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☆ Analysis: DeSantis embraces risky abortion stance to draw contrast with Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The DeSantis campaign believes a win in Iowa might push other candidates from the field, leaving him as voters' primary alternative to former President Donald Trump, the current favorite. The DeSantis War Room account on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, replayed the NBC Trump interview and featured Iowa pastors criticizing Trump. A DeSantis campaign adviser, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss strategy, said the governor was intent on replicating the tactics used by U.S. DeSantis' campaign last week announced a "Faith and Family" coalition backed by 70 Iowa pastors and faith leaders. POLITICAL PERILDeSantis signed the Florida bill in April with little fanfare and rarely mentioned it early in his presidential campaign.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Scott Morgan, DeSantis, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Ted Cruz, David Kochel, ”, ” Trump, fides, Roe, Wade, Mark Donald, “, ” Donald, “ That’s, James Oliphant, Gram Slattery, Colleen Jenkins, Stephen Coates Organizations: Republican U.S, Florida, Fair, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, NBC News, Republican Party, Twitter, NBC Trump, Facebook, Trump, Democratic, Reuters, Ipsos, Iowa, Republicans, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, Florida, Florida and Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan

[1/2] Logos of Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS are seen before a news conference in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. Credit Suisse, which was Switzerland's second-biggest bank, suffered years of scandals and losses before it had to be rescued in March in a state-engineered takeover by UBS. Credit Suisse declined to comment. Spokespeople for central banks in South Korea, India, Ireland, and Saudi Arabia also did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Last month, a Moscow court banned UBS and Credit Suisse from disposing of shares in their Russian subsidiaries, Reuters reported, citing court documents.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Laws, Engen Tham, Selena Li, Jihoon Lee, Alexander Marrow, Sumeet Chatterjee, Stephen Coates, Alexander Smith Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Suisse, Western, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Rights SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, South Korea, India, Swiss, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Thailand, Turkey, Shanghai, Hong Kong, London

☆ China committed to opening itself wider to the world -vice president
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 22 (Reuters) - China's Vice President Han Zheng said the country is committed to opening itself wider to the world and will always be a member of the big family of developing countries, Chinese state media reported. On the Ukraine conflict, Han said: "China supports all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis and stands ready to continue playing a constructive role for the early attainment of peace." It has offered its own peace plan, which received a lukewarm response in both Russia and Ukraine. Reporting by Bernard Orr and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Han Zheng, Eduardo Munoz, Han, Wang Yi, Sergei Lavrov, Aleksandar Vucic, Bernard Orr, Tom Hogue, Stephen Coates Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations General Assembly, Xinhua, Serbian, UN, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights BEIJING, China, Ukraine, Beijing, Moscow, Russia, Shanghai

The U.S. central bank left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, in line with market expectations. Broadly speaking, higher rates for longer could be an unwelcome turn of events for stocks and bonds. The S&P 500 lost 0.94% on Wednesday, while the yield on two-year Treasuries, which reflect interest rate expectations, hit 17-year highs. Futures tied to the Fed’s policy rate late Wednesday showed traders were betting the central bank would ease monetary policy by a total of nearly 60 basis points next year, bringing interest rates to about 4.8%. Signs of wobbling growth could bolster the case for the central bank to cut rates far sooner than it had projected.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Josh Jamner, Gennadiy Goldberg, Jerome Powell, …, David Norris, John Madziyire, ”, Norris, Davide Barbuscia, David Randall, Herbert Lash, Lewis Krauskopf, Ira Iosebashvili, Stephen Coates Organizations: Eccles Federal Reserve, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Federal, U.S, Treasury, U.S ., Clearbridge Investments, TD Securities USA, TwentyFour Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, U.S

☆ Klaviyo, Arm, Instacart wobble, raising doubts over IPO revival
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Among other companies that have been gearing up for U.S. stock market listings are German premium footwear maker Birkenstock Holding and Vietnam internet company VNG Corp (VNZ.HNO). Chip designer Arm's stock on Wednesday hit a low of $51.52, coming close to its $51 IPO price in this year's biggest IPO last Thursday. Shares of grocery delivery app Instacart, which debuted Tuesday, fell to a low of $29.96, below their $30 IPO price. Klaviyo also surrendered most of its initial gains, hitting a low for the day of $30.26, just above its $30 IPO price. Arm and Instacart were "pumped up to do the IPO," said Peter Tuz, president of Chase Investment Counsel in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Robert Pavlik, Klaviyo, Jerome Powell, haven't, ”, Jake Dollarhide, Ortex, Peter Tuz, Mark Luschini, Janney Montgomery Scott, Caroline Valetkevitch, Savyata Mishra, Niket, Lewis Krauskopf, Noel Randewich, Marguerita Choy, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Arm Holdings, Investment, Dakota Wealth, Birkenstock, VNG Corp, Federal, Nasdaq, Longbow, Management, Chase Investment, People, Thomson Locations: Fairfield , Connecticut, Vietnam, Tulsa , Oklahoma, Charlottesville , Virginia, Bengaluru, New York, San Francisco

☆ Dozens of nations to sign U.N. ocean treaty but implementation still awaits
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The global pact to conserve biodiversity on the high seas was finally agreed in March and formally adopted by the United Nations in June. It is seen as a crucial tool to meet a target agreed last year to protect 30% of the earth's land and sea by 2030, known as "30 by 30". At least 60 countries are expected to sign the agreement at the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. Mads Christensen, interim executive director of Greenpeace International, described the signings as a "powerful signal" and help maintain momentum to meet the "30 by 30" target. "Now politicians must bring the treaty home and ensure it is ratified in record time."

Persons: Borja Suarez, Mads Christensen, Jessica Battle, David Stanway, Stephen Coates Organizations: El, Recovery, Gran Canaria, REUTERS, United Nations, United Nations General Assembly, Greenpeace International, International Union for, Worldwide Fund, Nature, Thomson Locations: El Burrero Beach, Gran, Spain, Singapore

[1/2] United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. The summit will feature speeches from leaders who are responding to his call to "accelerate" global climate action, including Brazil, Canada, the European Union, Pakistan, South Africa and Tuvalu. Guterres said one of the aims was to spur action from countries and companies whose climate plans were not in line with the global climate target. U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry will attend the summit but will not deliver a speech, a spokesperson said. China's mission to the United Nations and UAE did not immediately respond for comment.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Brendan McDermid, General Antonio Guterres, Guterres, John Kerry, Selwin Hart, I'm, Valerie Volcovici, Stephen Coates Organizations: United Nations, General Assembly, REUTERS, Companies Allianz, UNITED, Ambition, United Arab Emirates, European Union, Allianz, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, California ., Reuters, UN, Assembly, UAE, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, United States, Brazil, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa, Tuvalu, London, California, California . U.S, Paris

☆ Nigeria's Tinubu tells UN he seeks to restore democratic order in Niger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu looks on after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria May 29, 2023. Tinubu is chairman of the main West African bloc ECOWAS, which has been trying to negotiate with the Niger military junta. ECOWAS has said it is ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems," Tinubu said. The junta in Niger last month ordered its armed forces to go on highest alert, citing an increased threat of attack.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Temilade, Tinubu, Felix Onuah, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Howard Goller, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, West, ECOWAS, Niger, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Niger, New York, West Africa, Africa

REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/SYDNEY, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A cross-party delegation of Australian lawmakers that traveled to the United States seeking the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said they had a productive discussion in Washington with the U.S. Justice Department. The group of Australian lawmakers urged U.S. officials to drop their attempts to extradite Assange from a British prison to the United States, where he is wanted on charges over WikiLeaks' release of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables. "We had a fair hearing and we had a productive discussion," Australian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said after the meeting. The delegation included lawmakers from the Labor government, the opposition Liberal and National parties, and the Greens. Labor Member of Parliament Tony Zappia said Australians believed Assange, an Australian citizen, had been punished enough and that his charges should be dropped.

Persons: Julian Assange, Alkis, Assange, Peter Whish, Wilson, Tony Zappia, Zappia, Assange's, Anthony Albanese, May, Albanese, Penny Wong, Kanishka Singh, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates, Michael Perry Organizations: WikiLeaks, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S . Justice Department, U.S, Labor, Liberal, National, Greens . Labor, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Australian, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Britain, U.S, Athens, Greece, SYDNEY, United States, Washington, Australian, Afghanistan, Iraq, Australia, New York, Sydney

☆ Republican lawmaker seeks details of Tesla relationship with Chinese battery company CATL
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A senior Republican in Congress asked Tesla (TSLA.O) Tuesday to detail its relationship with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL (300750.SZ) amid concerns electric vehicle subsidies are flowing to foreign entities raising security concerns. Smith said the committee is concerned CATL "may be trying to negotiate other agreements like the agreement with Ford." The question is how what precisely constitutes a "foreign entity of concern", and so far no foreign battery supplier has been labeled as such. In July, Smith and Mike Gallagher, Republican chair of the Select Committee on China, demanded Ford answer questions about the CATL deal. Ford told Reuters Tuesday it agrees that "U.S. taxpayer dollars should support American manufacturers, not foreign entities of concern."

Persons: Florence, Tesla, Jason Smith, Elon Musk, Smith, Ford, Musk, Mike Gallagher, Janet Yellen, David Shepardson, Stephen Coates Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Ford, Republicans, Nissan, Reuters, American, U.S . Treasury, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Michigan, CATL, United States

☆ US stance on Japan yen intervention 'depends on details' of situation -Yellen
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Tuesday whether Washington would show understanding over another yen-buying intervention by Japan "depends on the details" of the situation. While the yen is still well off that low, many market players see 150 as Tokyo's line-in-the-sand which, if breached, could trigger another round of intervention. While a weak yen gives Japanese exporters' profits a boost, it hurts households and retailers by boosting the cost of importing raw material and fuel. Reporting by David Lawder in Washington; Writing by Leika Kihara in Tokyo; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Florence Lo, Janet Yellen, Yellen, David Lawder, Leika Kihara, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, . Treasury, Washington, Thomson Locations: Japan, United States, New York, Asia, Washington, Tokyo

Oil prices continued to push higher, with the international benchmark Brent crude price moving past $95 to its highest since November 2022. Reuters GraphicsInvestors and central bankers are contending with a sharp rise in oil prices as demand has picked up but Saudi Arabia and Russia have limited supply. Samuel Zief, head of global FX strategy at JPMorgan Private Bank, said central banks should not be overly concerned by the run-up in oil prices, which he said should fade as economies slow. "What the central banks are really, really focused on, it's not really the supply-side energy shocks anymore, it's really the sticky services part of the inflation basket," he said. "Pick whatever central bank you want, they're talking about either they're done already or they'll do one more hike and they'll go on pause."

Persons: Germany's DAX, Duncan MacInnes, Jerome Powell's, Samuel Zief, it's, Kazuo Ueda, Harry Robertson, Kevin Buckland, Lewis Jackson, Stephen Coates, Bernadette Baum, Chizu Organizations: Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Brent, FTSE, Nasdaq, Reuters Graphics Investors, . West Texas, JPMorgan Private Bank, of England, Bank of, Japan's Nikkei, Tokyo, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Asia, Japan, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Bank of Japan, London, Tokyo

[1/2] Logos of Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS are seen before a news conference in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. UBS completed its takeover of Credit Suisse in June. UBS and Credit Suisse did not respond to Reuters request for comment. Spokespeople for central banks in South Korea, India, Ireland, and Saudi Arabia also did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. In the review document, UBS said "a single non-cooperative regulator can jeopardize the timeline of the parent bank merger and other transactions", impacting other related integration deals.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Engen Tham, Selena Li, Sumeet Chatterjee, Stephen Coates Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, REUTERS, Rights, UBS Group AG, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Rights SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, South Korea, India, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Swiss, Shanghai, Hong Kong

☆ Asia stocks slide amid China woes, Japan catches up on chip sell-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong's Hang Seng (.HSI) declined 0.3%, with a subindex of tech stocks (.HSTECH) sliding 0.7%. An index of mainland blue chips (.CSI300) fell 0.4%, while a subindex of property stocks (.CSI000952) was flat. Weakness in Asia came despite small gains for Wall Street overnight, with U.S. stock futures flat. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 90 cents, or 1%, to $92.38, just under a 10-month high reached on Monday. Brent crude futures rose 27 cents, or 0.3%, to $94.70 a barrel.

Persons: John Pearce, HSI, Hang, Kevin Buckland, Lewis Jackson, Stephen Coates Organizations: Benchmark U.S, Treasury, Federal, Bank of Japan, Bank of England, Japan's Nikkei, Tokyo, Reuters, Unisuper, Hang Seng developers, HK, Garden Services Holdings, Wall, U.S, Traders, U.S . West Texas, Brent, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Hong Kong, Australia, Asia, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia

☆ Republican lawmaker seeks details of Tesla relationship with Chinese battery maker CATL
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Smith said the committee is concerned CATL "may be trying to negotiate other agreements like the agreement with Ford." Republicans in Congress have been probing Ford Motor's (F.N) planned $3.5 billion investment to build a battery plant in Michigan using technology from CATL, the world's largest battery maker. The question is what precisely constitutes a "foreign entity of concern", and so far no foreign battery supplier has been labeled as such. Tesla, CATL and Nissan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In July, Smith and Mike Gallagher, Republican chair of the Select Committee on China, demanded Ford answer questions about the CATL deal.

Persons: Florence, Tesla, Jason Smith, Elon Musk, Smith, Ford, Musk, Mike Gallagher, Janet Yellen, David Shepardson, Stephen Coates, Himani Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Ford, Reuters, Republicans, Nissan, American, U.S . Treasury, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Michigan, CATL, United States, America

SINGAPORE, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose for a third straight session on Monday, buoyed by forecasts of a widening supply deficit in the fourth quarter after Saudi Arabia and Russia extended cuts and by optimism about a recovery in demand in China. Traders will be watching decisions and commentary by central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, this week on interest rate policies, as well as key economic data out of China. Saudi Arabia and Russia extended supply cuts to the end of the year as part of the OPEC+ group's plans. Global oil demand growth is on track to hit 2.1 million bpd, ANZ said, in line with forecasts from the International Energy Agency and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Reporting by Florence Tan and Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Stephen Coates and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tina Teng, Brent, WTI, Edward Moya, Florence Tan, Sudarshan, Stephen Coates, Sonali Paul Organizations: Brent, West Texas, CMC, Traders, U.S . Federal Reserve, Saudi, ANZ, OANDA, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, OPEC, Ukraine, Russian

SINGAPORE, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose for a third straight session on Monday, buoyed by forecasts of a widening supply deficit in the fourth quarter after Saudi Arabia and Russia extended cuts and on optimism of a demand recovery in China, the world's top crude importer. Brent crude futures rose 39 cents, or 0.4%, to $94.32 a barrel by 0253 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $91.30 a barrel, up 53 cents, or 0.6%. Traders will be watching decisions and commentary by central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, this week on interest rate policies, and key economic data out of China. Global oil demand growth is on track to hit 2.1 million bpd, ANZ said, in line with forecasts from the International Energy Agency and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Reporting by Florence Tan and Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Stephen Coates and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chinese AI firm Fourth Paradigm leads Hong Kong IPO surge to raise $280 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Fourth Paradigm (also known as 4Paradigm) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Three Chinese firms, led by AI software company Beijing Fourth Paradigm, are aiming to raise up to $280 million in Hong Kong initial public offerings launched on Monday. Beijing Fourth Paradigm, an AI startup, is aiming to raise up to $144 million by selling 18.4 million shares in a price range of HK$55.60 to HK$61.16 each, according to its regulatory filings. Separately, Chinese cloud hospital platform Neusoft Xikang is aiming to raise $81 million to $101 million by selling 133.8 million shares, regulatory filings showed. ZX Inc, the mobile games operator, is selling 18.97 million shares in a range between HK$11 to HK$14 each to raise between $27 million and $34 million, according to its prospectus.

Persons: Aly, Scott Murdoch, Stephen Coates Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, HK, New China Capital Management, Commerce Department, ZX Inc, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Naspers & Prosus CEO steps down, M&A chief Ervin Tu is successor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bob van Dijk, CEO of e-commerce group Naspers, poses for a photograph in front of the company logo after holding a media briefing in Johannesburg, South Africa, October 9, 2019. The companies named investment chief Ervin Tu, a previous VisionBank manager and Goldman Sachs technology banker, as interim CEO. However it coincides with the unwinding Monday of a cross-structure between Prosus and Naspers. Van Dijk oversaw Prosus's 2019 IPO and the company's stock boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. However he struggled to close a valuation gap between Prosus, Naspers and the value of their biggest asset: Chinese software giant Tencent(0700.HK) .

Persons: Bob van Dijk, Siphiwe, Ervin Tu, Goldman Sachs, Naspers, Van Dijk's, van Dijk, Van Dijk, Prosus, Tannur Anders, Toby Sterling, Radhika Anilkumar, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Stephen Coates, Michael Perry, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Prosus NV, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, HK, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Prosus, Tencent, Russia, Ukraine, Amsterdam, Bengaluru

☆ U.S.-Iran detainee swap deal to go ahead on Monday, says Tehran
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A fourth U.S. citizen was also released into house arrest, while a fifth was already under house arrest. As a first step in the deal, Washington waived sanctions to allow the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar. The transfer of Iran's funds has drawn criticism from U.S. Republicans who say President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is in effect paying a ransom for U.S. citizens. Ties between Washington and Tehran have been boiling since Donald Trump, a Republican, pulled the U.S. out of a nuclear deal between Iran and global powers when he was president in 2018. Reaching another nuclear deal has gained little traction since then, as Biden prepares for the 2024 U.S. election.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nasser Kanaani, Morad Tahbaz, Mehrdad Moin, Ansari, Kambiz Attar, Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour, Amin Hassanzadeh, Afrasiabi, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Elwely Elwelly, Hyonshee, Edmund Blair, Stephen Coates, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Iranian, REUTERS, Rights, Iran's Foreign Ministry, Reuters, Gulf . South Korea's Foreign, U.S, Republicans, Democrat, Republican, Thomson Locations: U.S, Rights DUBAI, Tehran, United States, Qatar, South Korea, Iran, Doha, Washington, Gulf . South, Emad Sharqi, British, Dubai, Seoul

NEW YORK, Sept 18 (Reuters) - A detainee swap that secured the release of five Americans held in Iran on Monday does not change Washington's adversarial relationship with Tehran, although the door remains open for diplomacy over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, a senior administration official said. Even so, they said the door for diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program was not entirely shut. It was unclear if the official meant to deny any indirect talks, or if he was deliberately leaving the door open for them. After taking office in January 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden tried to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under which Iran had restricted its nuclear program in return for relief from U.S., European Union and U.N. sanctions. However, earlier this year Washington and Tehran began exploring what analysts describe as "understandings" - which Washington has never acknowledged - to lower tensions over nuclear and other issues.

Persons: Washington, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Humeyra Pamuk, Stephen Coates Organizations: Biden, The U.S, United Nations General Assembly, Union, U.S, Republican, Iran, Thomson Locations: Iran, Tehran, United States, Qatar, The, Yemen, New York, U.S, Washington, South Korea, Doha

☆ Australia's Costa Group gets lower buyout offer from PE firm Paine Schwartz
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Under the proposal, Costa's shareholders would receive A$3.20 apiece for the remaining 85.16% stake PSP does not already own, lower than the A$3.50 apiece offer received in July. The latest offer still represents a 8.8% premium to Costa's last closing price. Costa, Australia's leading grower, packer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables, said it is considering the lower offer and is continuing to engage with PSP regarding the terms and conditions. PSP paid A$2.60 a share for a 13.78% stake in Costa in October, which it increased to 14.84% in late March. Costa had given PSP access to its books on a non-exclusive basis for eight weeks after receiving the initial offer in July.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Paine Schwartz, packer, Costa, Himanshi, Lisa Shumaker, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Costa Group Holdings, Monday U.S, Paine Schwartz Partners, PSP, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Costa, Bengaluru

The instruction by TSMC, which is grappling with delays at its $40 billion chip factory in Arizona, is aimed at controlling costs and reflects the company's growing caution about the outlook for demand, the sources said. Suppliers currently expect the delay to be short-term, the sources said, declining to be named as the information is not public. Companies affected by the instruction to delay include Dutch firm ASML (ASML.AS), which makes lithography equipment essential for high-end chipmaking, one of the sources said. ASM International (ASMI.AS), a smaller equipment firm that is also a supplier to TSMC, fell 4.2% with BE Semiconductor (BESI.AS), a packaging equipment firm, down 2.4%. CHIP CYCLE WORRIESThe Taiwanese chip giant is not alone in worrying a bounce back in demand may take longer than expected.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, TSMC, chipmaker, C.C, Wei, Peter Wennink, We've, Wennink, they're, Mark Liu, Sam Nussey, Fanny Potkin, Toby Sterling, Miyoung Kim, Stephen Coates Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Suppliers, Reuters, ASM, BE Semiconductor, Apple, Media, Huawei, Analysts, chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, HK, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, SINGAPORE, AMSTERDAM, Arizona, China, Taiwan, Beijing, Washington, Tokyo, Singapore, Amsterdam

☆ Asia stocks rally as China data buoys mood; dollar stays strong
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong's Hang Seng (.HSI) added 1.2%, and mainland Chinese blue chips (.CSI300) rose 0.2%, flipping from early small losses. The overall improving economic outlook bolstered the Chinese yuan, which gained about 0.3% to 7.2709 per dollar in offshore markets . Australia's dollar , which often trades as a proxy for the country's top trading partner, rose 0.3% to $0.6460. The so-called U.S. dollar index edged down 0.08% to 105.33, after hitting the highest since early March at 105.43 on Thursday. The dollar index is on track for a ninth straight weekly advance, the longest run in nine years.

Persons: Issei Kato, Moody's, It's, Kyle Rodda, Tony Sycamore, Jerome, Sycamore, Brent, Kevin Buckland, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Japan's Nikkei, U.S, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, ECB, IG, U.S . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, U.S

☆ Hundreds Leave Dominican Republic Ahead of Haiti Border Shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Paul MathiasenSANTO DOMINGO/OUANAMINTHE, Haiti (Reuters) -Hundreds of Haitians returned from the Dominican Republic on Thursday after the Dominican president announced an imminent total border shutdown amid a conflict over the construction of a water channel from a shared river. Harold Estimable, director of the national migration office in Ouanaminthe, said some 250 to 300 Haitians had been arriving daily from the Dominican Republic in "very bad shape." The Dominican Republic, which threatened to shut the border last week, argues construction works off the River Massacre violate a 1929 treaty. Later on Thursday, Haiti's government said that it has the sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, as does the Dominican Republic, in line with the 1929 treaty. The U.S. Embassy, which has called on its citizens to leave Haiti, said on its website that those planning to leave for the Dominican Republic would need to make other arrangements.

Persons: Paul Mathiasen SANTO, Harold Estimable, ", Luis Abinader, Santo Domingo, Abinader, Haiti's, Paul Mathiasen, Octavio Jones, Harold Isaac, Aida Peleaz, Sarah Morland, Leslie Adler, Stephen Coates, Diane Craft Organizations: Dominican, United, United Nations, Local airline Sunrise Airways, U.S . Embassy Locations: Paul Mathiasen SANTO DOMINGO, OUANAMINTHE, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Ouanaminthe, Caribbean, Dominican, Haitian, Santo, U.S, Santo Domingo, Port, Fernandez, Mexico City

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