Britain’s Nationwide almost doubles profit as costs fall
Nationwide Building Society (POB_p.L) nearly doubled annual profit after improving interest income and margins as it shaved costs, it said on Friday.
Japan’s consumer prices extend falls as cellphone fee cuts offset input costs
Japan’s core consumer prices fell for the ninth straight month in April as a record slump in cellphone fees offset rising energy prices, suggesting that weak demand and higher costs will weigh on a fragile economic recovery.
Inside the race to find a COVID-19 treatment pill
In early 2020, as a new deadly coronavirus began spreading around the world, Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) assembled what it called a “SWAT team” of scientists and chemists to identify a potential treatment to fight COVID-19.
Wall Street snaps 3-day losing streak as technology stocks rise
Wall Street’s main indexes rebounded on Thursday after a three-day slide, buoyed by gains in technology stocks as the smallest weekly jobless claims since the start of a pandemic-driven recession lifted the mood.
Bank of England plans to ‘green’ its corporate bond holdings
The Bank of England set out plans on Friday to make its 20 billion pounds ($28.4 billion) of holdings in sterling corporate bonds better aligned with government goals to achieve net zero carbon emissions, starting later this year.
“Pandemic mindset” persists among global consumers – survey
People in the world’s leading economies remain overwhelmingly nervous about returning to life as normal, even after having being vaccinated against COVID-19, a survey released on Thursday found.
Vaccine patent waiver will not be enough -WTO chief
Waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines will not be enough to narrow the huge supply gap between rich and poor countries, the head of the World Trade Organization said on Thursday.
SPACs target more ESG companies in 2021 -Nomura Greentech
Companies with environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials have been high on the list of merger targets for U.S. special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) so far in 2021, data from Nomura Greentech showed.
Group of U.S. senators backs $46 billion in relief for Postal Service
A bipartisan group of 20 U.S. senators introduced legislation on Wednesday to provide the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service (USPS) with $46 billion in financial relief over 10 years.
Ahead of jobs miss, some Fed officials edged towards ‘taper’ debate
A “number” of Fed officials appeared ready to consider changes to monetary policy based on a continued strong economic recovery, according to minutes of the U.S. central bank’s April meeting, but data since then may have already changed the landscape.
