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☆ Republicans Agree on Foreign Policy — When It Comes to China - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Peter Beinart | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Understanding why Republicans prioritized China then helps explain why they’re prioritizing it now. Many of America’s most influential Asia Firsters — like the Time magazine publisher Henry Luce — were either the children of American missionaries in China or had served as missionaries there themselves. The John Birch Society, whose fervent and conspiratorial brand of anti-Communism foreshadowed the right-wing populism of today, took its name from an Army captain and former missionary killed by Chinese communists at the end of World War II. It boasts much of the world’s economic, political and military power, which is why the Biden administration focuses on the region, too. In March, a Gallup poll found that while Democrats were 23 points more likely to consider Russia a greater enemy than China, Republicans were a whopping 64 points more likely to say the reverse.

Persons: Robert Taft, “ Mr, H, Alexander Smith, Truman, William Knowland, Joyce Mao, Chiang Kai, shek, Asia Firsters, Henry Luce —, John Birch, Biden, Mao, fixate, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping Organizations: Republican, NATO, Foreign Policy, Armed Services Committee, Nationalist, Republicans, Communist, Time, John, John Birch Society, Army, Gallup Locations: Europe, Formosa, ”, Taiwan, China, Asia, United States, Pacific, Washington, Beijing, Russia

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies CNIL's checks took place on WednesdayWorldcoin is new project of ChatGPT founderPARIS, Aug 31 (Reuters) - France's data watchdog carried out "checks" at Worldcoin's Paris office this week, amid global regulatory pressure on the digital currency firm co-founded by ChatGPT-founder Sam Altman. France's CNIL watchdog said in July it was investigating Worldcoin as the legality of its biometric data "seemed questionable". "Checks took place at the Worldcoin offices," a CNIL spokesperson said on Thursday, confirming an earlier Politico report that the visit took place on Wednesday. Worldcoin requires users to provide their iris scans in exchange for a digital ID and, in some countries, in exchange for free cryptocurrency. The Worldcoin Foundation, a Cayman Islands-based entity, told Reuters via email: "The team at Worldcoin welcomes any opportunity to address questions regarding the project’s purpose and technology."

Persons: Ricardo Macieira, Annegret, PARIS, Sam Altman, France's, Worldcoin, Sudip Kar, Martin Coulter, Alexander Smith, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, ChatGPT, Politico, Worldcoin, Worldcoin Foundation, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Europe, cryptocurrency, Berlin, Germany, Worldcoin's, Cayman Islands, London

REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoHONG KONG/NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Chinese fears of a spillover from missed payments on some shadow banking linked trust products and worsening consumer sentiment are expected to hasten a policy response to revive the country's cash-starved property sector. Zhongrong International Trust Co, which traditionally had sizable real estate exposure, has recently missed repayments on some investment products, fuelling contagion fears. 'CONTAGION'The trust sector had been a major fundraising channel for property developers seeking rapid expansion. The outstanding value of trust products invested in the property sector was 1.2 trillion yuan as of end-2022, down about 30% year-on-year. Still, exposure to the real estate sector varies from different trust firms.

Persons: Aly, Yan Wang, Nomura, Arthur Kroeber, Kamil Dimmich, Phillip Wool, Wool, Vidya Ranganathan, Laura Matthews, David Randall, Ziyi Tang, Sumeet Chatterjee, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, HONG KONG, Trust Co, Barclays, International Trust, South Capital LLP, China Equity ETF, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG, Zhongrong, Beijing, New York, London, Singapore, Summer Zhen

☆ Russian court bans UBS, Credit Suisse from subsidiary disposals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logos of Swiss bank Credit Suisse and UBS are seen in Geneva, Switzerland, June 7, 2023. The Russian bank joined an agreement to provide a syndicated loan to Luxembourg-based agricultural firm Intergrain, for which Credit Suisse was the credit agent, the document showed. In November 2021, Zenit transferred $20 million to Intergrain, but after Western sanctions were imposed on Zenit, Credit Suisse notified the Russian bank that it would not transfer payments to it from Intergrain. Credit Suisse and UBS, which bought its smaller rival in June, declined to comment. The court documents showed that Zenit Bank had filed for interim measures, asking the court to seize funds belonging to UBS and Credit Suisse, and prohibiting the disposal of shares.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Laws, Goldman Sachs, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Alexander Smith Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, REUTERS, Zenit Bank, Zenit, Intergrain . Credit Suisse, Otkritie Bank, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Moscow, Russian, Luxembourg, Intergrain ., Ukraine, Detsky Mir, U.S

☆ Hedge funds land bonuses despite returns below bank savings rates -Goldman
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Nell Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Savings accounts currently offer interest rates of about 5.5% in the United States, and 3.75% in Europe. About 73% of the investors surveyed were based in the United States, Goldman said in the note sent to clients on Monday. Reuters GraphicsMost investors use an index compiled by Hedge Fund Research (HFR) to determine whether or not their hedge fund has performed well enough to earn a bonus or performance fee. Reuters GraphicsSome agreements between a hedge fund and their investors base fees not on a minimum threshold but on a past high the hedge fund has hit, a so-called high-water mark. Half of the investors surveyed said hedge funds met their expectations this year but only 8% said they had outperformed, the lowest proportion since 2018.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Nell Mackenzie, Elisa Martinuzzi, Dhara Ranasinghe, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Savings, Reuters Graphics, Hedge Fund Research, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United States, Europe, Anecdotally

[1/2] A response by ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, is seen on its website in this illustration picture taken February 9, 2023. Anecdotal examples of people using ChatGPT to help with their day-to-day work include drafting emails, summarising documents and doing preliminary research. Reuters was not able independently confirm how employees at Tinder were using ChatGPT. In May, Samsung Electronics banned staff globally from using ChatGPT and similar AI tools after discovering an employee had uploaded sensitive code to the platform. Reuters was not able independently to confirm whether employees at P&G were unable to use ChatGPT.

Persons: Florence Lo, ChatGPT, Ben King, King, OpenAI, Tinder, Samsung, Google's Bard, Bard, We've, TATE.L, Dawn Allen, trialing ChatGPT, It's, Paul Lewis, Lewis, Richa Naidu, Martin Coulter, Jason Lange, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Microsoft, Google, AIs, Samsung Electronics, Cola, Tate, Procter, Gamble, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, United States, Europe, Atlanta , Georgia

☆ Chrysler owner calls for focus on reality in UAW labor talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People attend a Stellantis presentation at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' DelgadoAug 11 (Reuters) - Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) sharply criticized the demands of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Friday, saying they need "a focus on reality from everyone involved." A UAW spokesman declined immediate comment on Stewart's letter, but earlier this week UAW President Shawn Fain called the Stellantis proposals "trash" and tossed a copy of them in a waste basket in live streamed remarks. "Stellantis proposals are a slap in the face," Fain said disclosing the company was proposing cuts to healthcare coverage, fewer vacation days for new hires and lifting a cap on temporary employees. The UAW also said the company opposes an end to two-tier wages, a practice of newer hires getting paid much less than veteran workers.

Persons: David, Dee, Delgado, Mark Stewart, Shawn Fain, Stewart, Fain, Stellantis, David Shepardson, Mark Porter, Alexander Smith Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Chrysler, United Auto Workers, UAW, Reuters, Stellantis, General Motors, Ford, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, America

A view of logo of New Development Bank (NDB) at its headquarters in Shanghai, China July 10, 2023. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said boosting local currency usage among the NDB's members will also be on the agenda, with the aim of de-risking the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations rather than de-dollarisation. "Most countries that are members of the NDB have been encouraging (it) to provide loans in local currencies," Godongwana said. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsSo far, China is by far the NDB's most successful local currency market. GROWING MEMBERSHIPNevertheless, the NDB, established with $10 billion in paid-in share capital from each BRICS country, wants to expand.

Persons: Aly, Enoch Godongwana, Godongwana, Leslie Maasdorp, Maasdorp, Alexander Ekbom, Chris Humphrey, Humphrey, Rachel Savage, Brenda Goh, Tannur Anders, Vincent Flasseur, Karin Strohecker, Joe Bavier, Alexander Smith Organizations: New Development Bank, REUTERS, Reuters, Finance, Federal Reserve, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S ., United Arab, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Reuters Graphics, Overseas Development Institute, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Africa, JOHANNESBURG, SHANGHAI, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, India, Johannesburg, Ukraine, United States, Mumbai, Brasilia, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Uruguay, Algeria, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Asia, London

☆ Britain's Bellway says new home sales to fall 'materially'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toby Melville/File PhotoAug 9 (Reuters) - Britain's Bellway (BWY.L) said on Wednesday it would build fewer homes this year and warned that it expects sales completions to drop "materially" amid a sharp housing sector slowdown triggered by higher mortgage rates. Bellway said it built 10,945 homes in the fiscal year ended July 31, slightly down from the guidance of 11,000 units. "In the current financial year, given the level of the order book and prevailing low reservation rates, legal completions are expected to decrease materially," it said in a statement. Bellway, whose builds range from one-bedroom apartments to six-bedroom family homes, said its full-year overall reservation rate fell 28.4% to 156 per week, and it also saw a steep fall from 190 units during the Feb. 1-June 4 period. Bellway's mid-cap competitors Crest Nicholson (CRST.L) and Vistry (VTYV.L) have said high mortgage rates were hampering demand from first-time buyers.

Persons: Toby Melville, Bellway, Barratt, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Suban Abdulla, Subhranshu Sahu, Paul Sandle, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, FTSE, Berkeley, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Newcastle, England, Bengaluru

☆ Factbox: European countries imposing windfall taxes on banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But he and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire have ruled out the possibility of a windfall tax. HUNGARYHungary's government has tweaked windfall taxes imposed on key sectors of the economy in a decree published in June, saying banks can reduce their 2024 windfall tax payments by up to 50% if they increase their Hungarian government bond purchases. ITALYItaly approved on Aug. 8 a one-off 40% tax on profits banks reap from higher interest rates and it plans to use the proceeds to help mortgage holders. LITHUANIALithuania's parliament approved in May a windfall tax on the banking industry's net interest income for 2023 and 2024 following a sharp rise in European Central Bank interest rates. It is expected to raise 6 billion Swedish crowns a year.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Emmanuel Macron, Bruno Le Maire, Christian Lindner, Alessandro Parodi, Matteo Allievi, Olivier Sorgho, Silvia Aloisi, Tom Sims, Holger Hansen, Marta Frąckowiak, Alexander Smith Organizations: Germany's Deutsche Bank, REUTERS, Finance, HUNGARY Hungary's, European Central Bank, Swedish Government, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Italy, CZECH REPUBLIC, Czech, France, GERMANY, HUNGARY, ITALY Italy, LITHUANIA, SPAIN Spain, SWEDEN, Britain

☆ Exclusive: Snapchat under scrutiny from UK watchdog over underage users
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Under UK data protection law, social media companies need parental consent before processing data of children under 13. Social media firms generally require users to be 13 or over, but have had mixed success in keeping children off their platforms. Snapchat declined to give details of any measures it might have taken to reduce the number of underage users. It also found Snapchat was the most popular app for underage social media users. However, other apps take more proactive measures to prevent underage children accessing their platforms.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Snapchat, Martin Coulter, Matt Scuffham, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Inc, Social, ICO, Ofcom, National Society for, Thomson Locations: U.S, Britain

A selection of injector pens for the Wegovy weight loss drug are shown in this photo illustration in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 31, 2023. The increasingly popular Wegovy has transformed the weight-loss market since its U.S. launch in June 2021, capturing the attention of patients, investors and celebrities worldwide. Novo's news lifted shares in Europe's second-most valuable listed company after LVMH (LVMH.PA) by more than 17% to record highs. Novo said the eagerly-awaited study results, which have not been peer reviewed, showed that patients on Wegovy had a 20% lower incidence of heart attack, stroke or death from heart disease compared to those on a placebo. Lilly's shares rose nearly 15% in early U.S. trading, boosted by its upbeat quarterly results and Novo's trial data.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Novo, Wegovy, Jeff Levin, Willis, Willis Towers Watson, Martin Holst Lange, Novo's, Eli Lilly, Mounjaro, Soren Lontoft Hansen, Maggie Fick, Nikolaj Skydsgaard, Jacob Gronholt, Ludwig Burger, Patrick Wingrove, Terje Solsvik, Josephine Mason, Sharon Singleton, Kirsten Donovan, Jan Harvey, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, COPENHAGEN, Novo Nordisk, Willis Towers, U.S, Union, Pfizer Inc, Amgen Inc, World Health Organization, Barclays, Reuters, Pedersen, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, LONDON, Europe's, Europe, United States, Novo, Wegovy, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, New York, Oslo

☆ UBS rejigs investment bank in bid to better compete with Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Logos of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are seen in Zurich, Switzerland, March 20, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File PhotoLONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - UBS (UBSG.S) announced an overhaul of its investment banking division on Monday, including naming the unit's M&A chiefs, marking a key step in integrating Credit Suisse. Sergio Ermotti is seizing on the opportunity presented by the rescue takeover of Credit Suisse in March to reorganize UBS' investment bank to better compete against Wall Street firms. Hundreds of Credit Suisse bankers have already left to other institutions and UBS has been laying off employees from Credit Suisse's investment bank around the globe. Hong Kong makes up Credit Suisse's biggest share of investment bankers in Asia.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Sergio Ermotti, David Kostel, Tom Churton, Christian Lesueur, Nestor Paz, Galindo, Marc, Anthony Hourihan, Michael Santini, Marc Warm, David Slade, Scott Lindsay, Robin Rankin, Andres Gonzalez, Oliver Hirt, Elisa Martinuzzi, Alexander Smith Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, REUTERS, Wall Street, Global, Staff, Reuters, TMT Investment, Global Banking, Credit, Suisse's, Debt, Thomson Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Credit, Swiss, Hong Kong, Asia

[1/2] The London Stock Exchange Group offices are seen in the City of London, Britain, December 29, 2017. Investor attention will be squarely on the July U.S. non-farm payrolls report, with a Reuters survey of 80 economists expecting payrolls to have increased by 200,000 last month, after rising 209,000 in June. "Today’s U.S. payrolls data is likely to continue to showcase the resilience of the U.S. economy," Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said in a note. The dollar meanwhile rose 0.1% against a basket of major currencies , heading for its third weekly gain in a row. Oil prices headed for a sixth straight weekly gain, driven up by the prospect of reduced supply from Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Persons: Toby Melville, payrolls, Michael Hewson, Germany's DAX, Francesco Sandrini, Fitch, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Kirsten Donovan, Alexander Smith Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, City of, REUTERS, Treasury, U.S . Federal, CMC Markets, FTSE, Nasdaq, Apple, Bank of England, U.S ., U.S . Treasury, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, U.S, United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Singapore

FILE PHOTO-A woman walks past a Credit Agricole logo outside a bank office in Reze near Nantes, France, May 12, 2021. The results boosted Credit Agricole SA's (CAGR.PA) stock, which was up by about 5% at 0817 GMT, making it the best performer within France's blue-chip index CAC 40 (.FCHI). Helping the positive sentiment, the investment vehicle of the mutual banks that control Credit Agricole said it would spend 1 billion euros on the bank's shares, further tightening its grip on the lender. The vehicle currently owns 60.2% of Credit Agricole SA and said it had no intention to go beyond 65%. Degroof Petercam has client assets of 71 billion euros, while Indosuez said it had assets under management of 130 billion euros at the end of 2022.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Degroof, France's, JP Morgan, Degroof Petercam, Indosuez, Xavier Musca, Musca, Mathieu Rosemain, Geert de Clercq, Piotr Lipinski, Ingrid Melander, Augustin Turpin, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Agricole, CAC, PARIS, Credit Agricole, Credit Agricole SA, Royal Bank of Canada, Barclays, Credit Agricole's, Indosuez, KBC, Thomson Locations: Reze, Nantes, France, Belgian

The headquarters of chemicals maker Lanxess are seen in Cologne, Germany November 15, 2018. "We urgently need sustainable framework conditions – above all an internationally competitive electricity tariff for the industry," CEO Matthias Zachert said in a statement. The company said implementing these measures would cost around 100 million euros. The group's second quarter core earnings (EBITDA) pre-exceptionals fell 57.7% to 107 million euros, in line with its forecast from June. In a separate statement, Lanxess said its finance chief Michael Pontzen would leave by the end of August.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Matthias Zachert, Lanxess, Zachert, Baader, Konstantin Wiechert, Michael Pontzen, Linda Pasquini, Antonis Pothitos, Milla Nissi, Alexander Smith, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Cologne, Germany, Europe, Krefeld, Uerdingen, Gdansk

FILE PHOTO-A logo of German real estate company Vonovia, is pictured during a news conference in Duesseldorf, Germany, March 6, 2018. After a decade-long property boom, Germany is undergoing a sharp reversal of fortune after an era of cheap money ended. Germany's real estate sector is mired in its worst crisis in decades, marked by insolvencies, fizzling transactions, falling prices and a stagnation in construction jobs. Vonovia, which went public in 2013 at the start of the property boom and took over its biggest rival in 2021, serves as a bellwether for Germany's property sector. Vonovia affirmed full-year guidance for its key profit metric - so-called funds from operation - of 1.75 billion euros to 1.95 billion euros, down from 2.04 billion in 2022.

Persons: Thilo, Vonovia, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Rolf Buch, Matthias Inverardi, Tom Sims, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine, Kim Coghill, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters Graphics, Stifel, Thomson Locations: Duesseldorf, Germany

☆ Wall St shares pare losses after choppy trading as yields spike
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Lawrence Delevingne | Thomson Reuters | Delevingne Works Primarily On Enterprise Stories Related To Finance. He Joined Reuters In | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Wall Street investors weighed another rise in Treasury yields with the latest batch of economic data and earnings. U.S. long-term Treasury yields hit nine-month highs on Thursday after employment and other economic data pointed to easing inflation, maintaining their high levels in the afternoon. EURO SHARES DOWNEuropean shares (.STOXX) slipped 0.6%, the third straight day of losses, bruised by disappointing earnings reports and elevated U.S. bond yields. In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.2%, extending losses after a drop of 2.3% a day earlier. Spot gold ticked up 0.1% to $1,934 an ounce, held in check by a robust dollar and elevated bond yields.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, BoE, Gennadiy Goldberg, Goldberg, Sterling, Stuart Cole, Morgan Stanley, Brent, Lawrence Delevingne, Tom Wilson, Stella Qiu, Jonathan Oatis, Will Dunham, Alexander Smith Organizations: Dow Jones, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Wall Street, Nasdaq, TD Securities, Reuters Global, . Labor Department, FTSE, Bank of England, Equiti, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Japan, China, Saudi, Boston, London, Sydney

☆ EU banks face liquidity checks next year after 2023 crises
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. The need for credible options was reinforced after the Swiss central bank stepped in with a liquidity backstop for Credit Suisse in March, before it was taken over by rival UBS (UBSG.S). Liquidity refers to readily available cash or short-term debt with a ready buyer to fund a bank's day-to-day operations without having to sell assets. "Strategies and actions suggested by institutions to support liquidity in resolution remained limited and mostly focused on accessing central bank facilities," EBA said in its report. Tapping private markets for liquidity, however, may be difficult for a stressed bank coming out of resolution, and even getting central bank liquidity can be hard without enough collateral, the EBA noted.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Huw Jones, Alexander Smith Organizations: European Central Bank, REUTERS, Union, Credit Suisse, UBS, European Banking Authority, Silicon Valley Bank, EU, EBA, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Swiss, Switzerland, Silicon, United States

Indian rice stocks, including unmilled husk varieties at state warehouses, totalled 37.6 million metric tons on Aug 1, the sources told Reuters. Stocks held as of Aug 1 include 24.6 million metric tons of rice and 13 million metric tons of the unmilled variety, the sources said. State-run warehouses must have 13.5 million metric tons of rice, including strategic reserves of 2 million metric tons for the quarter beginning July 1, according to local government rules. FCI bought 84.6 million metric tons of rice paddy from domestic farmers during the 2022-23 marketing year, yielding around 57 million metric tons of rice. Indian farmers harvested a record 135.5 million metric tons of rice in 2022-23, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

Persons: Rajendra, Stocks, Krishna Rao, Rao, Mayank Bhardwaj, Rajendra Jadhav, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Food Corporation of India, FCI, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, El, Rice, Association, Thomson Locations: Kakinada Anchorage, Andhra Pradesh, India, DELHI, MUMBAI, Delhi, B.V

Sales of Tesla's (TSLA.O) China-made vehicles fell 31% in July from June, data from China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed on Thursday, marking its first month-on-month decline since December, when it struggled with rising inventories. Tesla sold 64,285 China-made EVs in July, up 128% from 28,217 a year earlier when a scheduled upgrade to its Shanghai factory curbed production. Meanwhile BYD (002594.SZ), with its Dynasty and Ocean series of EVs and petrol-electric hybrid vehicles, said it posted a 61% year-on-year rise in July sales to 261,105 passenger vehicles, including 18,169 which were exported. CPCA is set to publish full data for July later this month, with sales of new energy passenger vehicles in China estimated to reach 750,000. Still, BYD outsold Tesla China by 29% in EV sales in the first half while its lower-priced Dolphin EV outsold Tesla's Model 3, which is expected to be revamped in September.

Persons: Tesla, BYD, Xpeng, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Christopher Cushing, Kim Coghill, Alexander Smith Organizations: Tesla, China Passenger Car Association, General Motors, Volkswagen, EV, Authorities, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, SHANGHAI, China, Shanghai

☆ GSK Nigeria calls an end to its business, to return cash
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Chijioke Ohuocha | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, Aug 3 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Nigeria (GLAXOSM.LG) said on Thursday it plans to stop doing business after evaluating the options for moving to a third-party distribution model for its drugs and consumer healthcare goods. GSK Nigeria, which has faced increased competition from local companies and imports from India and China, said its half-year sales had dropped to 7.75 billion naira ($9.82 million), from 14.8 billion naira in the same period a year ago. GSK Nigeria said it is working with advisers to agree next steps and plans to submit a scheme of arrangement to Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission, which if approved will see it return cash to shareholders except its parent GSK. "For the above reasons, and having, together with GSK UK, evaluated various other options, the Board of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc has concluded that there is no alternative but to cease operations," GSK Nigeria said in a statement. Shares in GSK Nigeria, in which British drugmaker GSK has a 46.4% stake and Nigerian shareholders the remaining 53.6%, closed at 8.10 naira, down from a peak of 42.24 naira in 2014.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Chijioke Ohuocha, Alexander Smith Organizations: GlaxoSmithKline, GSK, Nigeria's Securities, Exchange Commission, Haleon, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc, British, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, GSK Nigeria, India, China, British, Africa

FILE PHOTO-People use their phones in front of the BYD Seagull that is displayed at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoNEW DELHI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Chinese automaker BYD (002594.SZ) faces an ongoing Indian investigation over allegations that it paid too little tax on imported parts for cars it assembles and sells in the country, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. Although BYD has deposited this sum after the DRI's preliminary findings, the source added, the investigation is ongoing and could lead to additional tax charges and penalties. BYD in India and China did not reply to several requests seeking comment. One of the sources said BYD had not met these conditions, making it liable to pay either 70% or 100% depending on the value of the car.

Persons: Aly, BYD, Nikunj Ohri, Aditi Shah, Zoey Zhang, Alexander Smith Organizations: Auto, REUTERS, India's, of Revenue Intelligence, Companies, Xiaomi Corp, HK, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, New Delhi, Beijing, India

☆ Flagship Odey fund slimmed down by manager Neave, exits commodity futures
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Nell Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OAM, which declined to comment, will send out further correspondence about how the Odey European Inc fund will be restructured, the letter said. OAM reorganised many of its funds in June and Neave took over the flagship Odey European Inc fund, amid fears of an investor exodus following the allegations. Since then, Neave has reduced the size of the hedge fund's investments in stocks, bonds and, in June, sold out of its gold futures. The fund closed out its direct exposure to gold futures, the letter said. Odey European Inc has kept some exposure to commodities through long positions related to the crude and palm oil company stocks, the letter said.

Persons: Freddie Neave, Crispin Odey's, Crispin Odey, Odey, Neave, Leopalace, Nell Mackenzie, Amanda Cooper, Alexander Smith Organizations: Reuters, Odey Asset Management, Financial Times, Tortoise Media, Inc, United Rentals, Learning Technologies, Jadestone Energy, Thomson

While an ISM survey offered a tough assessment of U.S. manufacturing conditions, so-called hard data suggest the sector is shuffling along. Federal Reserve data in June showed factory production rebounded in the second quarter, ending two straight quarterly declines. Meanwhile, U.S. construction spending increased solidly last month and May's data was revised higher, boosted by outlays in both single and multifamily housing projects, the Commerce Department said. China's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) missed analysts forecasts and showed the first decline in activity since April. Money markets now see a 60% probability that the Bank of England will hike rates by 25 basis points on Thursday.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Steven Ricchiuto, Carlos Casanova, Kit Juckes, Sterling, Herbert Lash, Joice Alves, Ankur Banerjee, Alex Richardson, Hugh Lawson, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Federal, outlays, Commerce Department, Labor, Survey, Labor Department, Mizuho Securities USA, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of Japan, U.S, Natixis Investment, P Global, European Central Bank, ECB, Societe Generale, Bank of, Thomson Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, U.S, Bank of England, London, Singapore

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