HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong plans to “fine-tune” the maximum size of mortgages available to first-time homebuyers, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in a radio interview on Sunday. Chan told Commercial Radio Hong Kong that residents want to upgrade homes after starting families so the government is discussing with the de facto central bank…
By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) -PwC Australia on Sunday entered an exclusivity agreement with private equity firm Allegro Funds to sell its government practice for A$1 as it brought in an executive from Singapore to lead its local firm through the fallout from a national scandal. The scandal, which broke in January, revolves around a…
(Reuters) – Heavily armed Russian mercenaries who advanced most of the way to Moscow began turning back on Saturday, de-escalating a major challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power, in a move their leader said would avoid bloodshed. Here are reactions from investors and analysts: QUINCY KROSBY, CHIEF GLOBAL STRATEGIST AT LPL FINANCIAL: “Markets…
By Nia Williams BRITISH COLUMBIA (Reuters) – Canada is wrestling with its worst-ever start to wildfire season, but recruiting firefighters is becoming increasingly difficult due to tight labor markets and the tough nature of the job, provincial officials say. Limited resources could threaten Canada’s ability to douse fires, which are expected to get bigger and…
By Polina Devitt and Dmitry Zhdannikov LONDON (Reuters) – Following are facts about oil, gas and grains flows in Russia’s southern region of Rostov, where the capital Rostov-on-Don was seized by Russian mercenaries. President Vladimir Putin vowed on Saturday to crush what he called an armed mutiny after rebellious mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said he…
(Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday urged the European Union and the Mercosur to set aside arrogance and negotiate the long-awaited trade agreement between the blocs with common sense. “It’s important to remember that we need the EU and they need us very much. So it’s important that we put…
By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan has changed its budget for the financial year starting on July 1, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday, including the latest fiscal tightening measures dictated by International Monetary Fund in a final effort to clinch a stalled rescue package. “Pakistan and IMF had detailed negotiations for the last…
By Daniel Leussink, Norihiko Shirouzu and Maki Shiraki TOKYO (Reuters) – Nissan has launched an investigation into claims by a senior adviser that Chief Executive Makoto Uchida carried out surveillance of his deputy Ashwani Gupta, four people with direct knowledge of the matter said. The surveillance claims, first reported by the Financial Times, were made…
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnamese lawmakers on Saturday approved a government plan to extend a reduction in value added tax (VAT) on goods and services until the end of this year to boost domestic consumption and production, as its export-driven economy faces headwinds from slowing global demand. The VAT cut to 8% from 10%, which has…
(Reuters) – Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) and TotalEnergies have signed an $11 billion contract to start building a new petrochemicals complex in Saudi Arabia, the two companies said in a joint statement on Saturday. “Aramco and TotalEnergies today awarded Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts for the $11 billion “Amiral” complex, a future world-scale…
