG takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Silver Lake (SILAK.UL) on Tuesday raised a 1 billion euro ($1.10 billion) seven-year loan to fund its takeover of Germany's Software AG (SOWGn.DE), breathing new life into the sluggish syndicated leveraged loan market. The loan is split between 640 million euros and $405 million, paying a margin of 475 basis points (bps) over the benchmark rate, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters. On July 20, the U.S. private equity firm announced it had secured a 84.29% stake in Software AG, subject to closing of the tender offer, adding that the transaction was expected to close in the fourth quarter pending regulatory approvals. Software AG shares were last up 0.3% on the day in Frankfurt. They have fallen by 13% since hitting a multi-month high after Silver Lake's offer in April this year.

Persons: Silver, Chiara Elisei, Amanda Cooper Organizations: Germany's Software AG, Reuters, Banks, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Banco Santander, Software AG, Thomson Locations: U.S, Frankfurt

Reuters analysis shows a massive jump in the assets of emerging market (EM) mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that exclude China as U.S. and European investors turn more wary of being exposed to the Asian giant. Other investors are simply moving to markets with better growth prospects, such as Brazil. The scale of change needed in global supply chains could drive such capital flows for the next decade, he said. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex-China ETF , the world's largest emerging market ex-China ETF whose biggest holdings are firms in Taiwan, South Korea and India, attracted a record $1 billion net inflow in the first half of 2023, the data showed. "China is the one major country that investors are most concerned about in EM," said John Lau, portfolio manager for Asia Pacific and emerging market equities at SEI.

Persons: Aly, Malcolm Dorson, John Lau, Goldman Sachs, Jeffrey Jaensubhakij, ”, Benjamin Low, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Biden, Wong Kok Hoi, Summer Zhen, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: REUTERS, Global, China ETF, China, Asia Pacific, SEI, Stock Connect, Morningstar, China Opportunity Equity Fund, Fund, Boston, Cambridge Associates, CSI, Nikkei, Investors, Reuters Graphics, APS Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, U.S, Mexico, India, Vietnam, Brazil, New York, Taiwan, South Korea, Asia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, “ U.S

☆ US commerce chief says China export controls will hit companies' revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/IllustrationWASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Wednesday the Biden administration is seeking to carefully target U.S. controls on exports to China, but rules will cost firms some revenue. Restrictions should not be so broad "that you deny American companies revenue and China can get the product elsewhere, or China can get the product from other countries," Raimondo said at a forum. Rules "will deny some revenue to American companies, but we think it's worth it." Raimondo said the administration is meeting with companies "to get to the right place so we don't damage American business but quite frankly protect American national security." The Biden administration is considering updating a sweeping set of rules imposed in October to hobble China's chip industry and a new executive order restricting some outbound investment.

Persons: Florence Lo, Gina Raimondo, Biden, Raimondo, hobble, we're, Antony Blinken, Lael Brainard, Jake Sullivan, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Biden, Semiconductor Industry Association, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Intel, Huawei, National Economic, National Security, Thomson Locations: of China, U.S, China, American, United States

Other investors are simply moving to markets with better growth prospects, such as Brazil. The scale of change needed in global supply chains could drive such capital flows for the next decade, he said. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex-China ETF , the world's largest emerging market ex-China ETF whose biggest holdings are firms in Taiwan, South Korea and India, attracted a record $1 billion net inflow in the first half of 2023, the data showed. "China is the one major country that investors are most concerned about in EM," said John Lau, portfolio manager for Asia Pacific and emerging market equities at SEI. “U.S., Canadian, and some European investors are exiting China due to political pressure.

☆ Why are so many Western firms staying put in Russia, despite the rising risks?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a slew of Western companies left in protest. Companies now find themselves caught between Western sanctions and public outrage on the one hand, and an increasingly hostile Russian government on the other. The Kremlin is making it more difficult for Western firms to sell their Russian assets — and imposing steep discounts and punitive taxes when they do. Both companies had been finalizing sales to local buyers when President Vladimir Putin signed an order nationalizing their local assets earlier this month. Spurred by sweeping Western sanctions, oil companies, automakers, technology firms, consultancies and banks led the initial wave of departures.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Carlsberg, Maria Shagina, Andrey Rudakov, Konstantin Zavrazhin, Hein Schumacher, Schumacher, ”, ” Procter, Gamble, ” Mondelez, Fortum Oyj, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, ” Sonnenfeld, — Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: London CNN, Nestlé, Heineken, Companies, Danone, Carlsberg, Breweries, International Institute for Strategic Studies, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Yale University, Yale, Unilever, UL, Procter, Gamble, Treasury, Foreign, Control, Carlsberg — Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Lyubuchany, Rosneft, Moscow, Russian

☆ Portugal won't compensate telcos for replacing "high-risk" equipment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Europe and the U.S. have concerns that Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure could compromise security. The Security Assessment Commission created within the scope of the CSSC has over the past nine months assessed the security aspects of all existing equipment in Portugal, regardless of "technology, merit or quality", and applied the criteria of the EU 5G security toolbox. "Because there is this balance between security and the operators' return on investment, Portugal does not consider compensating them for replacing equipment," he said. Asked if the deliberation was aimed at Chinese suppliers such as Huawei, he said: "Of course not". Portugal's main operators, Altice, NOS (NOS.LS) and Vodafone (VOD.L) have already said they would not use Huawei's equipment in 5G core networks.

Persons: Mario Campolargo, Campolargo, Sergio Goncalves, David Evans Organizations: Huawei, Reuters, Union, U.S, EU, NATO, OECD, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: LISBON, Portugal, digitalisation, Europe, Beijing, EU

Its group chief investment officer Jeffrey Jaensubhakij told Reuters GIC was keen to invest in Chinese companies that do business within China and do not export to the United States. "There are some 'China for China' type of investments that still make sense," he said. GIC said exposure to China was important for a diversified portfolio. GIC is the world's seventh-biggest sovereign investor with $690 billion in total assets, according to research firm Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. The share of emerging market equities in GIC's portfolio rose to 17% by end of March from 16% a year earlier.

Persons: Jeffrey Jaensubhakij, Reuters GIC, GIC's, GIC, Lim Chow Kiat, Beijing scrambles, Ang Eng Seng, Jaensubhakij, GIC's Lim, Yantoultra Ngui, Xinghui, Xie Yu, Julie Zhu, Kane Wu, Christina Fincher Organizations: SINGAPORE, Reuters, HK, Ant Group, Temasek, Infrastructure, Sovereign Wealth Fund, Thomson Locations: China, Singapore, United States, Beijing, U.S, Asia, Japan, Xinghui Kok

☆ The world’s biggest ice cream company says heat waves may not help sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Can it ever be too hot for ice cream? “When it gets too hot, people move away from ice cream and buy a cold drink instead,” he said. The consumer goods giant commands a fifth of global ice cream sales, according to Euromonitor. The company’s overall ice cream sales grew 5.7% in the first half of the year in value terms, compared with the same period in 2022. Price rises across Unilever’s products helped push up its sales by 9.1% in the first half, even though volumes fell marginally.

Persons: Cornetto, ”, Graeme Pitkethly, Jerry’s, Carte d’Or, Hein Schumacher, Schumacher —, FrieslandCampina — Organizations: London CNN, Unilever, UL, Health Locations: Europe, Spain, Italy, Greece, Ukraine

☆ UK battery startup Nexeon to supply Panasonic with advanced material
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Paul Lienert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 24 (Reuters) - UK battery startup Nexeon will supply high-energy silicon anode material to Panasonic’s (6752.T) newest U.S. plant starting in 2025, the companies said on Monday. The use of silicon-rich anodes will enable Panasonic battery cells to store more energy and charge more quickly, the companies said. The greater energy density also gives Panasonic the option of making smaller, lighter packs with similar range to current battery cells. Abingdon-based Nexeon will supply the material to Panasonic Energy Co’s $4 billion De Soto, Kansas plant, which is slated to open in early 2025. Founded in 2006, Nexeon has raised more than $260 million and was most recently valued at $350 million, according to investor website PitchBook.com.

Persons: Sila Nanotechnologies, Nexeon, Group14, Sila, Mercedes, Paul Lienert, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Panasonic, Panasonic Energy, De, Korea’s SK Group, Porsche, SK, BASF, Mercedes, Benz, Siemens, Samsung, Thomson Locations: U.S, Abingdon, De Soto , Kansas, Woodinville , Washington, Alameda , California, Detroit

☆ Taiwan's Foxconn to take 50% stake in ZF axle system unit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, July 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn (2317.TW) will acquire a 50% stake in ZF Group's (ZFF.UL) axle system assembly unit, creating a joint venture aimed at growing automotive and supply chain opportunities, the companies said on Monday. The joint venture with Foxconn is part of ZF's strategy to grow specific business areas beyond current limits with external partners' support, the German company's chief executive, Holger Klein, told Reuters. "This business can grow very quickly, but it has relatively low margins. It needs fresh capital," which is why ZF had been looking for a partner, said Klein. The joint venture agreement is expected to become effective within six to nine months of signing pending regulatory approvals.

Persons: Foxconn, Holger Klein, Klein, Alexander Huebner, Friederike Heine, Miranda Murray, Rachel More Organizations: ZF Group's, Foxconn, Reuters, ZF, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Berlin, Munich, China

The market for e-bike delivery has grown dramatically in the past few years. Here's how startups, delivery companies, and city governments are improving safety. The explosion of delivery startups and e-bikes in the past few years has led to a new type of boom: increasing battery fires. "E-bike batteries are made up of a bunch of small batteries stacked together," Charlie Welch, ZapBatt's cofounder and CEO, said. JOCOOther startups, such as Popwheels, are engineering safe batteries that are compatible with the e-bikes delivery drivers already own.

Persons: —, Uber, Ravindra Kempaiah, Michael Pecht, Brian O'Connor, O'Connor, Charlie Welch, ZapBatt's, Welch, Jonathan Cohen, Grubhub, Jonathan A, Cohen, David Hammer, Hammer, Baruch Herzfeld, they've, We've Organizations: Bloomberg, Zen Electronics, University of Maryland, Fire Protection Association, UL Solutions, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, UL Locations: New York City, New York, Halifax , Nova Scotia, China, Carlsbad , California, Brooklyn , New York

☆ China to be centre of Mercedes-Benz 2025 EV sales drive, Automobilwoche says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, July 23 (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) is making China, the world's top auto market, central to its next electric vehicle (EV) campaign starting in 2025, its CEO told German magazine Automobilwoche. From 2025, all of Mercedes-Benz's new vehicle platforms will only make EVs under a strategy the German luxury automaker outlined in 2021. A senior executive told Automobilwoche the models the company plans to launch in China based on the upcoming MB.EA platform were being reviewed to ensure they better meet the needs of local customers, singling out space and digital content. China remains the most relevant market for Germany's automakers, but local brands are in control with an 81% share of the Chinese EV market in 2022, Counterpoint Research found. China also has a significant stake in Mercedes-Benz, whose top two shareholders are Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd (1958.HK) and Geely (GEELY.UL) Chairman Li Shufu.

Persons: Ola Kaellenius, Automobilwoche, Li Shufu, Christoph Steitz, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Benz, Mercedes, EV, Research, Beijing Automotive Group Co, HK, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, China, Berlin, Ukraine

REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman/File PhotoHOUSTON, July 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. court set Oct. 23 as the start date for a long-expected auction of shares in Venezuela-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum's parent to pay creditors with judgments against the South American nation. U.S. Judge Leonard Stark in Delaware this week accepted a recommendation by a court official in charge of organizing the auction. Proceeds from any sale of PDV Holding shares would be used to pay off creditors previously cleared by the court. Any sale of Citgo without the participation of Venezuela would be "hurtful," Pedro Tellechea, Venezuela's oil minister, said on Friday. "It's not a PDVSA asset.

Persons: Jonathan Bachman, Judge Leonard Stark, PDV, Pedro Tellechea, Horacio Medina, Stark, Venezuela's, Hugo Chavez, PDVSA, Marianna Parraga, Gary McWilliams, Richard Chang, Grant McCool Organizations: Citgo Petroleum, REUTERS, South, Petróleos, PDV, U.S . Treasury Department, PDVSA, Crystallex, ConocoPhillips, Siemens Energy, Tree Investments, Inc, Huntington Ingalls Industries, ACL1 Investments, Rusoro, Koch Industries, Thomson Locations: U.S, Stowell , Texas, Venezuela, South American, PDV, Delaware

While global supply networks recover from the pandemic shock, fresh impetus is coming from tougher environmental standards, which drive companies to invest in new technologies to reduce their and their suppliers' emissions. "So in battery, steel, aluminum and cast iron we will only source green materials and technologies by 2030," Foller told Reuters. The foundation told Reuters it would also consider further investments in producers of steel, construction and green aluminium produced with hydropower or from recycled materials. Scania said that following its 10 million euro ($11.15 million) seed investment in H2GS in 2021, it has entered a steel supply agreement from 2027. While companies will keep investing in their suppliers in the short to medium term, the market will eventually reach saturation, said Jon Chadwick, global energy transition lead at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Persons: Andreas Follér, Foller, Rebecca Campbell, China's, Scania's Foller, Britain's, They're, Maybel Saleh, Case's Campbell, Jon Chadwick, Clara Denina, Sarah McFarlane, Helen Reid, Veronica Brown, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: IKEA, Climate Tech VC, Scania, Reuters, White &, Export, GM, IMAS Foundation, Airlines, EMEA, Citi . Supply, Equity, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, China, Russia, Beijing, Sweden, Swedish, H2GS, Norway, Germany, Indonesia, Britain, Bristol

CARACAS, July 21 (Reuters) - Venezuelan expects to sign licenses by year-end for developing the nation's vast natural gas reserves, oil minister Pedro Tellechea said on Friday, even amid U.S. sanctions. Most of the South American country's gas reserves remain undeveloped after decades of insufficient investment, contract changes and - in recent years - U.S. sanctions to oust President Nicolas Maduro. But new officials running the oil ministry and PDVSA want to encourage new investment and unfreeze projects. Oil major Shell Plc (SHEL.L), which produces in Trinidad, could operate the Dragon gas field in Venezuela if Maduro's government extends it a license, Trinidad officials have said. Venezuela is producing 831,000 barrels of crude per day (bpd) this month and expects to increase to 1 million bpd by year-end.

Persons: Pedro Tellechea, Nicolas Maduro, Tellechea, Spain's, Maurel, Deisy Buitrago, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Marianna Parraga, Alison Williams Organizations: Eni, Shell, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Caracas, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Trinidad, China

The audit has not changed the U.S. Treasury's view that the bank must make reforms before the department will support disbursements from the Afghan Fund to Da Afghanistan Bank, or DAB, as the central bank is known, said a U.S. Treasury official on condition of anonymity. It also must prove that it has "adequate" controls against money-laundering and terrorism financing and install a "reputable" independent monitor, said the Treasury official. A Taliban administration spokesman and a spokesperson for the Afghan central bank did not respond to request for comment. Afghanistan remains mired in grave humanitarian and economic crises that some experts say has been worsened by U.S. restrictions hampering DAB's ability to perform key central bank functions, such as ensuring stable exchange rates and prices. Calling the audit a "preliminary assessment," the Treasury official said its "limitations" suggested that "more comprehensive third-party assessment efforts may be needed."

Persons: ”, disbursements, Shah Mehrabi, Mehrabi, Anwar ul, Haq Ahady, Jonathan Landay, Charlotte Greenfield, Don Durfee Organizations: U.S ., Afghan, Da, Da Afghanistan Bank, Treasury, Federal Reserve Bank of New, DAB, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, U.S, Afghan Fund, State Department, The State Department, Reuters, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, ISLAMABAD, U.S, Da Afghanistan, Swiss, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Afghan, Washington, United States, Afghanistan, American

STOCKHOLM, July 20 (Reuters) - Sweden-based automaker Volvo Cars (VOLCARb.ST) reported a 54% fall in second-quarter operating earnings on Thursday as the year-ago period's profit was boosted by a one-off gain, and it forecast healthy demand for its vehicles despite pricing pressures. Volvo Cars, majority-owned by China's Geely Holding (GEELY.UL), said earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) fell to 5.0 billion Swedish crowns ($488.62 million) from a year-ago 10.8 billion. Volvo said its sales performance was driven by improved production output and that it expected supply and demand to continue to normalise in the wider markets. The company added that the normalisation would bring some additional pricing pressures, but that demand for its cars were expected to be healthy despite high interest rates squeezing its customers and overall market. Volvo reiterated its guidance of solid double-digit growth in retail sales for the full year.

Persons: China's Geely, Refinitiv, Marie Mannes, Anna Ringstrom, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Volvo, China's, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Sweden, China, Gothenburg

☆ Vattenfall says it is stopping British Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) - Swedish utility Vattenfall (VATN.UL) is stopping the development of the 1.4 gigawatt (GW) Norfolk Boreas offshore wind project off the coast of Britain, designed to power around 1.5 million homes, it said in an earnings statement on Thursday. The company said the decision would have an impact on earnings of 5.5 billion Swedish crowns ($537 million). Vattenfall also said it would examine the best way forward for the entire Norfolk zone which also includes the Vanguard East and West projects. Britain has a target of increasing offshore wind capacity to 50 GW, from around 14 GW now, as a part of efforts to meet its climate targets and boost energy security. ($1 = 10.2438 Swedish crowns)Reporting by Susanna Twidale, editing by Gwladys FoucheOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vattenfall, Susanna Twidale, Gwladys Organizations: Norfolk, Vanguard East, Thomson Locations: Norfolk Boreas, Britain, Norfolk

The tanker Flex Artemis was in the South Atlantic and heading northeast on Thursday, according to Refinitiv vessel tracking. It had carried LNG from Yamal in Russia, according to a trader familiar with the matter, and had arrived in Argentine waters about July 14. The Flex Artemis is carrying around 160,000 cubic meters of LNG, according to Olumide Ajayi, senior LNG analyst at Refinitiv. Leo Kabouche, LNG market analyst at consultancy Energy Aspects, said warm weather in Argentina and the start of the Nestor Kirchner pipeline is likely reducing the call on LNG. Argentina turns away Gunvor-chartered LNG tanker, citing sanctions Argentina turns away Gunvor-chartered LNG tankerReporting by Marwa Rashad in London and Julia Payne in Brussels; additional reporting by Ron Bousso in London and Nicolas Misculin in Buenos Aires; Editing by Josie Kao and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Gunvor, counterparty, Olumide Ajayi, Leo Kabouche, Nestor Kirchner, Marwa Rashad, Julia Payne, Ron Bousso, Nicolas Misculin, Josie Kao, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Energy, Argentina, Thomson Locations: Russia, France, Argentine, Yamal, Ukraine, Geneva, Argentina, Gunvor, London, Brussels, Buenos Aires

A negotiating team representing the South American country has held settlement talks with some of those creditors and holders of defaulted PDVSA bonds. The U.S. has shielded Houston-based Citgo from creditors since the company in 2019 severed ties with its ultimate parent, Venezuela's state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA.UL), which is controlled by President Nicolas Maduro. Horacio Medina, chief of the board that supervises Citgo, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. A sales process for Citgo shares that could begin as soon as September is under consideration by a U.S. judge in Delaware. Venezuela this month lost a separate appeal trying to block new creditors from attaching to the Delaware case.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Horacio Medina, Citgo, PDVSA's, PDVSA, Katherine Polk Failla, Marianna Parraga, Gary McWilliams, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Treasury Department, Treasury, Crystallex International, ConocoPhillips, Siemens Energy, Tree Investments, U.S, Huntington Ingalls Industries, ACL1 Investments, Rusoro, Koch Industries, New, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Petroleum, U.S, Houston, Petroleos, Delaware, New York, Manhattan

☆ Factbox: Corporate debt woes are on the rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Size of debt: 14 billion pounds ($18.33 billion). The firm said earlier in July shareholders would provide 750 million pounds, but warned it would need an extra 2.5 billion pounds between 2025-2030. Size of debt: 6.4 billion euros ($7.19 billion) in net debt. What's at stake: Casino faces 3 billion euros of debt repayments in the next two years, with rating agencies Moody's and Standard & Poor's warning a default is likely. Deadlines to watch: Casino aims to secure an agreement with creditors by July 27.

Persons: Toby Melville, What's, Jean, Charles Naouri, Casino, Daniel Kretinsky, Kretinsky, Chiara Elisei, Dhara, Christina Fincher Organizations: Thames, REUTERS, Water, Casino, SBB, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, LONDON, Sweden, France, England, Czech, Brookfield, Spain, Barcelona

WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. chip company executives met with top Biden administration officials on Monday to discuss China policy, the State Department and sources said, as the most powerful semiconductor lobby group urged a halt to more curbs under consideration. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked with chip company chief executives about the industry and supply chains after his recent trip to China, a department spokesperson told reporters. The chip industry is keen to protect its profits in China as the Biden administration considers another round of restrictions on chip exports to China. Last year, China accounted for $180 billion in semiconductor purchases, more than a third the worldwide total of $555.9 billion and the largest single market, according to Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). The Biden administration is considering updating a sweeping set of rules imposed in October to hobble China's chip industry and a new executive order restricting some outbound investment.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Gina Raimondo, Lael Brainard, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Commerce's Raimondo, Washington, hobble, Pat Gelsinger, David Shepardson, Andrea Shalal, Simon Lewis, Stephen Nellis, Chris Sanders, Susan Heavey, Matthew Lewis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Biden, State Department, National Economic, National Security, Intel, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Reuters, Semiconductor Industry Association, SIA, Department, White, Commerce Department, Huawei Technology Co, San, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Washington, San Francisco

The chip industry is keen to protect its profits in China as the Biden administration considers another round of restrictions on chip exports to China. The Biden administration is considering updating a sweeping set of rules imposed in October to hobble China's chip industry and a new executive order restricting some outbound investment. Not every official is expected to meet with every company, the source who spoke on condition of anonymity added. Further rule-tightening by U.S. officials risks "disrupting supply chains, causing significant market uncertainty, and prompting continued escalatory retaliation by China," the industry group said. "The availability of Gaudi2 in China continues Intel’s nearly 40-year history of delivering innovative yet legally-compliant products to this key growth market," Intel said in a statement.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Gina Raimondo, Lael Brainard, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Matthew Miller, chafed, hobble, Blinken, Pat Gelsinger, Raimondo, David Shepardson, Andrea Shalal, Simon Lewis, Stephen Nellis, Susan Heavey, Matthew Lewis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Biden, National Economic, National Security, Intel, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Semiconductor Industry Association, SIA, Department, Administration, White, Reuters, Commerce Department, U.S, Huawei Technology Co, San, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Washington, Intel’s, San Francisco

London/Atlanta CNN —Moscow has seized control of the Russian subsidiaries of French yogurt maker Danone and Danish brewer Carlsberg, highlighting risks facing foreign firms that continue to do business in the country. The decision follows a decree Putin signed in April that allows the government to place foreign assets in the country under its temporary control if Russian assets abroad are seized or threatened. At the time, the Russian government took control of utilities owned by German energy company Uniper and Finland’s Fortum Oyj. Baltika is one of the largest consumer goods companies in Russia and employs 8,400 people, according to Carlsberg’s website. Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg/Getty Images/FileDanone (DANOY) is also in the process of selling its Russian business.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Baltika, Putin, Russia —, ”, Andrey Rudakov Organizations: London, Atlanta CNN —, Danone, Carlsberg, Russian, Heineken, Nestlé, Unilever, UL, Companies, Baltika Breweries, Breweries, Bloomberg, Getty, Danone Russia Locations: Atlanta, Atlanta CNN — Moscow, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, St . Petersburg

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