Dollar languishes near one-week low after consumer sentiment blow

The dollar held near a one-week low versus major peers on Monday, after slumping the most in almost seven weeks on Friday as diving U.S. consumer confidence hurt bets for an early tightening of Federal Reserve policy.
UK employers have strongest hiring plans in over 8 years, survey shows

British employers plan to increase staff numbers by the most in more than eight years over the coming months and few intend to make staff redundant when government furlough support ends next month, a survey showed on Monday.
Ford counterattacks in ‘cruise’ dispute with GM

Ford Motor Co (F.N) said late on Friday it will ask the U.S. Patent Office to rescind trademarks obtained by rival General Motors Co (GM.N) for the terms “Cruise” and “Super Cruise,” escalating a brawl GM began by suing Ford over its use of “Blue Cruise” for an automated driving system.
EXCLUSIVE Olam seeking about $3 bln for London IPO of food ingredients unit – sources

Olam International (OLAM.SI) is considering raising about 2 billion pounds ($2.8 billion) through a London listing of its food ingredients unit next year, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, as the Singapore-based trading house seeks to boost its valuation and step up acquisitions.
Marketmind: Muddied Waters

Investors can be forgiven for being nonplussed on the data front this week. A day after U.S. consumer inflation data showed early signs of price pressures peaking, readings from the producer perspective showed inflationary readings remained firm.
Malaysia c.bank slashes 2021 growth outlook on COVID-19 surge, lockdowns

Malaysia’s economy expanded more quickly than expected on an annual basis in the second quarter, but the central bank slashed its 2021 growth forecast as rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdown measures weighed on the outlook.
Decline and near fall of Italy’s Monte dei Paschi, the world’s oldest bank

Four years after spending 5.4 billion euros ($6.3 billion) to rescue it, Rome is in talks to sell Monte dei Paschi (BMPS.MI) to UniCredit (CRDI.MI) and cut its 64% stake in the Tuscan bank.
Dubai Expo in focus as UAE racks up $700 mln of trade with Israel since normalisation

Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations a year ago, are looking to Dubai’s Expo world fair in October to boost bilateral trade, which now stands at around $712 million.
OPEC+ supply boost unlikely despite call from U.S. for more oil, says Goldman

U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs said a recent call by the United States to OPEC+ to boost oil output is unlikely to result in higher production over the short-term given the threat to demand from the coronavirus Delta variant.
Disney bullish on parks despite Delta; investors cheer streaming growth

Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) earnings on Thursday topped Wall Street forecasts for the most recent quarter as its streaming services picked up more customers than expected and pandemic-hit U.S. theme parks returned to profitability.