A number of high-profile investors are chasing to invest in Slice, a fintech startup that is attempting to expand the market for credit cards in India. Tiger Global is in advanced stages of talks to lead a round of over $100 million in the Bangalore-based startup, sources familiar with the matter told me. A number […]
Upmesh wants to build a community-driven discovery app for Southeast Asian live commerce
The founders of Upmesh were building a game on top of Twitch’s API when they realized something about another group of livestreamers. Even though selling through Facebook Live has been gaining popularity in Southeast Asia for years, many vendors are still going through their comments afterward and using pen-and-paper to collect orders. Upmesh was created […]
China will deepen LPR reforms, make deposit rates market-driven -central bank vice gov
October 8, 2021 BEIJING (Reuters) – China will deepen its loan prime rate (LPR) reforms and gradually make deposit rates market driven, vice central bank governor Liu Guoqiang said in remarks published on Friday. China will improve market-based interest rate formation and transmission mechanism and improve its interest rate corridor mechanism, Liu wrote in China […]
U.S., China must manage ‘intense competition’, top Biden adviser says
October 8, 2021 By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Thursday his talks with China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi in Switzerlandon Wednesday avoided the acrimony of a meeting in March and that more were needed to avert conflict between the two countries. The closed-door meeting at an airport hotel […]
Singapore eyes quarantine-free travel with U.S. before year-end
October 8, 2021 SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore is working on allowing quarantine-free entry to travelers from the United States who are vaccinated against COVID-19 before the end of the year, its minister for trade and industry said on Thursday. Singapore, a travel and tourism hub, began a similar programme for travellers from Germany and Brunei […]
Taiwan does not seek military confrontation, says president
October 8, 2021 TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan does not seek military confrontation, but will do whatever it takes to defend its freedom, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday, amid a rise in tensions with China that has sparked alarm around the world. Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, reported close to 150 Chinese air […]
Tennis-Murray reunited with wedding ring, stinky shoes
October 8, 2021 (Reuters) – Andy Murray was “back in the good books” with his wife on Thursday after his wedding ring and stinky shoes were returned to him on Thursday. Murray said on Twitter that his shoes reeked so badly in his car that he decided to leave them under the vehicle outside his […]
Japan PM Kishida orders cabinet to compile extra stimulus budget
October 8, 2021 TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed his cabinet on Friday to compile an economic package after the general elections to ease the pain from the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said. Suzuki told reporters after a cabinet meeting that he hoped to compile a “high-quality” extra budget immediately […]
China’s Sept services activity returns to growth – Caixin PMI
October 8, 2021 BEIJING (Reuters) – Activity in China’s services sector returned to growth in September as a major COVID-19 outbreak in the eastern province of Jiangsu receded, a private-sector survey showed on Friday, offering some support to a slowing economy. The Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 53.4 from 46.7 in August, […]
Asian shares rise as Chinese markets return from break
October 8, 2021 By Alun John HONG KONG (Reuters) – Asian shares rose on Friday as Chinese shares returned from a one week holiday upbeat, tracking a global rally, while investors also eyed key U.S. jobs data for any fresh insight into the timing of Federal Reserve tapering. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside […]
Insurer Cigna to sell some businesses to Chubb for nearly $5.8 billion
October 8, 2021 (Reuters) – Health insurer Cigna Corp said on Thursday it entered into an agreement with insurance firm Chubb Ltd to sell its life, accident, and supplemental benefits businesses in seven countries for $5.75 billion in cash. As part of the deal, Chubb will acquire the businesses in Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, […]
Oil climbs on switch from gas and doubts over U.S. releasing reserves
October 8, 2021 By Sonali Paul MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Oil prices rose on Friday, tracking towards a 4.2% gain for the week on signs some industries have begun switching fuel from high priced gas to oil and on doubts the U.S. government would release oil from its strategic reserves for now. U.S. West Texas Intermediate […]
Dollar soft, Aussie firm as sentiment recovers before U.S. jobs data
October 8, 2021 By Kevin Buckland TOKYO (Reuters) – The safe-haven dollar hovered below a one-year high to major peers on Friday amid improved risk sentiment, while traders awaited clues on the pace of Federal Reserve policy normalization from a closely watched monthly payrolls reports. The risk-sensitive Australian dollar held near the three-week high hit […]
Reports: Jets agree to extension for DL John Franklin-Myers
October 8, 2021 The New York Jets agreed to a four-year contract extension with defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, according to multiple reports Thursday. No terms were available though Franklin-Myers, a fourth-year pro, stands to improve from his $920,000 salary this season — the last year of his rookie contract. Franklin-Myers, fresh from his 25th birthday […]
Japan’s finance ministry to use foreign reserves for ESG investments
October 8, 2021 TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s finance ministry will start using foreign reserves to buy securities that meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, it said on Friday, joining a global tide of investors focusing on such issues. Japan’s $1.4 trillion in foreign reserves are predominantly held by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and […]
Japan ruling party manifesto calls for sharp rise in defence spending -Asahi
October 8, 2021 TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will call for a sharp rise in the country’s defence spending in its election manifesto to be unveiled ahead of the Oct. 31 national lower house election, the Asahi Shimbun daily said on Friday. New Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who leads the LDP, […]
Tennis-Clijsters battles but comes up short at Indian Wells
October 8, 2021 (Reuters) – Former world number one Kim Clijsters’ return to tennis suffered another setback on Thursday when she fell 6-1 2-6 6-2 to Katarina Siniakova in the first round of the Indian Wells tournament. The 38-year-old Belgian fell into a 3-0 hole in the first set and it appeared the match would […]
UK starting pay jumps by most on record as staff shortages bite – survey
October 8, 2021 LONDON (Reuters) – British employers increased pay for new staff by the most since at least the 1990s, according to a survey that will be studied by the Bank of England as it tries to assess how persistent the recent jump in inflation might be. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation said firms […]
Brazil’s Bolsonaro pushes fertilizer project as he warns of shortage
October 8, 2021 (Reuters) – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday his government planned to develop a project aimed at increasing the country’s production of fertilizer and making it less reliant on imports. Speaking during his weekly live broadcast on social media, Bolsonaro did not provide many details on the project but said it […]
BoK to hold fire but hike next month to mitigate high debt risk: Reuters poll
October 8, 2021 By Vivek Mishra BENGALURU (Reuters) – South Korea’s central bank will keep rates unchanged on Tuesday but will set the stage for a rate hike next month to follow the August rise, as high household debt and a red-hot housing market threaten financial stability, a Reuters poll found. Koreans have been borrowing […]
