EXCLUSIVE Biden considers giving refiners relief from U.S. biofuel laws, sources say
President Joe Biden’s administration, under pressure from labor unions and U.S. senators including from his home state of Delaware, is considering ways to provide relief to U.S. oil refiners from biofuel blending mandates, three sources familiar with the matter said.
Analysis: Push to end pandemic benefits may not be panacea for U.S. labor shortage
The 25 U.S. states calling an early halt to pandemic-related federal unemployment benefits have recovered more of the jobs lost during the crisis than other states, possibly limiting how much of a dent ending the weekly $300 payments will make in the national battle to fill record job vacancies.
Aon’s $30 bln Willis bid set for EU okay in late June, early July – sources
Insurance broker Aon’s (AON.N) $30 billion bid for Willis Towers Watson (WLTW.O), the biggest ever in the sector, is expected to get the EU antitrust green light later this month or in early July, people familiar with the matter said.
European shares hit record high, bond yields fall as inflation fears ease
Shares gained on Friday and bond yields fell from the United States to Europe as investors shrugged off rising U.S. consumer prices, even as fears of longer-term inflation lingered.
BlackRock becomes first to operate wholly owned China mutual fund biz
BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) has become the first global asset manager licensed to start a wholly owned onshore mutual fund business in China, as the government opens up the country’s $3.5 trillion mutual fund industry.
G7 eyes allocating $100 bln from IMF funds to COVID-ravaged nations-US
The United States and other Group of Seven nations are considering reallocating $100 billion from the International Monetary Fund’s warchest to help countries struggling most to cope with the COVID-19 crisis, the White House said.
Analysis: As EU preps debut recovery bond, a reality check for “safe asset” hopes
As the European Union readies bond sales for its pioneering COVID-19 recovery fund, the scale and duration of the borrowing programme may disappoint those who had visualised last year’s deal for pooled debt as Europe’s Hamiltonian moment.
EXCLUSIVE ECB tells Deutsche Bank to find new chairman fast – sources
The European Central Bank has asked Deutsche Bank a number of times in recent months to name a successor to chairman Paul Achleitner as the end of his term nears, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
UK recovery quickens in April as economy posts record annual jump
Britain’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic sped up in April as lockdown measures eased, with the fastest monthly growth since July leaving output a record 27.6% higher than a year earlier, when the virus was rampant and lockdown tightest.
More Chinese provinces issue bans on cryptomining
Authorities in China’s northwestern province of Qinghai and a district in neighbouring Xinjiang ordered cryptocurrency mining projects to close this week, as local governments put into practice Beijing’s call to crack down on the industry.
