Heineken sees Europe resilience offseting Asia slowdown risk

By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Heineken maintained its forecast for 2023 profit growth with the risk of slower economic expansion in the Asia-Pacific region offset by greater resilience among beer drinkers in Europe. The world’s second-largest brewer expects its operating profit this year to increase by a mid- to high- single-digit percentage. “We see signals…

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China may hold lending benchmarks steady as recovery remains on track -analysts

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – China is widely expected to stand pat on lending benchmarks at the monthly fixing on Thursday, a Reuters survey showed, as economic recovery has been well on track – as seen from better-than-expected first-quarter data. China’s economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the first quarter, reducing the urgency for authorities to…

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Analysis: China’s ‘atypical’ deflation cycle gives central bank a headache

By Kevin Yao BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s central bank has plenty of reasons to loosen policy as deflationary pressures in the economy deepen, but record credit growth is likely to limit the extent of any monetary support it’s able to provide. While the recovery from last year’s pandemic slump in the world’s second-largest economy gathered…

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Analysis-Once booming Indian startups set for more pain as funding crunch worsens

By M. Sriram MUMBAI (Reuters) – A funding squeeze at Indian startups that has already led to layoffs and delayed stock listings is set to worsen as investors reckon with stretched valuations and faltering consumption growth, likely laying the ground for industry consolidation. Startups in India raised just $2 billion in the first quarter of…

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China says drafting plans to boost recovery, expansion of consumption

BEIJING (Reuters) – China is formulating plans to boost the recovery and expansion of consumption, the state planner’s spokesperson Meng Wei said on Wednesday, signaling officials are worried about weak demand despite a sharp rebound in retail sales.  China’s economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the first quarter, as businesses and consumers came out…

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Chinese tourists are back, but numbers still far from pre-COVID levels

By Joe Cash and Pasit Kongkunakornkul BEIJING/BANGKOK (Reuters) – Bookings in China for trips abroad during the upcoming May Day holiday point to a continued recovery in travel to Asian countries, but the numbers remain far off pre-COVID levels with long-haul airfares soaring and not enough flights available. Overseas tour bookings for the upcoming holiday,…

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Brazil’s Lula condemns invasion of Ukraine, touts peace initiative

By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday condemned the violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity by Russia and again called for mediation to end the war, a peace initiative that was criticized by the Ukrainian government. Speaking at a lunch with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Lula said a group…

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