Business

Singapore’s CapitaLand in $8 bn deal creating Asia property giant

  SINGAPORE (AFP) — Singapore’s CapitaLand said Monday it has agreed to buy two real estate holding firms in a Sg$11 billion ($8.1 billion) deal that will create Asia’s biggest property group with assets in dozens of countries. Under the agreement, CapitaLand will acquire two units from a subsidiary of state investment firm Temasek. If approved, the new entity will have assets under management of more than Sg$116 billion, including businesses, industrial parks, hotels, commercial, […]

Asian markets hit by profit-taking, more weak China data

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong led a sell-off across Asian markets Monday as profit-takers moved in following a six-day rally, while dealers were also spooked by another disappointing batch of weak economic data out of China. With few catalysts to drive buying, equities were ripe for selling after last week’s healthy gains, with the US government shutdown — now in its fourth week and showing no sign of ending soon — instilling a […]

China’s trade surplus with the US grew in 2018 but tariffs bite

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s trade surplus with the United States widened last year, data showed Monday, while the country’s imports and exports fell in December as the long-running trade war begins to bite in the world’s number two economy. The surplus with the US is a major source of anger within the Trump administration, which imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods last year and has warned of more […]

China’s global trade surplus fell in 2018: customs

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s global trade volume rose last year but its surplus fell again as its imports outpaced its exports, official data released Monday showed amid a bruising trade war with the United States. Total trade reached $4.62 trillion, a 12.6 percent rise from 2017, according to customs data. But the trade surplus for the world’s second largest economy fell 16.2 percent to $351.76 billion, as imports rose 15.8 percent while exports gained […]

Asian markets in retreat after week-long rally

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong led a sell-off across Asian markets Monday as profit-takers moved in following a six-day rally, while traders look ahead to the release of corporate earnings. With few catalysts to drive buying, equities were ripe for selling after last week’s healthy gains, with the US government shutdown — now in its fourth week and showing no sign of ending soon — instilling a sense of unease. Also on the […]

Hong Kong stocks start with small losses

HONG KONG, China (AFP)– Hong Kong stocks dipped at the start of trade Monday after a six-day rally that saw it pile on more than six percent, while investors are also gearing up for the corporate earnings season. The Hang Seng Index eased 0.40 percent, or 107.59 points, to 26,559.68. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index inched down 0.50 points to 2,553.33 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, was also […]

Asian markets on course to end week on positive note

HONG KONG China (AFP) — The upbeat tone that has characterized this week helped Asian markets to fresh gains on Friday, with Hong Kong on course for a sixth straight day of rises. Investors globally have been riding a wave of optimism since last week when the head of the Federal Reserve indicated it will likely slow its pace of interest rate hikes, while there were also signs that China and the US could eventually […]

Under pressure to change, Ford is reinventing itself

by Luc OLINGA Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Struggling with a sagging stock price and sluggish sales, US car giant Ford took steps to regain its footing this week with the announcement of a massive restructuring effort in Europe — even as it prepared for an imminent strategic partnership with German carmaker Volkswagen. The iconic American brand will roll out a major reorganization of its European operations to boost profitability, including thousands […]

Jaguar Land Rover, Ford to slash jobs

by Ben PERRY Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Thousands of auto sector jobs are set to go across Europe, Jaguar Land Rover and Ford announced Thursday, under major restructuring as consumers dump diesel cars for greener electric vehicles. Brexit-facing JLR will axe around 4,500 mostly UK jobs, the Indian-owned carmaker said, after a slump in Chinese sales last year. US carmaker Ford said it planned a major restructuring of its European operations, including […]

Global stocks mostly rise despite US retailer weakness

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stocks mostly rose Thursday, with positive sentiment on US-China trade talks offsetting disappointing holiday sales from some US retailers. China said that trade talks in Beijing with a US negotiating team had “laid the foundation” to resolve concerns held by both sides in a bruising trade war, essentially echoing upbeat comments from US officials the prior day. Discussions between US and Chinese officials to find a way out […]

Tokyo stocks follow Wall Street higher

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened higher on Friday, following rallies on Wall Street as investor sentiment improved but trade is seen to be cautious ahead of a long weekend. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.83 percent or 167.24 points at 20,331.04 in early trade, while the broader Topix index gained 0.79 percent or 12.07 points at 1,534.08. “Japanese shares are seen performing in a steady manner in early trade, tracking rises […]

Fiat Chrysler to pay $650 mn over software misuse: report

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Fiat Chrysler has agreed to pay nearly $650 million to resolve litigation over its use of illegal engine-control software on diesel vehicles that produced false results in emissions tests, The New York Times reported Wednesday. The automaker will pay $305 million in penalties to the federal government and California, which also brought suit, the NYT said, citing two unidentified sources who were briefed on the issue. It said the […]