Publicis bets on further growth in 2022 after digital ad boost

Publicis Groupe (PUBP.PA), the world’s third-biggest advertising agency, on Thursday forecast organic sales growth of 4% to 5% this year, after its 2021 earnings exceeded their pre-pandemic levels to reach new records.
Analysis: Investors bank on real yields to boost dollar in months ahead

The dollar’s choppy start to the year has not dissuaded some investors from betting the U.S. currency will soon resume its march higher, lifted by a hawkish Federal Reserve and rising real yields.
Euro zone business growth lost more momentum in Jan as Omicron hit demand

Euro zone economic growth lost more momentum in January as the bloc’s dominant services industry suffered from subdued demand amid tighter restrictions to contain the Omicron coronavirus variant, a survey showed.
Nokia resumes dividend, share buybacks as turnaround gathers pace

Nokia (NOKIA.HE) on Thursday restarted its quarterly dividend and initiated a share buyback programme after reporting fourth-quarter comparable operating earnings above markets estimates as the Finnish telecoms equipment maker kept costs in check.
Shell ends 2021 on high note, hikes dividend, buybacks again

Shell (SHEL.L) again boosted its dividend and share repurchases on Thursday after fourth quarter profits hit their highest in eight years, fuelled by higher oil and gas prices and strong gas trading performance.
Ford to make new investment of up to $20 billion in EV push- Bloomberg News

Ford Motor Co (F.N) is planning additional investment of up to $20 billion in building its electric vehicles, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.
Omicron restrains U.S. manufacturing; supply bottlenecks slowly easing

A measure of U.S. manufacturing activity fell to a 14-month low in January amid an outbreak of COVID-19 cases, supporting the view that economic growth lost steam at the start of the year.
Video game publisher Electronic Arts lowers annual adjusted sales forecast

Electronic Arts Inc (EA.O) lowered its annual adjusted sales forecast after missing quarterly estimates on Tuesday, as the video game publisher faces the brunt of easing pandemic restrictions and fewer consumers picking up new gaming titles.
Starbucks to hike prices to offset inflation; lowers profit guidance

Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) will raise menu prices in 2022 and reduce some spending to offset soaring costs for labor and goods, as rising COVID-19 cases prompted the coffee chain on Tuesday to lower estimates for profits this year.
Santander lifts profits as it releases pandemic provisions

Spain’s Santander (SAN.MC) released 750 million euros ($846 million) in pandemic-related provisions in the fourth quarter, betting on an economic recovery in its main markets and helping boost net profit eight-fold compared to a year earlier.