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.
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.
Kuwait’s economic makeover under threat as small businesses fight for life
Thousands of small and medium Kuwaiti businesses could go to the wall after being walloped by the pandemic, potentially torpedoing a private sector central to the country’s efforts to remake its unorthodox and oil-pumped economy.
Australia’s NAB posts 10.3% rise in cash profit, upbeat on outlook
National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB.AX), the country’s No. 3 lender, said on Thursday its third-quarter cash profit rose 10.3% as it was able to move funds set aside for potential COVID-19 losses back into profit.
Australia lowers bar on public companies’ disclosures, extends virtual AGMs
Australia on Tuesday eased so-called continuous disclosure laws for publicly listed companies, which will now protect companies and their officers against liabilities for misleading and deceptive statements or forecasts unless “fault” is proven.
Oil rises as market shrugs off virus impact
Oil prices rose more than $1 on Tuesday, recouping some of the losses in the previous session, as rise of demand in Europe and the United States outweighed concerns over a rise of COVID cases in Asian countries.
WeWork rival IWG ‘cautiously optimistic’ on year after H1 losses widen
Office rental firm IWG Plc (IWG.L) said on Tuesday it was cautiously optimistic about the rest of the fiscal year despite posting a bigger half-year loss, even as a resurgence in global COVID-19 cases and renewed lockdowns in some markets threaten the pace of recovery.
ING reports $2.5 bln pretax profit, plans dividends and buybacks
ING Groep NV (INGA.AS) on Friday reported a better-than-expected quarterly pretax profit of 2.07 billion euros ($2.45 billion) and said it plans to resume paying dividends as it reversed some provisions for bad loans taken amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Merck KGaA raises outlook after forecast-beating Q2 profit
Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) raised its outlook after posting forecast-beating second quarter profits on Thursday, boosted by demand for its lab gear and supplies from pharma companies making treatments and vaccines against the coronavirus.
China’s factory activity in July grows at slowest pace since Feb 2020
China’s factory activity expanded in July at the slowest pace in 17 months as higher raw material costs, equipment maintenance and extreme weather weighed on business activity, adding to concerns about a slowdown in the world’s second-biggest economy.
