Exclusive-Mexico mulls benefits of Banamex purchase, eyes synergies with state bank

By Anthony Esposito MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico is evaluating whether buying Citigroup Inc’s Mexican consumer unit would help boost financial inclusion, potentially in combination with a state-run bank such as the Banco del Bienestar, a top finance ministry official said. U.S. lender Citigroup scrapped its sale of the Banamex unit last week and said…

Read More

Dollar backs off highs after Fed officials suggest skipping June rate hike

(Updates prices throughout story, adds analyst comment in paragraphs 7 and 8, recasts lede and paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 to reflect comments from Fed governor) By Hannah Lang WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. dollar retreated from a more than two-month high on Wednesday after a Federal Reserve official warned any decision by the central…

Read More

North Korea missile tests endanger shipping, UN maritime agency told

LONDON (Reuters) – North Korean missile tests are endangering the safety of commercial shipping in busy sea lanes in northeastern Asia without enough time given for notification, several countries told a UN agency on Wednesday. Nuclear-armed North Korea’s sixth satellite launch on Wednesday ended in failure, with the booster and payload plunging into the sea,…

Read More

Walmart is raising wages for pharmacists, opticians in healthcare push

By Siddharth Cavale BENTONVILLE, Ark. (Reuters) – Walmart is raising wages for thousands of U.S. pharmacists and opticians, the retailer said on Wednesday, part of its broader plan to expand primary care services across the country. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based chain said about 3,700 pharmacists would get a bump in pay starting on Wednesday, bringing their…

Read More

U.S. economy little changed, outlook ‘deteriorated’: Fed survey

By Ann Saphir and Howard Schneider (Reuters) – U.S. economic activity appeared to stall in recent weeks, a Federal Reserve report published on Wednesday showed, with job growth and inflation both slowing, and near-term business prospects looking slightly worse than previously. “Expectations for future growth deteriorated a little, though contacts still largely expected a further…

Read More