Global stocks, bonds up on ECB stimulus hopes
PARIS (Reuters) – Stocks and safe-haven government bonds in Europe edged higher on Wednesday, with the prospect of more monetary stimulus from the European Central Bank offsetting a drop in German business sentiment.
Accenture forecast disappoints, shares slip
(Reuters) – Consulting and outsourcing company Accenture Plc forecast first-quarter revenue largely below analysts’ expectations as stiff competition from rivals hurt new contracts wins.
Futures move higher after third-day skid, housing data due
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures were trading modestly higher on Wednesday, putting the S&P 500 on track to snap a three-session losing skid, ahead of data on the housing market.
Exclusive: Amazon tests smart home gadgets, expands hardware lab
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc will boost staffing at its secretive Silicon Valley-based hardware unit by at least 27 percent over the next five years as it tests Internet-connected “smart” home gadgets such as a one-button device to order su…
BNP Paribas chairman Prot to leave bank, board meets Friday: sources
PARIS (Reuters) – Baudouin Prot, Chairman of BNP Paribas since 2011, is to leave the French bank and the board is due to meet on Friday to choose a successor, two sources close to the situation said on Wednesday.
In push for top spot, Volkswagen hits labor, robot problems
WOLFSBURG Germany (Reuters) – In an era of automation, robotics and spotless factory floors, you don’t expect to see car workers lugging metal along a production line.
India’s Modi asks Pepsi, Coke to blend fruit juices in fizzy drinks
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said multinational cola giants PepsiCo and Coca-Cola should help augment fruit sales for Indian farmers by adding fresh fruit juices to their fizzy drinks.
Exclusive: National Australia Bank considering sale of life insurance unit – sources
SYDNEY/HONG KONG (Reuters) – National Australia Bank (NAB) is considering the sale of its life insurance unit worth an estimated $800 million, seeking to boost earnings and returns on capital, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
South Korea to sign deal this month to buy 40 F-35 jets for $7 billion: sources
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea will sign a deal this month to buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets for about 7.34 trillion won ($7.06 billion) for delivery in 2018-2021, two people with knowledge of the transaction told Reuters on Wednesday.
Air France low-cost Europe plan withdrawn, minister says
PARIS (Reuters) – French Transport Minister Alain Vidalies said on Wednesday that Air France-KLM had withdrawn a project to expand its low-cost Transavia arm, apparently going further than the company’s management which has sought to insist the plan is…
