Business

Haiti, Malta, Philippines, South Sudan put on money laundering watch list

  Haiti, Malta, Philippines and South Sudan were placed Friday on a “grey list” of countries under increased monitoring to counter money laundering and terrorist financing. The Financial Action Task Force, an international organisation that coordinates global efforts to crack down on money laundering and terrorism financing, said nations on the list are working with it to correct deficiencies in their financial systems. The additions bring to 22 the number of countries currently under increased […]

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Bitcoin dives as China widens crackdown on crypto mining

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Bitcoin tumbled more than 10 per cent Monday after China broadened a crackdown on its massive cryptocurrency mining industry with a ban on mines in a key southwestern province. Chinese mines power nearly 80 percent of the global trade in cryptocurrencies despite a domestic trading ban since 2017, but in recent months several provinces have ordered mines to close as Beijing turns a sharp eye to the industry. Authorities in the […]

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World Bank warns uneven global recovery leaving poor nations behind

by Heather SCOTT WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Fueled by widespread Covid-19 vaccinations in advanced nations, the world economic recovery has picked up speed, but the upbeat outlook obscures a worrying picture in poor nations, the World Bank said Tuesday. The global economy is now expected to grow 5.6 percent this year, 1.5 points faster than projected in January — the fastest post-recession bounceback in 80 years, according to the latest Global Economic Prospects (GEP) […]

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Bitcoin sinks and approaches $30,000

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The price of bitcoin fell sharply on Tuesday, approaching a symbolic $30,000 threshold it has not crossed since January and dragging other cryptocurrencies in its wake. At around 15:45 GMT, bitcoin fell 8.6 percent to a value of $31,501, a level not seen since mid-May, when the volatile cryptocurrency temporarily lost 30 percent in one session. The second-largest cryptocurrency, ethereum, lost 11.2 percent of its value, falling to $2,361. “Numbers […]

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UK competition watchdog probes Facebook use of ad data

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Friday it has opened an investigation into Facebook’s use of advertiser data s the EU announced a similar probe into the social media giant. “We intend to thoroughly investigate Facebook’s use of data to assess whether its business practices are giving it an unfair advantage in the online dating and classified ad sectors,” Andrea Coscelli, head of the Competition and Markets Authority, said in a statement. […]

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Most Asian markets up ahead of US jobs but Fed taper talk builds

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Most Asian markets rose Thursday, with focus on the upcoming release of key US jobs data, while traders were also trying to gauge when the Federal Reserve will begin reconsidering its ultra-loose monetary policies in light of a robust economic recovery. Oil prices also extended gains, fuelled by growing optimism that the reopenings and coronavirus vaccine rollouts will lead to a surge in activity over the coming months and ramp […]

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Nestle eyes new strategy as leaked file show many products unhealthy

ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) — Global food giant Nestle said Monday it was developing a new nutrition strategy after the Financial Times reported on an internal document showing that most of its food and drinks were unhealthy. An internal presentation circulated among top executives earlier this year had revealed that more than 60 percent of Nestle’s mainstream food and drinks portfolio did not meet “recognised definition of health”, the British business daily reported. The presentation, seen […]

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Asian markets mixed as traders await fresh catalysts

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian investors on Monday struggled to build on last week’s gains as profit-takers stepped in while awaiting the next buying catalyst, with eyes on the upcoming release of key US jobs data. Still, despite worries that the expected surge in economic activity this year will send prices soaring and force central banks to tighten monetary policy, a forecast-beating jump in a closely watched US inflation gauge was taken in stride. […]

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Asian markets extend gains as recovery gathers pace

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets rose again Friday, putting them on course to end an upbeat week on a healthy note, with traders welcoming another forecast-beating reading on US jobless claims that reinforced optimism about the recovery in the world’s top economy. There was also some cheer from reports that Joe Biden is planning a $6 trillion budget proposal for later in the day that includes his vast infrastructure deal and spending on […]

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Bezos to hand over Amazon CEO reins on July 5

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Wednesday that he will hand over operational control to his successor on July 5, leaving as the e-commerce giant flexes its muscles in television and cloud. Bezos is ceding his chief executive role to Andy Jassy, who heads Amazon Web Services, the lucrative cloud computing unit at the Seattle-based company. Bezos will take the role of executive chair. Bezos announced his departure date at […]

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In US, 2.5 million unemployed soon to be without income

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — States across America are moving to cut pandemic unemployment benefits, a painful blow for millions of people who will soon be left without income. With punishing jobless levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, unemployment benefits had been extended — especially to the self-employed — and extended further until September 6, even for those who had reached the maximum duration. But now 21 out of 27 states governed by Republicans — including […]

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Bitcoin tumble slows with help from Elon Musk

by Sebastien Ricci with Joseph Sotinel in London NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Bitcoin’s value plunged on Wednesday after China signaled a new crackdown on the cryptocurrency, but its losses were cushioned after Tesla head Elon Musk spoke up on Twitter. The virtual currency fell to almost $30,000 — less than half the record value it reached last month — before climbing back over $39,500 around 2000 GMT. It was still above its level […]

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