BNP Paribas to sell Bank of the West to Canada’s BMO for $16 bln

BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) said Monday it is to sell U.S. unit Bank of the West to Canada’s BMO Financial Group for $16.3 billion in a deal that will give France’s biggest bank a huge step up in firepower for deals and buybacks.
Analysis: After inflation, a bond supply shock may be next for markets

Central banks, the developed world’s most reliable group of bond buyers, could slash debt purchases next year by as much as $2 trillion across the four big advanced economies, implying a potentially hefty rise in many governments’ borrowing costs.
Global M&A activity smashes all-time records to top $5 trillion in 2021

Dec 20 (Reuters) – Global merger and acquisition (M&A) activity shattered all-time records in 2021, comfortably erasing the high-water mark that was set nearly 15 years ago, as an abundance of capital and sky-high valuations fuelled frenetic levels of dealmaking.
Asia stocks, oil prices suffer as Omicron spreads

Asian share markets fell and oil prices slid on Monday as surging Omicron cases triggered tighter restrictions in Europe and threatened to drag on the global economy into the new year.
Pandemic have-a-go investors force shake-up in UK wealth market

The explosion in DIY investing since the start of the pandemic has led to a scramble among Britain’s more traditional asset managers and banks to buy or build online platforms that give consumers more direct control of their investment portfolios.
EXCLUSIVE Exxon prepares to bid for new oil blocks in Brazil -sources

Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) is prepared to bid on Friday for new blocks in Brazil’s deep-water oil fields, a focus area for its oil and gas production growth, people familiar with the matter said.
Argentina’s economy rebounds strongly in third quarter

Argentina’s economy expanded 11.9% on a year-on-year basis in the third quarter of 2021, the country’s statistics agency said on Thursday, in line with expectations of a sharp rebound from the 10.2% contractionin the same period last year.
End of an era: Airbus delivers last A380 superjumbo

Airbus (AIR.PA) delivered the final A380 superjumbo on Thursday, to Dubai’s Emirates, marking the end of a 14-year run that gave Europe an instantly recognised symbol across the globe but failed to fulfil the commercial vision of its designers.
Reddit jumps on IPO bandwagon with confidential filing

Reddit Inc, whose message boards became the go-to destination for day traders during this year’s meme stock frenzy, said on Wednesday it had confidentially filed for an initial public offering with U.S. securities regulators.
UK, Australia sign deal forecast to create 10 billion pounds in extra trade

Britain and Australia have signed a free trade deal projected to eventually boost bilateral trade by over 10 billion pounds ($13.3 billion), eliminating tariffs, opening up sectors like agriculture and allowing freer movement for service-sector professionals.