AIG to sell life and retirement unit stake to Blackstone, another with IPO

American International Group Inc (AIG.N)plans to use an IPO to sell part of its life and retirement business, while Blackstone Group Inc (BX.N)agreed to buy a sizeable stake, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Daimler reports Q2 preliminary adjusted EBIT of $6.42 bln

Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE) on Thursday reported preliminary adjusted group earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of 5.42 billion euros ($6.42 billion) for the second quarter, with car and truck divisions beating analyst targets.
U.S. CEO-to-worker pay ratio rose to 299:1 last year -union

The average S&P 500 .SPX chief executive made $15.5 million last year, 299 times the pay of the median worker and a higher ratio than in 2019, the top American labor union said on Wednesday, as the COVID-19 pandemic drove layoffs while executive compensation grew.
U.S. producer prices post biggest annual gain in more than 10-1/2 years

U.S. producer prices accelerated in June, leading to the largest annual increase in more than 10-1/2 years, suggesting inflation could remain high as robust demand fueled by the economy’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic strains the supply chain.
Facebook and Instagram will invest over $1 bln in content creators

Facebook Inc (FB.O) will spend $1 billion on social media creators through the end of 2022 in a fight for top talent announced in a week when TikTok became the first rival mobile app to hit 3 billion global downloads.
Big banks seek to curb “speculative” planned UK forex class action

A proposed multi-billion pound claim against powerful banks over alleged foreign exchange (forex) rigging is too weak and speculative to be allowed to proceed as a U.S.-style class action, the banks’ lawyer told a London court on Wednesday.
EXCLUSIVE Wealth manager Americana Partners bid $25 a share for Westwood Holdings Group

Wealth manager Americana Partners has made a $25 a share bid for Westwood Holdings Group (WHG.N), offering a nearly 28% premium to take the publicly traded financial advisory and mutual fund firm private, sources familiar with the matter said.
Wells Fargo wary on prospect of asset restriction easing

Wells Fargo & Co’s(WFC.N)Chief Executive Officer Charlie Scharf said the bank was not yet planning for the end of a damaging asset cap imposed by regulators after it smashed Wall Street estimates for second-quarter earnings.
ESG fever: share of sustainable fund trading soaring in 2021

The rush to invest in exchange-traded funds focusing on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues jumped in the first half of 2021, with monthly turnover more than tripling to nearly 3 billion euros from a year ago, Deutsche Boerse said on Wednesday.
Musk defends timing of Tesla’s $2.6 bln deal for SolarCity

Elon Musk told a judge on Tuesday Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) had to buy SolarCity in 2016 because the failing solar panel company was essential to the electric vehicle maker’s long-term goal of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy.