U.S. consumer confidence at 16-month high; house price inflation heating up

U.S. consumer confidence jumped to its highest level in nearly 1-1/2 years in June as growing labor market optimism amid a reopening economy offset concerns about higher inflation.
Little Engine No. 1 beat Exxon with just $12.5 mln – sources

Activist investor Engine No. 1 spent roughly $12.5 million to win three board seats at Exxon Mobil Corp(XOM.N), less than half its originalbudget, for the year’s biggest and most closely watched corporate contest, people familiar with the number said.
U.S. Steel, Norway’s Equinor eye clean hydrogen production

Norway’s Equinor (EQNR.OL) and U.S. Steel Corp (X.N) will examine the potential for developing clean hydrogen production in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the two companies said on Tuesday.
GM expects to work with the UAW at battery plants – executive

A top executive of General Motors Co (GM.N) on Tuesday expressed strong support for efforts by the United Auto Workers union to organize U.S. electric vehicle battery plants it is building with a partner, but stopped short of endorsing unionization without a formal worker vote.
Global shares edge lower on new COVID-19 outbreaks in Asia

Global shares edged lower on Tuesday, as new coronavirus outbreaks in Asia vied with strong U.S. consumer confidence, and as investors speculated about whether the Federal Reserve would accelerate its timetable to end easy monetary policy.
U.S., European suppliers scramble to secure Christmas goods as cargo delays worsen

Suppliers to Walmart (WMT.N), Target (TGT.N), Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and other major retailers told Reuters they are placing holiday orders for Chinese-made merchandise weeks earlier this year, as a global shipping backlog threatens to leave many gift buyers empty-handed this Christmas shopping season.
United Airlines unveils huge jet order in push for growth

United Airlines (UAL.O) unveiled its largest-ever order for Boeing (BA.N) and Airbus (AIR.PA) jets on Tuesday, lining up 270 planes in a push for post-pandemic growth with bigger jets for domestic flying
Musk says may need $30 bln to keep Starlink in orbit

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Tuesday that his Starlink satellite internet venture was growing quickly as he forecast total investment costs in the business at between $20 billion and $30 billion.
Financial sector faces heavier burden in EU climate plans, sources say

The European Union is considering a wide range of measures to bring the bloc’s financial sector into line with its climate plans, sources who have seen a European Commission strategy paper told Reuters.
Exclusive: Google deal with French publishers on hold pending antitrust decision

Google (GOOGL.O) has put on hold a preliminary deal with some French publishers to pay for news content as it awaits an antitrust decision that could set the tone for copyright talks on online news in Europe, two sources close to the matter said.