Factbox: U.S. banks tighten COVID-19 precautions as Omicron variant spreads

U.S. banks have been more proactive than other industries in encouraging employees back to the office, but those plans have come under renewed scrutiny due to the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
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.
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.
Grab’s $40 bln Nasdaq debut to set tone for Southeast Asian tech listings

Grab, Southeast Asia’s biggest ride-hailing and delivery firm, makes its market debut on Thursday after a record $40 billion merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), in a listing that will set the tone for other regional offerings.
EXCLUSIVE BNP hires advisers to explore $15 bln Bank of the West sale – sources

BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) is working with advisers to assess a sale of its U.S. arm Bank of the West as it seeks to retreat from the American retail banking market after struggling to compete with larger and better capitalised rivals, sources told Reuters.
Deutsche Bank extends profit run on boost from dealmaking fees

Deutsche Bank’s (DBKGn.DE) profits rose a stronger-than-expected 7% in the third quarter, the bank’s fifth straight quarter in the black as fees for advising on deals partly made up for a drop in trading revenue.
JPMorgan’s profit more than doubles despite trading slump

JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) reported a 155% jump in profit on Tuesday, getting a boost from the release of loss reserves and a surge in dealmaking, even as the largest U.S. bank dealt with a sharp slowdown in trading activity from last year’s record-breaking levels.
Rising inflation puts Bank of England on the spot

The Bank of England will say on Thursday whether it is worried about a recent jump in inflation, which broke above the central bank’s 2% target and looks set to climb higher as Britain reawakens its economy from its coronavirus slumber.
Explainer: How Malaysia is seeking to recover billions of dollars missing from 1MDB

Malaysia on Monday announced 22 civil suits against entities and people accused of being involved with the massive 1MDB corruption scandal, including units of global banks Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and JPMorgan (JPM.N). read more The lawsuits are part of a years-long effort by Malaysia to recover billions of dollars missing from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in a scandal that […]