Emerging market stocks hit a record high on Wednesday as hopes of a bumper U.S. stimulus package and easy monetary policy supported equities, while South Africa's rand hit a more than one-month high.
Russia's central bank is finding it hard to identify and take action against illegal foreign exchange dealers, who often don't use publicly accessible websites and accept payment in cryptocurrency.
European indexes climb early on, U.S. futures gain Oil crosses $60 a barrel Hopes of $1.9 trln U.S. stimulus, vaccines boosting sentiment U.S. dollar retreats from recent highs Graphic: World FX rates in 2021 tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - World shares hit a record high on Monday and oil surpassed $60 a barrel for the first time in a year, on hopes that a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid package will be passed by U.S. lawmakers as soon as this month.
Even news that South Africa had halted the rollout of AstraZeneca’s vaccine after a study showed it gave only limited protection against the country’s more contagious variant of the virus wasn’t going to put equity markets off.
Net interest income down 14%, fees hold up In talks with EU and ECB over capital increase plans (Adds detail, CEO comment)
MILAN, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena’s plans to strengthen its capital buffers remain in limbo, it said on Wednesday after reporting annual losses that soared to 1.69 billion euros ($2 billion) in 2020. The government had been working on re-privatising the bailed-out Tuscan lender, but progress has been stymied by the collapse of Italy’s ruling coalition and a change in leadership at possible buyer UniCredit, the country’s second-biggest bank by assets.
Last month Monte dei Paschi (MPS) said it would strive to clinch a merger with a stronger peer before considering a 2.5 billion euro cash call to rebuild capital reserves with support from the state.
South Africa's rand steadied against the dollar early on Wednesday, holding near a five-week high hit in the previous session as rising hopes of a $1.9 trillion stimulus programme in the United States elevated risk demand.