Global M&A surges to record high for third straight month
Global mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity hit a record high for the third straight month in May, driven mainly by low interest rates, soaring equities and higher dealmaking interest in sectors that have received a boost from the COVID-19 pandemic.
AstraZeneca moves finance chief to new role after Alexion deal
AstraZeneca (AZN.L) will move finance chief Marc Dunoyer to head newly acquired rare diseases business Alexion (ALXN.O), using the $39 billion takeover as an opportunity to freshen up a management team that had been in place for eight years.
Exclusive: U.S. to give ransomware hacks similar priority as terrorism
The U.S. Department of Justice is elevating investigations of ransomware attacks to a similar priority as terrorism in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline hack and mounting damage caused by cyber criminals, a senior department official told Reuters.
Meituan founder donates $2.27 bln shares as charity grips Chinese billionaires
The founder of food delivery giant Meituan(3690.HK) will donate shares worth about $2.27 billion to his personal charity, a stock exchange filing late on Thursday showed, making him the latest Chinese tech billionaire to make such a gesture.
Asia tracks Wall St lower as U.S. inflation bets perk up
Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower on Friday as signs of a strengthening U.S. recovery boosted bets for higher inflation and an earlier tapering of Federal Reserve stimulus.
Banks bulk up in Hong Kong as China business overshadows politics
Some global banks, funds and other financial services providers say they are stepping up hiring in Hong Kong, in a sign the city’s unique position as a financial gateway to China is outweighing concerns about Beijing’s tightening grip over it.
Record-high number of U.S. small businesses can’t fill job openings -NFIB
Nearly half of U.S. small business owners reported unfilled job openings in May, marking the fourth consecutive month of record-high readings as finding qualified applicants remains a lingering challenge, a trade group said on Thursday.
UK’s Sunak says world is watching as G7 debates tax reform
Britain said the world was relying on a gathering of some of the richest nations to agree reforms to outdated global tax rules, as finance ministers from the Group of Seven started a two-day meeting in London on Friday.
EXCLUSIVE Blackwater founder Prince takes role in COVID vaccine venture
Erik Prince, the founder of controversial private military firm Blackwater and a supporter of former President Donald Trump, jumped into the COVID-19 business late last year with a deal to distribute an experimental vaccine should it be approved, according to three people familiar with the arrangement and business records seen by Reuters.
Investors see Biden’s 15% minimum tax offer as positive
Investors hailed U.S. President Joe Biden’s offer on Thursday to scrap his proposed 28% corporate tax hike as a move in the right direction and embraced the idea of a compromise that could allow an infrastructure and tax package to move through Congress.
