US says it is ‘not surprised’ that China would be upset at Panama ports deal
WASHINGTON – The U.S. State Department said on Friday it was “not surprised” that China would be upset by Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison’s (0001.HK) deal to sell its two port operations near the Panama Canal to a BlackRock-led group,…
Somalia offers US exclusive control of air bases, ports
NAIROBI – Somalia is prepared to offer the United States exclusive control of strategic air bases and ports, its president said in a letter to President Donald Trump seen by Reuters on Friday. In the March 16 letter, authenticated by…
Factbox-Hot or not? How recent high-profile US IPOs have performed
The U.S. IPO market stands at a critical juncture, with CoreWeave’s debut set to be a key test of whether companies move forward with listings or retreat amid market volatility. Hopes for a blockbuster rebound in 2025 have dimmed, as…
Analysis-Deal slump hits US high-grade bond supply, pressures spreads
NEW YORK – The pipeline for U.S. high-grade corporate bond issuance to fund mergers has fallen to the lowest levels in five years as President Donald Trump’s trade war deters deals, in what could be a boon for borrowers but…
Months after first incursion, Ukrainian troops fighting in second Russian region
Just as Ukrainian forces are losing their grip on the pocket of Russia’s Kursk region they captured last year, they have staged a little-publicised incursion into the adjacent Belgorod region, according to Russian military bloggers. Several Russian military correspondents said…
US judge blocks Trump administration from fast-tracking deportations
BOSTON -A federal judge on Friday blocked U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration from deporting migrants to countries with which they had no relationship without giving them a chance to raise claims that they would face persecution or torture if sent…
Zelenskiy cautious on new minerals deal but says past U.S. aid was not a loan
KYIV -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would not accept any mineral rights deal that threatened its integration with the EU but said it was too early to pass judgment on a dramatically expanded minerals deal proposed by Washington. The Ukrainian…
After quake, Thailand’s capital grinds to a halt amid fear and chaos
BANGKOK – Bangkok ground to a halt on Friday after a strong earthquake shook the clogged Thai capital, causing chaos and triggering city-wide evacuations that left many thousands of people stranded for much of the day. All urban rail systems…
US needs Greenland for international security, says Trump
WASHINGTON – The United States needs Greenland for international security peace, President Donald Trump said on Friday, adding that there were Chinese and Russian ships in the area that Washington could not leave to Denmark or anyone else to “take…
Nippon, U.S. Steel offer increased investment to Trump officials to close deal, Semafor reports
Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel are in active talks about a deal that would preserve their $14 billion merger and secure billions more in investments from the Japanese steelmaker into Rust Belt facilities, Semafor reported on Thursday. In recent meetings…
Canada budget deficit over first ten months of 2024/25 increases to C$26.85 billion
OTTAWA, March 28 – Canada recorded a marginally higher C$26.85 billion ($18.77 billion) budget deficit for the first ten months of the 2024/25 fiscal year as government expenditures grew slightly faster than revenues, the finance ministry said on Friday. By…
ECB’s Nagel encouraged but warns against ‘over-optimism’ on inflation target
BERLIN – ECB policymaker Joachim Nagel said on Friday he was encouraged by recent data on inflation in a number of euro zone economies but warned against over-optimism as the European Central Bank works to bring inflation down further to…
New Zealand consumer confidence dips in March, survey shows
SYDNEY – Consumer confidence in New Zealand dipped in March, with declines seen across nearly all sectors as consumers remained cautious on spending, ANZ-Roy Morgan data showed on Friday. “The economy is improving under the hood, but we’re at the…
Fed’s Collins says it is clear tariffs will drive inflation up near term
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins said on Thursday that Trump administration tariffs will drive up U.S. inflation but it is unclear how persistent that upward pressure will be. “It looks inevitable that tariffs are going to increase…
RBA to hold rates steady in April, but cut again in May
BENGALURU – The Reserve Bank of Australia will keep its cash rate unchanged on Tuesday as it waits for concrete signs of easing inflation, according to a Reuters poll of economists, who mostly still expect two rate cuts this year…
US Democrats raise regulatory concerns over Trump family crypto venture, WSJ reports
Five Democratic senators, led by Elizabeth Warren, sought answers regarding World Liberty Financial, a crypto project backed by President Donald Trump and family, and its newly announced plans to issue a stablecoin, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday citing…
South Korea exports to rise for second month on chip boost; tariff risks loom: Reuters poll
SEOUL – South Korea’s exports likely rose in March for a second straight month on a growth in chip sales, a Reuters poll found on Friday, but economists warned of weakening momentum due to U.S. tariffs. Outbound shipments from Asia’s…
RBI to cut rates again on April 9, then just once more in August
BENGALURU-The Reserve Bank of India will cut interest rates at a second straight meeting on April 9, with just one more cut expected in August, which would mark the shortest easing cycle on record, a Reuters poll of economists found….
US to provide short-term funding for program tracking abducted Ukrainian children
WASHINGTON -The U.S. State Department said on Thursday that short-term funding was being given to an initiative documenting abducted Ukrainian children, after Republican President Donald Trump’s administration decided to pause the program on January 25. The U.S. government-funded initiative led…
Core inflation in Japan’s capital accelerates, stays above BOJ target
TOKYO -Core consumer inflation in Japan’s capital stayed above the central bank’s target and accelerated in March on steady gains in food costs, data showed on Friday, keeping alive market expectations of a near-term interest rate hike. Service-sector inflation also…