Australia’s Allkem tops ASX 200 on $10.6 billion merger with Livent

By Archishma Iyer (Reuters) – Australian lithium producer Allkem surged more than 14% on Thursday after announcing a $10.6 billion merger with U.S- based Livent to create the third-largest producer of the key component used in electric-vehicle batteries. Allkem shares soared as much as 14.2% to A$14.740 by 0014 GMT, touching their highest since Nov….

Read More

Yellen, at G7, to underscore U.S. commitment to Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’

By Andrea Shalal NIIGATA, Japan (Reuters) – Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday will underscore the United States’ commitment to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as needed, while working with other rich nations to degrade Russia’s ability to wage war against its neighbor. Yellen identified redoubled support for Ukraine as one of her three…

Read More

US oil lobby blasts EPA emissions cuts plan, California likes it

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The largest U.S. oil and gas trade lobby group said on Wednesday it believes sharp emissions cuts proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would result in the elimination of new internal combustion vehicles. But a California air regulator said the EPA plan “will benefit the climate, air…

Read More

Debt ceiling battle delays sweeping annual defense policy bill

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. congressional leaders on Wednesday put off debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, an annual bill setting policy for the Pentagon, as the must-pass legislation got caught up in debate over raising the country’s borrowing limit. House of Representatives Armed Services subcommittees had been scheduled to…

Read More

China audits littered with deficiencies, US accounting watchdog finds

By Chris Prentice and Michelle Price WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. accounting watchdog found unacceptable deficiencies in audits of U.S.-listed Chinese companies performed by KPMG in China and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong, the government agency said on Wednesday. The U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)published the findings of its inspections after gaining access to…

Read More

Stocks rise as U.S. inflation trends lower, bond yields slide

By Herbert Lash NEW YORK (Reuters) – A gauge of global stock markets rose and bond yields slid on Wednesday after data showed U.S. consumer prices in April rose at a slightly slower-than-expected pace, suggesting the Federal Reserve is succeeding in taming high inflation. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% after rising 0.1% in March,…

Read More

Southeast Asian leaders pledge crackdown on human traffickers online scams

By Kate Lamb LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (Reuters) – Southeast Asian leaders pledged on Wednesday to crack down on online scams operated by human traffickers to prey on vulnerable job seekers, particularly in the poorest countries of the region. Meeting in Indonesia for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the leaders called for…

Read More

Dollar in holding pattern, inflation data provides little clarity on rates

By Laura Matthews NEW YORK (Reuters) – The dollar remained stable against a basket of currencies on Wednesday as data showed inflation slowed slightly more than expected last month but gave traders little clarity on the U.S. monetary policy outlook. A U.S. Labor Department report on Wednesday showed the annual increase in consumer prices dipped…

Read More