Munich Re forecasts 2022 profit lift after pandemic rebound
German reinsurance group Munich Re on Wednesday forecast a 14% jump in profit this year as it reported a bounceback in 2021 from the coronavirus pandemic despite big claims from natural disasters.
NatWest earnings soar but rising prices bite
British bank NatWest (NWG.L) swung to a hefty profit on the back of the country’s economic recovery but said rising prices will make it harder to cut overheads, prompting it to lower its cost-cutting target.
StanChart bets on rate hikes to hit lofty goals as profit disappoints
Standard Chartered (STAN.L) has raised its core profitability goals and promised shareholders extra payouts, despite full year profit undershooting expectations, as it banks on inflation-battling rate hikes worldwide to boost lending.
Air France-KLM to seek up to 4 bln euros to repay state aid, shares sink
Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA) plans to raise up to 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion) as it seeks to repay state pandemic handouts, the airline said on Thursday, overshadowing robust earnings on a recovery in air travel and sending its shares down more than 4%.
LIC’s looming IPO weighs on India insurer shares, investors say
Next month’s mammoth stock market debut for India’s Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has battered shares in other insurers as investors trim their holdings to make room for the state-owned giant, fund managers and analysts said.
Stocks rally, seizing on Ukraine de-escalation signs
World stocks crept higher on Wednesday for the second day in a row, while safe-haven assets such as government bonds and gold lost ground, despite Western scepticism over Russian claims of a troop pullback from Ukraine’s borders.
EXCLUSIVE EU, Gates Foundation to support African medicines agency -source
BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (Reuters) – The European Union and the Gates Foundation are set to announce a package of financial support for the nascent efforts to set up an African medicines regulator in a bid to boost the continent’s drugs and vaccine production, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The treaty establishing the […]
MetLife explores sale of variable annuity business – sources
MetLife Inc (MET.N) is exploring the divestment of its U.S. variable annuity book as it seeks to free up resources to invest in higher-growth parts of its business, people familiar with the matter said.
Telecom Italia board to discuss network spinoff in slow-burn KKR drama
The board of Telecom Italia (TIM) (TLIT.MI) will discuss the group’s overhaul on Monday as newly appointed chief executive Pietro Labriola strives to forge an alternative to a takeover proposal by U.S. fund KKR (KKR.N).
Analysis: World’s damaged supply chains brace for painful recovery
Signs are growing that a global supply chain crisis which has confounded central bank inflation forecasts, stunted economic recoveries and compressed corporate margins could finally start to unwind towards the end of this year.
