By Leika Kihara and Tetsushi Kajimoto (Reuters) -Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Tuesday there was still some distance to sustainably and stably achieving the central bank’s 2% inflation target, signalling his resolve to maintain ultra-loose monetary policy for the time being. “We have patiently continued our ultra-loose monetary policy under yield…
By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will announce a new pledge to buy $1.3 billion worth of military aid for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia in the coming days, two U.S. officials said. The previously unreported weapons package includes air defenses, counter-drone systems, exploding drones and ammunition, one of the U.S….
By Jennifer Rigby and Kate Turton LONDON (Reuters) – The world is baking under extreme heat – with Asia, Europe and the United States all dealing with scorching temperatures. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH RISKS? Heat affects health in several ways. Heat exhaustion, which can include dizziness, headaches, shaking and thirst, can affect anyone, and is…
By Chiara Elisei and Dhara Ranasinghe LONDON (Reuters) – The spectre of rising corporate debt defaults exacerbating a global economic slowdown has for months been largely brushed aside by resilient credit markets. Now, long-feared corporate debt woes are starting to hit home, while more companies are being downgraded to a junk credit rating – facing…
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss NEW YORK (Reuters) – Blackstone Group LP is to invest $150 million in London-based Astaris Capital Management which will be split between the firm’s existing hedge fund and a new pool of capital with a drawdown structure, two sources said. Astaris specializes in event-driven credit and equity investments in Europe and was…
By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday it had hit military targets in two Ukrainian port cities overnight as “a mass revenge strike” in response to an attack on the Crimean bridge the previous day which it blamed on Kyiv. The ministry said it had struck Odesa, where the Ukrainian navy…
By Joanna Plucinska and Guglielmo Mangiapane LONDON/ROME (Reuters) – Soaring summer temperatures across southern Europe could prompt a lasting shift in tourist habits, with more travellers choosing cooler destinations or taking their holidays in spring or autumn to dodge the extreme heat, tourism bodies and experts predict. European Travel Commission (ETC) data shows the number…
GANDHINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Global economic activity is slowing, especially in the manufacturing sector, and medium-term growth prospects remain weak, the chief of the International Monetary Fund told financial leaders of the Group of 20 nations on Tuesday. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, speaking to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in the western Indian…
By Ludwig Burger FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Novartis on Tuesday raised its full-year earnings forecast for the second time on strong drug sales and mapped out the planned separation and stock market debut of its generic medicines division Sandoz for early October. The Swiss drugmaker said in a statement it expected group core operating income to grow…
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The European Central Bank (ECB) will look closely for signs of inflation cooling down in the coming months to avoid taking rate hikes too far, governing council member Klaas Knot said in an interview on Tuesday. Referring to the possibility of further rate hikes, Knot said: “For July it is a necessity,…
