IMF economist sees only ‘transitory’ bump in inflation from U.S. stimulus
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion U.S. stimulus plan could trigger a temporary bump in consumer prices, but inflation was not likely to last long, International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Gita Gopinath said in an interview broadcast on Friday. Gopinath told National Public Radio that the U.S. Federal Reserve had tools to address […]
Europe aims to get vaccinations back on track after clearing AstraZeneca shot
AMSTERDAM/LONDON (Reuters) – Europe pushed to get its COVID-19 vaccination drive back on track on Friday after EU and British regulators said the benefits of AstraZeneca’s shot outweighed any risks and the World Health Organization gave its backing to it. The end to the suspension of AstraZeneca shots by more than a dozen countries will […]
U.S. Fed to let bank leverage exemption expire this month, will review rule
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Big U.S. banks will have to resume holding an extra layer of loss-absorbing capital against U.S. Treasuries and central bank deposits from next month after the Federal Reserve said on Friday it would not extend a temporary pandemic regulatory break due to expire this month. The Fed said it would, however, launch […]
Turkey asks Egyptian opposition to tone down criticism: TV channel owner
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey has asked Egyptian opposition television channels operating on its territory to moderate criticism of Egypt’s government, as Ankara seeks to improve strained ties with Cairo, the owner of one of the channels said on Friday. Ayman Nour, a liberal opposition figure and former Egyptian presidential candidate, told Reuters Turkish officials told […]
Nokia sees pick up in margins as turnaround takes shape
HELSINKI (Reuters) – Telecoms equipment maker Nokia is forecasting a pick up in profit margins to 10-13% in 2023, as new CEO Pekka Lundmark charts a course to catch up with rivals in the race to deliver 5G networks. Missteps with strategy during the early phase of the 5G cycle have led the Finnish company […]
Gaps Remain in Countries Readiness to Deploy COVID-19 Vaccines
Assessments by World Bank and partners provide insights into more than 120 countries’ readiness to safely distribute vaccines WASHINGTON, March 18, 2021 – As countries undertake the largest vaccination campaign in history, the World Bank has worked with governments, WHO, UNICEF, the Global Fund and GAVI on assessing countries’ readiness to safely deploy COVID-19 vaccines in […]
Stocks cheer dovish Fed, yen supported before BOJ decision
TOKYO/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Asian shares and U.S. stock futures rose on Thursday after the Federal Reserve committed to maintaining accommodative monetary policy and projected a rapid jump in U.S. economic growth this year as the COVID-19 crisis eases. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.87%, while stocks in China rose 0.74%. […]
Japan to lift Tokyo area state of emergency as planned on Sunday
TOKYO (Reuters) – The Japanese government’s advisory panel on coronavirus measures approved on Thursday a plan to let the state of emergency expire in the Tokyo area as scheduled on March 21, while the capital’s governor warned citizens not to let down their guard.
Proposal to rewrite Thailand’s military-backed constitution fails
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s parliament has failed to pass a bill that would have allowed changes to a military-backed constitution enacted after a 2014 coup, stalling a move by lawmakers to address a key demand of mass street protests last year. The bill, which included a plan for an elected committee to rewrite the constitution, […]
UK’s National Grid makes green power play with $11 billion WPD buy
(Reuters) – National Grid will buy England’s largest electricity distribution business WPD from U.S.-based PPL for 7.8 billion pounds ($10.9 billion) as it positions itself for a climate-driven transition from gas to electric power. London-listed National Grid, which took over the English and Welsh power networks in 1990, also said on Thursday it would sell […]
