Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut’s sales fall on low demand

(Reuters) -Barry Callebaut, the world’s biggest chocolate maker, on Thursday reported lower nine-month sales volumes than a year ago as customer demand dropped in an inflationary environment. Barry Callebaut’s volumes have been hit by growing inflationary pressures, with cocoa trading at around a 46-year high, which dampens demand for chocolate around the world. “Our volume…

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US stock investors count on earnings to propel rally after upbeat CPI report

By Lewis Krauskopf NEW YORK (Reuters) -As U.S. inflation cools and growth remains resilient, bullish investors are counting on the upcoming earnings season to provide more fuel for a rally that has taken stocks to their highest levels in months. Wednesday’s closely-watched inflation report showed consumer prices increasing in June at their slowest annual pace…

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Big companies toughen banking partner screening after crisis – survey

By Laura Matthews NEW YORK (Reuters) – Large companies are spreading out their counterparty risk and increasing screening of their banking partners in response to the recent banking crisis that has been a “wake-up call”, according to an industry survey to be released on Thursday. Worried that possible future bank failures could leave them unable…

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FTC to appeal judge’s decision to let Microsoft buy Activision

By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on Wednesday it was appealing a federal judge’s ruling that Microsoft could go forward with its $69 billion purchase of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard. Microsoft’s victory in court on Tuesday, and a subsequent climbdown by Britain’s competition authority, brought the tech…

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Wellington in talks to invest in Kim Kardashian’s Skims at $4 billion valuation-sources

(This story has been refiled to remove the extraneous word ‘valuation’ in paragraph 1) By Abigail Summerville and Krystal Hu (Reuters) – Investment firm Wellington Management is in talks to lead a new funding round for Skims, which could value the underwear clothing company owned by Kim Kardashian at about $4 billion, according to people…

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