Wall Street set for flat open after weak retail sales data
U.S. stocks were set to open flat on Thursday, as a sharp drop in retail sales in December overshadowed optimism over a breakthrough in the U.S.-China trade talks.
Laptop ‘for him’, vacuum ‘for her’? HSBC draws ire with Valentine offer
A Valentine’s day special deal for HSBC staff in Hong Kong offering discounted laptops ‘for him’ but vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances ‘for her’ has angered staff over the sexist implications of the campaign.
Exclusive: Alibaba in talks on stake in China operations of Germany’s Metro – sources
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is in talks with Germany’s Metro about taking a stake in the German wholesaler’s China operations, three sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Deutsche CEO faces investor pressure on investment bank: sources
Deutsche Bank said it has done enough to get its investment bank back on track as Chief Executive Christian Sewing came under renewed pressure from top investors.
Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi executives reaffirmed importance of alliance: Mitsubishi chief
The chief executives of Japan’s Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors met with the newly appointed chairman of Renault in Tokyo on Thursday and reaffirmed the importance of their three-way alliance, Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuko said.
German govt adviser proposes broader view of EU antitrust rules
European Union antitrust rules could be reformed to introduce a two-stage review of mergers that would examine competition issues and then broader public interests, said the head of a German commission tasked with coming up with reforms proposals.
U.S. producer prices drop for second straight month
U.S. producer prices fell for a second straight month in January, leading to the smallest annual increase in 1-1/2 years, the latest sign of benign inflation that could allow the Federal Reserve to be patient about raising interest rates this year.
U.S. jobless claims rise; four-week average at one-year high
The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, pushing the four-week moving average of claims to its highest level in just over a year, suggesting some moderation in job growth.
U.S. retail sales post biggest drop in nine years in December
U.S. retail sales recorded their biggest drop in more than nine years in December as receipts fell across the board, suggesting a sharp slowdown in economic activity at the end of 2018.
Shares and oil at three-month highs but no love for euro
Optimism about U.S.-China trade talks and bumper earnings lifted European shares to a three-month high on Thursday, though news that Germany only dodged recession by the narrowest of margins left the euro feeling unloved.
