USTR says new trade tools needed to fight China state-led trade

The United States needs to pursue new strategies and update its domestic trade tools to deal with China’s “state-led, non-market policies and practices”, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Wednesday in a new assessment report.
EXCLUSIVE EU, Gates Foundation to support African medicines agency -source
BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (Reuters) – The European Union and the Gates Foundation are set to announce a package of financial support for the nascent efforts to set up an African medicines regulator in a bid to boost the continent’s drugs and vaccine production, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The treaty establishing the […]
Global equity funds see biggest inflow in six weeks

Global equity funds drew massive inflows in the seven days to Feb. 9 as investors cheered strong earnings results from U.S. and European companies, shrugging off concerns over a rise in bond yields and inflation.
Exclusive: New York pension fund to divest half its shale companies

New York’s state pension fund will sell $238 million worth of stock and debt it holds across 21 shale oil and gas companies including Chesapeake Energy Corp, Hess Corp (HES.N) and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD.N), saying they have not shown they are ready to move to a low-emissions economy.
Analysis: Investors eye uncharted waters as quantitative tightening looms in Canada

As the Bank of Canada prepares to shrink its bloated balance sheet, investors say the move could enable expected interest rate hikes to have more far-reaching impact on economic activity.
Explainer: Europe’s banks fear payment system could be casualty of Russia-Ukraine crisis

Amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Italy’s UniCredit has backed out of a potential acquisition in Russia and Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International has set aside risk provisions for possible sanctions on Russia.
ECB could raise rates in 2022, new Bundesbank chief says

The European Central Bank could raise interest rates this year as high inflation is proving more persistent than once thought, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel told German newspaper Die Zeit on Wednesday.
Exclusive: Treasury wants to stir up U.S. alcohol market to help smaller players

The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday flagged concerns about consolidation in the $250 billion annual U.S. alcohol market and outlined reforms it said could boost competition and save consumers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
GSK sees sales growth in 2022 after quarterly beat, prepares for spin-off

Britain’s GSK (GSK.L) forecast growth in 2022 after racking up 1.4 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) in COVID-related sales in 2021, beating quarterly forecasts in its first earnings report since rejecting Unilever’s (ULVR.L) bid for its consumer arm.
Analysis: Emerging market investors dive for stocks amid Fed storm

Developing world investors, buffeted by various “taper tantrums” over the last decade, are now nervously watching as the rainmaker of global markets – the U.S. Federal Reserve – readies its most aggressive rate hike cycle in 17 years.