This year will have a lasting impact on our world. The pandemic is taking a heavy human toll, the global economy is struggling, inequality is on the rise, and there are many uncertainties about the future.
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(Adds details about U.S. buyout, results)
Feb 25 (Reuters) - Afterpay is exploring an additional stock listing abroad amid increased U.S. investor interest, the Australian buy-now-pay-later firm said on Thursday after reporting a more than doubling in first-half sales.
The Australian fintech and its global competitors such as Sweden’s Klarna, Affirm and Zip Co have witnessed explosive growth since the pandemic locked down much of the world and turned more people toward online shopping.
Afterpay’s stock has climbed more than 1,500% since March, establishing itself as Australia’s 12th most valuable company.
Afterpay also said it was raising A$1.25 billion ($995 million) through convertible notes in a complex deal to buy out Matrix Partners’ share of its U.S. business - which accounts for 43% of its sales. The United States is also the industry’s key growth market where it tussles with fast-growing Klarna.
World stocks up $6.2 billion per hour since March Tesla, Bitcoin both in bear market territory No let-up in SPAC-driven IPO frenzy
LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The $6.2 billion-an-hour rise in the value of world stocks since March was dubbed the “mother of all asset bubbles” by BofA analysts last week - and all of a sudden there is a high-pitched hissing sound.
Electric car doyen Tesla, which raced up 750% in last year’s frenzy, skidded into the red for 2021 on Tuesday, hit by a selloff of tech stocks and a plunge in Bitcoin, in which the carmaker recently invested $1.5 billion.
Both are technically in bear markets, defined as down 20% from their latest peaks, although for ultra-volatile Bitcoin which has surged well over 1,000% since March, that was admittedly only a few days ago.
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BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil will extend pandemic emergency cash transfers to the poor and vulnerable, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said on Thursday, but added that the payments must come with compensating cost-cutting measures to avoid ruin to the public finances.
FILE PHOTO: Brazil s Economy Minister Paulo Guedes reacts before a ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil January 12, 2021. REUTERS/Adriano Machado
Addressing an online event hosted by the National Agriculture Society, Guedes said the aid must be included in an emergency ‘war budget’ like last year, meaning the government’s spending cap and ‘golden rule’ on borrowing would not be broken.
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to submit an offer to buy Atlantia's 88% stake in Autostrade per l'Italia unit, CDP said, after two sources told Reuters the bid would value 100% of Autostrade at 9 billion euros.