Dollar shines, euro droops as Omicron spreads while Fed hawks circle
The U.S. dollar hovered near the highest since July of last year against major peers on Monday after a Federal Reserve official signaled a first pandemic-era interest rate hike could come as early as March.
BNP Paribas to sell Bank of the West to Canada’s BMO for $16 bln
BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) said Monday it is to sell U.S. unit Bank of the West to Canada’s BMO Financial Group for $16.3 billion in a deal that will give France’s biggest bank a huge step up in firepower for deals and buybacks.
Analysis: After inflation, a bond supply shock may be next for markets
Central banks, the developed world’s most reliable group of bond buyers, could slash debt purchases next year by as much as $2 trillion across the four big advanced economies, implying a potentially hefty rise in many governments’ borrowing costs.
Asia stocks, oil prices suffer as Omicron spreads
Asian share markets fell and oil prices slid on Monday as surging Omicron cases triggered tighter restrictions in Europe and threatened to drag on the global economy into the new year.
Pandemic have-a-go investors force shake-up in UK wealth market
The explosion in DIY investing since the start of the pandemic has led to a scramble among Britain’s more traditional asset managers and banks to buy or build online platforms that give consumers more direct control of their investment portfolios.
Argentina’s economy rebounds strongly in third quarter
Argentina’s economy expanded 11.9% on a year-on-year basis in the third quarter of 2021, the country’s statistics agency said on Thursday, in line with expectations of a sharp rebound from the 10.2% contractionin the same period last year.
Analysis: Jabs for jobs: U.S. vaccine mandates offer bargaining chip for worker rights
U.S. vaccine mandates are giving workers greater negotiating power, experts say, as the threat of strikes and collective action wins concessions for workers pummeled by the pandemic.
Oil prices head for weekly loss on Omicron coronavirus uncertainty
Oil prices dipped on Friday, putting the market on track for a narrow weekly loss, as surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant raised fears new curbs may hit fuel demand, while a weaker dollar supported commodity markets broadly.
EV startup Rivian to build $5 bln plant in Georgia, posts quarterly loss
Amazon-backed electric vehicle startup Rivian Automotive Inc (RIVN.O) on Thursday said it will build a $5 billion plant in Georgia, its second U.S. assembly plant, as it looks to expand production.
Wall Street firms retreat from office, holiday parties as virus spreads
Wall Street banks and investment firms are retrenching from their push to get staff back to the office, with Citigroup Inc (C.N), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), Carlyle Group Inc (CG.O), Blackstone (BX.N) and MetLife (MET.N) among the latest to adjust plans as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.
