Starbucks sets five-year growth targets, to open 12,000 more stores
(Reuters) – Starbucks Corp unveiled a five-year growth plan, under which it would open more stores around the world, including several high-end coffee shops, while targeting annual revenue growth of 10 percent.
U.S. mortgage rates rise to highest levels in over two years: MBA
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Interest rates on U.S. fixed-rate mortgages rose to their highest levels in more than two years, sending weekly home loan application activity to its weakest since early January, Mortgage Bankers Association data released on Wedne…
Monte dei Paschi bolsters European stocks, ECB looms
LONDON (Reuters) – European shares followed Asian stocks higher on Wednesday, buoyed by reports that Italy would step in to rescue troubled bank Monte dei Paschi and by expectations the European Central Bank would extend its bond-buying stimulus scheme…
Exclusive: In mammoth task, BP sends almost three million barrels of U.S. oil to Asia
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Oil major BP is shipping almost three million barrels of U.S. crude to customers across Asia, pioneering a lengthy and complex operation likely to become more popular after OPEC last week announced deep production cuts.
Britain’s spending watchdog may review RBS privatization process
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s spending watchdog may open an investigation into the government’s decision to start selling shares in Royal Bank of Scotland last year causing a 1.1 billion pound ($1.39 billion) loss for taxpayers, sparking accusations of …
Sony to release six smartphone games to accelerate mobile drive
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Sony Corp will release as many as six smartphone games in the next financial year, hoping that its own gaming franchises can replicate the success of console rival Nintendo Co’s Pokemon GO.
J&J questions fairness of hip implant trial, $1 billion verdict
(Reuters) – Johnson & Johnson will challenge the fairness of a trial that produced a verdict of $1 billion in damages against the company last week over allegations of design flaws in its Pinnacle hip implant.
EU fines Agricole, JP Morgan and HSBC $520 million over Euribor
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission has fined Credit Agricole , HSBC and JPMorgan Chase a total of 485 million euros ($520 million) for their alleged participation in a cartel to manipulate the price of the Euribor financial benchmark.
Staples to sell controlling stake in European unit to Cerberus
(Reuters) – Office supplies retailer Staples Inc said on Wednesday it would sell its controlling stake in its European business to an affiliate of private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP to focus on its North American operations.
Exclusive: Italy preparing to take controlling stake in Monte dei Paschi – sources
ROME (Reuters) – Italy is preparing to take a 2 billion euros controlling stake in Monte dei Paschi di Siena as the bank’s hopes of a private funding rescue fade following Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s decision to quit, two sources close to the matter…
