Danone raises sales outlook as shoppers absorb price hikes

By Dominique Vidalon PARIS (Reuters) -Danone, the world’s largest yoghurt-maker, raised its 2023 outlook on Wednesday after it managed to pass on increased costs through price rises and first-quarter sales growth was the fastest in a decade. Danone, which expects prices to peak this year and also anticipates productivity gains, kept its forecast for a…

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Putin signs decree taking over Russian assets of two foreign firms

By David Ljunggren (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a decree establishing temporary control of the Russian assets of two foreign energy firms, signaling Moscow could take similar action against other companies if need be. The decree – outlining possible retaliation if Russian assets abroad are seized – showed Moscow had already taken…

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Companies’ cost inflation is slowing but shoppers may wait for lower prices

By Richa Naidu and Dominique Vidalon LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) -The world’s top consumer goods companies, making everything from instant noodles to soap and ice cream, are paying less for their raw materials and energy, but it may take time before shoppers see significantly lower price tags for household goods. Rising expenses for everything from sunflower oil…

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Harry not criticising queen over hacking deal with Murdoch’s UK group, court told

By Sam Tobin and Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) – Prince Harry is not criticising his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, or Britain’s royal family over a “secret agreement” with Rupert Murdoch’s UK newspaper arm, his lawyer told London’s High Court on Wednesday. Harry, the younger son of King Charles, is suing Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers…

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‘AI All-Star’ Microsoft’s rosy earnings spark rally in tech stocks

By Nivedita Balu and Aditya Soni (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp shares surged about 7% on Wednesday and lifted tech stocks after the company’s robust earnings eased fears of a slowdown in cloud computing and boosted confidence that artificial intelligence will become a major growth driver. The Redmond, Washington-based tech giant is set to add about…

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Column-The world is not dumping its dollars: McGeever

By Jamie McGeever ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – For all the hullabaloo about the world weaning itself off the U.S. dollar, hard numbers show that both central banks and private sector institutions continue to increase their holdings of dollar-denominated bonds.     Despite several recent reports of reserve diversification, “geo-economic” realignment and China’s move to lift usage…

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Hungary’s call for Ukraine ceasefire “cynical”, U.S. envoy says

BUDAPEST (Reuters) – The Hungarian government’s call for a ceasefire in neighbouring Ukraine is “cynical” given large swathes of the country are occupied by invading Russian forces, the U.S. Ambassador to Budapest David Pressman said on Wednesday. The U.S. envoy did not mention Prime Minister Viktor Orban by name, but Hungary’s leader has repeatedly called…

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