McDonald’s, others consider closing indoor seating amid Delta surge in U.S.
Some U.S. fast-food restaurants are closing indoor seating areas or limiting hours of operation because of the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, according to franchisees.
Japan’s July factory output slips as COVID-19 hits car production
Japan’s industrial output shrank in July as car production took a hit from a coronavirus resurgence in Asia that has cast doubt over the recovery in the world’s third-largest economy.
BHP considers making COVID vaccinations mandatory at Australian sites
Global miner BHP Group (BHP.AX) is mulling whether to make vaccinations for COVID-19 mandatory at its workplaces in Australia as the country’s east battles ballooning virus cases.
India’s economy likely rebounded in April-June amid pandemic risks
India’s economy likely rebounded in the April-June quarter from a deep slump last year helped by improved manufacturing and in spite of a devastating second wave of COVID-19 cases.
Japan’s retail sales extend gains but COVID-19 challenges persist
Japan’s retail sales rose for a fifth straight month in July, beating expectations as the consumer sector continued its recovery, although a coronavirus resurgence has cast doubts over the spending outlook.
Australian economy likely already slowing in Q2 before Delta downturn
Australia’s economy was likely already slowing before wide-scale coronavirus restrictions shuttered swathes of business and jobs, setting the stage for a vicious contraction this quarter.
After summer of stock market highs, signs of unease emerge
Stock markets are heading into September near record highs but the fast-spreading Delta coronavirus variant is making some investors reassess how so-called reflation trades could perform in coming months.
Global corporate profits to fall 8% in Q3 after record Q2 – data
Global corporate profits in the third quarter are likely to fall for the first time in 18 months after record earnings in April-June, Reuters calculations showed, as the spreading COVID-19 Delta variant squeezes supply chains and raises labour costs.
BOJ policymaker warns of global impact from chip crunch, Asia factory closures
A shortage of semiconductor chips may persist for the rest of this year if the coronavirus pandemic keeps Southeast Asian factories shut, a Bank of Japan policymaker said, highlighting supply constraints as among key risks to the global economy.
Oil steadies near $71 after two-day rally
Oil prices steadied near $71 a barrel, taking a breather after a strong rally in recent days as Mexico was set to resume crude production following a major outage.
