Page 206 - Rep News Today

South Africa's rand firmed in early trade on Thursday, ahead of a central bank interest rate decision later in the day.

Europe’s plan to support carbon-neutral fuels is good news for the $50 bln luxury carmaker, CEO Benedetto Vigna says on the Exchange podcast. It will allow the group to flog the roaring engines that made its fortune. Electric cars remain a goal, but self-driving Ferraris are not.

Sweden’s H&M seems to be turning the page on a painful few years. On Thursday, the $20 billion fast-fashion retailer said its sales rose by 3% year-on-year in the three months that ended in Feb. 28. Chief Executive Helena Helmersson expects the pace of annual growth to increase to 4% by the end of March. More importantly, she is now targeting a 10% operating margin in 2024.

The Kenyan shilling traded flat against the dollar on Thursday, as the long-dormant interbank market picked up steam, helping to meet foreign exchange demand, traders said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t considered a public health emergency anymore, the future of telehealth gets staticky.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose moderately last week, showing no signs yet that tightening credit conditions were having a material impact on the tight labor market.

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Thursday that he and other Republican lawmakers could act on their own to address the $31.4 trillion U.S. government debt ceiling, if Democratic President Joe Biden keeps rejecting negotiations on spending.

ACA Antagonist Judge Reed O’Connor struck down a provision of Obamacare that forced insurance companies to offer free preventative services including HIV tests.

Massachusetts regulators have opened an investigation into sales of company stock by top executives at First Republic Bank in the weeks leading up to the recent banking turmoil.

A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever.