London - Preliminary first -quarter GDP estimates for several euro zone member countries and for the currency area itself will make the coming week extremely busy. We expect the numbers to be awful. Whole swaths of the European economies were forced to shut down in March owing to the COVID -19 crisis
The Covid-19 pandemic is teaching western nations exactly what their crisis response capabilities actually are, while considerable benefit will be gained from this, unfortunately, not all of those analysing our performance are our friends.
The Norwegian classification society DNV GL has launched a venture fund to invest in industry 4.0
Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas and French public investment bank Bpifrance are the latest lenders to join an initiative to link provision of shipping finance to cuts in carbon dioxide emissions
Moody's has today upgraded by two notches the long-term ratings of Norddeutsche Landesbank GZ, NordLB, and its rated subsidiaries. NordLB's long-term senior unsecured debt and deposit ratings were upgraded to A3 from Baa2
The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region reports to China's State Council or Cabinet, and is the main platform for Beijing to project its influence in the city
The Black Sea Hazelnut and Products Exporters' Union reported that Turkey earned $1.09 billion from hazelnut exports during the first four months of the season, which starts in September and ends in August
The NordLb has received the hoped-for capital injection. The shareholders paid 2.8 billion euros into the share capital.
Warda said in a statement to the delegate of SANA that (SIAMCO) continues to produce cars within the framework of cooperation between Iran and Syria and in line with the absorptive capacity of the market
Non-oil trade between the UAE and Egypt, the most populous Arab country, last year reached Dh20.1 billion
Brussels - An adviser at the EU Court of Justice agreed with Croatia on Wednesday that settling the border between Slovenia and Croatia was not a matter on which EU courts should rule.
London - China’s bitcoin miners now control two-thirds of the crypto network’s processing power, research showed on Wednesday, a growing share that is likely to benefit the country’s miners.
London - British police shoot dead knife man. Police say this was a terrorist incident.
Rome - Rightist bloc storms to 20-point win over govt parties. Salvini’s League confirmed as most popular party.
Barcelona - Catalonia’s pro-independence regional chief Quim Torra called for talks with Spain’s central government on Saturday to try to end a wave of violence sparked by the jailing of separatist leaders.
Brussels - Bitterly divided EU leaders failed Friday to reach agreement on allowing Albania and North Macedonia to start talks to join the bloc, dealing a fresh blow to their membership hopes. Summit talks ended without a decision despite seven hours of backroom haggling
Moscow - From diamonds and arms to nuclear power and oil, Russia has major business ambitions in Africa, even if it is coming late to the party. Western countries like France and the United States are deeply entrenched in African economies and in recent years China has emerged
Beirut - The Lebanese government faced calls to resign Thursday after thousands of furious demonstrators took to the streets across the country to protest dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit
London - South Africa is working to restore its institutions and secure private investment in order to grow the economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa told the Financial Times Africa Summit in London on Monday.
Beijing - China’s record for U.S. agri imports was $25.8 bln in 2012. Rules on hormones, drugs a hurdle for more meat imports.
Cairo - Cyprus, Greece and Egypt called on Turkey on Tuesday to “end its provocative actions” in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, including exploring for oil in Cyprus’ territorial waters, which they called “a breach of international law”.
Madrid - Spain is preparing a plan worth 300 million euros ($328 million) to shore up the economies of its sun-drenched tourist spots after the collapse of British travel group Thomas Cook, acting Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto said on Thursday.
London - The world’s oldest travel firm Thomas Cook collapsed on Monday, stranding more than half a million holidaymakers around the globe and sparking the largest peacetime repatriation effort in British history.
London - Bosses meeting creditors, lenders to agree its future. Company could go into administration early Monday.
Beijing - China announced its first batch of tariff exemptions for 16 types of U.S. products, days ahead of a planned meeting between trade negotiators from the two countries to try and de-escalate their bruising tariff row.
Hong Kong - Violence breaks out in now familiar pattern.Thousands of protesters call on U.S. to help.
Hong Kong - Tear gas fired again in densely populated Mong Kok. Only passengers allowed to board trains, buses to airport.
Cernobbio - With the arrival of a new government in Rome, France and Italy have a unique chance to strengthen their ties through joint projects and closer cooperation on European matters, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Saturday.
Athens - Greece’s prime minister is expected on Saturday to detail tax cuts for companies strained by years of austerity, while also promising pro-business reforms aimed at convincing lenders to ease the nation’s fiscal target from 2021.
Hong Kong - HK listing likely to raise $10 bln-$15 bln-sources . Company considering several different timetables-sources.
Washington - The Trump administration will delay 10% tariffs on certain Chinese products, including laptops and cell phones, that had been scheduled to start next month, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said on Tuesday.
Lisbon - Fuel tanker drivers start indefinite strike. Tourist destination Algarve among areas worst hit .
Lisbon - The crisis declaration allows the government to ensure full supplies to ports, hospitals, airports and other priority users.
Tokyo - The Japan Meteorological Agency said Mount Asama in central Japan erupted late on Wednesday and issued a warning not to approach the volcano.
Rome - Long-delayed rail link involves Alpine tunnel. League issues threaten to collapse govt.
Washington - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned China against waiting out his first term to finalize any trade deal, saying if he wins re-election in the November 2020 U.S. presidential contest, the outcome could be no agreement or a worse one.
Rabat - The city, to be called Tanger Tech Mohammed VI, aims to support 100,000 jobs and house 300,000 people, and the first development phase has already been achieved with industrial investors expected to receive the first plots later this year.
Berlino - Deutsche Bank plans to scrap its global equities business and scale back its investment bank in a sweeping, 7.4 billion euro overhaul designed to turn around the struggling German flagship lender.
Washington - The U.S. trade deficit rose to a five-month high in Mayas the politically sensitive imbalances with China and Mexico widened. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the gap between the goods and services the U.S. sells and what it buys from foreign countries rose 8.4% to $55.5 billion in May
Benghazi - The U.N. refugee agency is calling for an immediate end to bringing migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean back to Libya after an airstrike hit a detention center, killing at least 40 people. UNHCR had warned less than two months ago that anyone inside the Tajoura detention center was at risk
Beijing - China is reforming key industries to allow for greater foreign investment, according to state media. Xinhua reported the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China said Sunday sectors including oil exploration and mining are to be deregulated for more foreign capital inflows
Vienna - Iraqi Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban said on Sunday that he expects a global deal cutting crude production to be extended by six to nine months and that his country supports all efforts to improve stability in the oil market.
Paris - The government will finance the remaining 4 billion euros through lower spending, Darmanin said during an interview for the Grand Jury show with reporters from LCI television, RTL radio and Le Figaro newspaper.
Hong Kong - Alibaba deal could be biggest follow-on offering in 7 years Would come about five years after record $25 bln NY float.
Oslo - Fund is world’s largest sovereign wealth fund-
London - Ford will close its engine plant in Bridgend, south Wales, by September 2020, a trade union said on Thursday, putting 1,700 jobs at risk in the latest blow to Britain’s car industry.
Washington - Fighting to stave off punitive tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, a senior Mexican delegation was set to begin high level talks on Monday in Washington.
Beijing - China’s propaganda war with the United States over their escalating trade dispute will reach a crescendo of sorts when a broadcaster from Chinese state television debates a Fox Business host in prime time on the U.S. cable network.
Milan - Italy’s victorious right-wing leader, Matteo Salvini, says the European elections have created “a new geography” of anti-élite sentiment in the EU. But it is far from certain that he will be able to forge a bloc from parties who are united around a strict euroskeptic, anti-migrant, anti-Islam platform, but little else
New York - After more than a decade of rapid growth, Chinese travel to the U.S. is falling. And that has cities, malls and other tourist spots scrambling to reverse the trend. Travel from China to the U.S. fell 5.7% in 2018 to 2.9 million visitors
Nicosia - Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says the U.S. is looking for friendly nations in the region that share core democratic values in light of what he calls Russia’s “malevolent machinations.”
Rome - The activity of Italy’s Federlogistica-Conftrasporto association has gained momentum following Luigi Merlo becoming its president; formerly Mr. Merlo was Transport Councilor for the Liguria Region, president at the Port Authority of Genoa, and manager of shipping company MSC.
Dubai - Saudi Arabia does not want war but will not hesitate to defend itself against Iran,a top Saudi diplomat said Sunday after the kingdom’s energy sector was targeted this past week amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf
Beijing - Google suspends some business with Huawei. Latest U.S. warship sailing angers Beijing.
Washington - The U.S. Commerce Department said on Monday it added six Chinese technology firms, one Pakistani firm and five based in the United Arab Emirates to its list of entities that are banned from exporting sensitive U.S. technologies and other goods.
Panama - A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck 29 miles (47 km) northwest of Panama’s coastal city of David on Sunday.
Milan - U.S. asset manager BlackRock withdrew from a proposed rescue of Italian bank Carige because the plan needed more co-investors and the country’s political situation was unhelpful, a source familiar with its decision said on Thursday.
Geneva - A fire broke out at an oil pipeline in southwest Iran after an accident on Monday and is under control, the Tasnim news agency reported.
Istanbul - Turkey will be unable to diversify oil imports quickly after the United States ended waivers on purchases from Iran, the Turkish foreign minister said on Thursday, a day after a U.S.-imposed sanctions deadline.
Tripoli - An armed group tried to attack Libya’s El Sharara oilfield, the country’s biggest, but there was no impact on production from the incident, a field engineer said on Monday.
Vladivostok - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday there was nothing wrong with easing rules for residents of Ukrainian rebel regions to receive Russian passports
Vladivostok - Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he thought U.S. security guarantees would probably not be enough to persuade Pyongyang to shut its nuclear programme
Beijing - China will show off new warships including nuclear submarines and destroyersat a parade next week marking 70 years since its navy’s founding, a senior commander said on Saturday, as Beijing flexes its increasingly well-equipped military muscle
Kiev - Ukraine entered uncharted political waters on Monday after near final results showed a comedian with no political experience and few detailed policies had dramatically up-ended the status quo and won the country’s presidential election by a landslide
Brussels - The European Union delivered formal congratulations to Ukraine’s novice president elected on Monday but made clear it expects TV comic Volodymyr Zelenskiy to pursue halting reforms, including fighting corruption
Shanghai - China’s state planner wants to eliminate bitcoin mining in the country, according to a draft list of industrial activities the agency is seeking to stop in a sign of growing government pressure on the cryptocurrency sector
Frankfurt - The European Central Bank will ask Deutsche Bank to raise fresh funds before it gives the go-ahead for a merger with a state-backed rival.
London - Bitcoin breaks through $5,000 in biggest one-day gain in year. Computer-driven traders in Asia follow - analyst.
Geneva - World trade shrank by 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 and is likely to grow by 2.6 percent this year, slower than 3.0 percent growth in 2018 and below a previous forecast of 3.7 percent.
London - May advised by some to call an election. “A laughing stock” - Siemens’ UK head.
Istanbul - The Turkish lira firmed on Monday, clawing back early losses after President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party lost control of the capital Ankara.
London - “Whatever it takes” is a daunting legacy for any departing central bank chief to bequeath a successor and leaves world markets anxious about what is to come after Mario Draghi leaves the European Central Bank later this year
Paris - French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday acknowledged historic rivalries between the European Union and China as he called on both to strengthen multilateralism: “We would like to make progress renovating multilateralism.”
Seoul - South Korea’s antitrust regulator said Sunday that it has fined STX Engine Co. 20 million won (US$18,000) for violating the country’s subcontracting law.
Rabat - About 10,000 teachers staged a new protest in the Moroccan capital Rabat on Sunday to demand permanent jobs, hours after police had used water cannon to disperse an overnight demonstration.
Rome - Italy endorsed China’s ambitious “Belt and Road” infrastructure plan on Saturday, becoming the first major Western power to back the initiative to help revive the struggling Italian economy.
Tbilisi - Paris and Hong Kong for the first time joined Singapore as the world’s most expensive cities to live in, a study revealed on Tuesday, with utilities and transport driving up the cost of living. Zurich,Geneva and Japan’s Osaka trailed closely
Nairobi - There are encouraging signs that European planemaker Airbus is closingin on a long-negotiated deal with China for dozens of new narrow-body jets, an aide to French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday
Athens - “Greece should reconsider recent changes in collective bargaining policies and press ahead with its unfinished reform agenda,” the IMF said.
Algiers - Judges take stand against Bouteflika. Clerics reject state interference.
Algiers - Algerian authorities on Saturday ordered an early start to the spring university holiday, an apparent attempt to weaken two weeks of student-led protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Rome - Chinese President Xi to visit Italy March 22, 23. Rome looks to allay allies worries over any deal.
Vienna - Iran hopes a new trade channel with Europe aimed at cushioning the blow of reimposed U.S. sanctions will be working within weeks, its deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Genoa - “We are working to establish a new company in partnership with the Chinese group CCCC (China Communications Construction company), which will help us in the procurement phases of some major works related to the port of Genoa”.
Croatia’s troubled shipbuilder Uljanik has selected domestic shipyard Brodosplit as its strategic partner, the company informed the Zagreb Stock Exchange on Thursday.
London - Attack part of global Chinese hacking campaign. Company says hackers stopped before they reached clients.
Italian companies will have to manage the arrival of e-commerce and new supply chain patterns.
Berlin - Scholz sees shortfall of 25 bln euros by 2023. Exit from coal is among further risks for the budget.
Washington - U.S. President Donald Trump said that sending the military to Venezuela was “an option” .
Moscow - Russia expects Venezuela to make its next scheduled debt repayment to Moscow on schedule at the end of March, the Russian Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.
Lagos - The opposition called it an act of dictatorship and halted its election campaign for 72 hours in protest.
Berlin - Berlin has revoked Iranian airline Mahan’s right to operate in Germany, a senior government source told Reuters on Monday.
Ankara - Turkey is ready to take over security in Syria’s Manbij, President Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump in a telephone call on Sunday.
London - Some lawmakers want more control over Brexit process. Parliament rejected PM May’s deal with EU.
Beijing - The offer made by the China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec) is part of an existing contract to operate the Yadavaran oilfield in southwest Iran on the Iraqi border.
La Serena - The quake struck at 10:32 p.m. about 16 km (10 miles) south-southwest of Coquimbo, the USGS said.
Tehran - The Iranian government has been allowed to get a $5 billion loan from Russia for infrastructure projects, a parliamentary spokesman said on Tuesday.
Tunis - Tunisia’s powerful UGTT union called on Saturday for another national strike for two days next month to press its demand for higher wages for 670,000 public servants, the UGTT chief said.
Milan - Most Italian banks shut out of international bond markets. Higher funding costs set to dent already weak profits.
