Exclusive: RBS confirms it’s considering sale of Coutts’ international arm
ZURICH/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Royal Bank of Scotland confirmed it was considering selling the international arm of its private bank, a deal one source said could net it as much as $1 billion, as the British government leans on it to focus more on domest…
Postal Service loses $2 billion in second quarter
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Postal Service continued to bleed money during its second quarter, despite an increase in package revenues and an emergency price hike that took effect in January.
U.S. watchdog calls bitcoin ‘Wild West’ of finance
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Virtual currencies such as bitcoin are the “Wild West” of financial products because of risks including huge swings in exchange rates, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said on Monday.
Exclusive: GlaxoSmithKline faces fresh drug bribery claims in Syria
LONDON (Reuters) – GlaxoSmithKline faces new allegations that it bribed Syrian doctors and officials to boost sales of its medicines, following recent accusations of corruption in its non-prescription business in the country.
After offshore oil failure, Cuba shifts energy focus
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba has shifted its focus away from offshore oil, concentrating on renewable energy and improving output from onshore wells due to a lack of interest by foreign companies for further deepwater exploration, sources close to the indus…
What’s left on the menu? Russian restaurateurs wrangle with food ban
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Moscow’s sweeping sanctions on European food have sent Russian restaurateurs, retail chains and food producers scrambling for alternative supplies and bracing for Soviet-style shortages.
Amazon stops some Disney movie preorders: WSJ
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc has halted pre-orders of some Disney movies, the Wall Street Journal reported, in what appears to be another contract dispute after the online retailer began a protracted spat with publisher Hachette Book Group this …
For largest U.S. companies, jobs growth has lagged profits, revenues
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Employment growth at the largest U.S. companies has lagged far behind increases in revenue and operating profit since the start of the century, as firms reaped the benefits of globalization, technology, and other ways to operate …
ValueAct takes $1 billion stake in 21st Century Fox: CNBC
(Reuters) – Hedge fund ValueAct Capital LLC has taken a $1 billion stake in Rupert Murdoch-controlled film and TV company Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, CNBC reported.
Stocks rise after Russia steps back; gains fragile
LONDON (Reuters) – Global stocks bounced after recent sell-offs and core government debt prices fell on Monday as markets saw a lowered risk of direct conflict between Russia and Ukraine while Middle East tensions appeared less acute.