Artisan fund joins opposition to Universal Music spin-off

U.S. investment fund Artisan Partners on Thursday joined another minority shareholder in French media group Vivendi (VIV.PA) in opposing its spin-off of Universal Music Group (UMG), decrying the transaction as unfavourable to some investors.

Stocks rally, yields drop as U.S. CPI data calms investors

Global stock markets rallied to new highs and bond yields slid on Thursday after a jump in U.S. inflation was viewed as insufficient to alter the Federal Reserve’s easy monetary policy stance that rising consumer prices will be transitory.

Online trading group CMC plans expansion into wealth management

British online trading group CMC Markets (CMCX.L) on Thursday set out plans to launch a wealth management platform, going head to head with existing players such as Hargreaves (HRGV.L) and AJ Bell (AJBA.L), after reporting a doubling in annual profits.

U.S. to donate 500 million Pfizer doses to poor nations

The United States will spend $3.5 billion to buy and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer (PFE.N) coronavirus vaccine to some of the world’s poorest countries, it said on Thursday, urging other G7 nations to follow suit.