Finance news

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia · usa

Hong Kong police bomb squad dispatched to check suspicious object in Quarry Bay

Hong Kong police’s bomb squad has been called in to investigate a suspicious object discovered in Quarry Bay, with sections of Pan Hoi Street and King’s Road cordoned off in the process. The force was alerted at 4.52pm on Thursday to a suspicious object discovered on Pan Hoi Street in Quarry Bay. “The explosive ordnance disposal bureau has been summoned to investigate the object,” a spokesman said. A source said the object was not believed to be a bomb. Another source said the object was about..

22d06/25⚠ war-conflict · 2/5

Pharma: Merck strengthens life science division with US billion-dollar acquisition

The DAX group is taking over the US laboratory equipment manufacturer Bio-Techne for 9.9 billion - an acquisition that investors and analysts have been waiting for for years. The new CEO meanwhile sees further goals.

◇ unclassifiedgermany · europe · uk

Pension reform: Overwhelmingly positive vote from the states on pension proposals

The proposed pension package has been largely received favorably by the Prime Ministers. But there is criticism in the details.

Luxury goods: Luxury is weakening - especially in Europe

According to a study, global sales shrank in the first quarter - Europe is feeling the effects of the absence of an important group of buyers.

22d06/25⚠ war-conflict · 1/5

Seeking feedback on my FIRE drawdown strategy (The 3-Bucket Strategy)

\Disclaimer: I only used AI to translate this into English, since I'm not a native speaker** Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice and feedback on the drawdown strategy you are currently using (if you’re already FIRE) or plan to use once you reach your goal. Personally, I’ve been researching this topic for a while now (I’m roughly 7 to 10 years away from my target date), and I think I’ve found the approach that makes the most sense to me. I’ll map it out below and would love to get your insig

Social◇ unclassifiedeurope · usa

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia · usa

3-year-old found dead in car during France heatwave

A three-year-old has died after finding himself trapped in a car in the Paris region in extreme heat, a prosecutor said on Thursday, the third such fatality this week. The boy had slipped into the family car while his father thought he was napping, then found himself unable to get out with the child lock in the town of Saint-Gratien, the prosecutor said, after a police source and civil defence also reported the death. France on Wednesday recorded the hottest day since measurements began in 1947,

Annuity options are growing in 401(k)s, but adoption remains limited

Annuity options are gaining ground in 401(k)s, amid worker concerns about retirement income and longevity risks.

◇ unclassifiedusa

Neobank: N26 makes it out of the loss zone for the first time

The Berlin smartphone bank is profitable for the first time ten years after its market launch. It will significantly increase its interest and commission income in 2025. The surplus is still small.

Chevron says no quick fix for gas prices as Trump takes on Big Oil: ‘It’s going to take time’

Her comments come shortly after President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into Big Oil, accusing them of "gouging" consumers.

◇ unclassifiedusa

Middle East conflict: What falling oil prices now mean for refueling and heating

Oil prices have recently fallen sharply. Drivers and heating oil customers benefit from this - and possibly even more consumers.

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia · europe

Did the Iran war just prove that China’s ageing DF-15Bs are still big guns?

Lessons from the Iran war suggest that China’s ageing Dongfeng-15B short-range missiles may be more useful in penetrating modern missile defences than previously thought, according to military analysts. The suggestion surfaced this month in an article published by Ordnance Science and Technology which said that missiles with biconic manoeuvring re-entry vehicles (MRVs) could achieve a penetration effect close to that of hypersonic projectiles. The article, written under the byline Ma Lihua,...

TikTok and YouTube are reinventing sports viewership. Broadcasters are taking note

Leagues, teams and media networks are increasingly meeting younger fans on social media as platforms like TikTok, Roblox and YouTube capture most of their time.

◇ unclassifiedusa

Regulation: EU wants to monitor Amazon and Microsoft's cloud businesses more strictly

The EU is too dependent on US providers. That's why she wants to regulate the two big cloud companies more strictly. But another US competitor could benefit from this.

Business ticker: Cloud services from Amazon and Microsoft are threatened with stricter EU rules

Due to their size, they met the requirements to fall under the EU's digital law +++ Obrowski becomes the new railway chief financial officer +++ Merck buys US laboratory equipment supplier for ten billion +++ News in the company's live blog.

Bundestag: Merz hopes that the pension reform will be passed by the end of the year

Chancellor Merz has announced that he wants to fully implement the recommendations of the Pension Commission. “I think it would be important and good for the population to have clarity and security from the end of 2026,” he said.

◇ unclassifiedgermany · europe · usa

Industrial policy: Japan wants to support industry with two trillion euros

With Germany and the USA as role models, Japan wants to increase its international competitiveness with high investments. The 15-year plan is as ambitious as it is controversial.

22d06/25⚠ war-conflict · 2/5

HK Electric raises fuel charge by nearly 34% and further increases expected

HK Electric has announced a nearly 34 per cent rise in its fuel charge, after a double-digit increase last month, as the war in the Middle East contributed to a “significant rise” in global fuel prices. The utility, which mainly serves Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island, also warned on Thursday that the charge was expected to continue rising. HK Electric announced it would adjust its fuel charge for July to 41.9 HK cents (5.3 US cents) per unit of electricity, up from 31.3 HK cents in June, an...

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia · middle-east

Heat Dome: What you need to know about the heat wave in Germany

Temperatures continue to rise in large parts of Germany. Why this is, when it will get cooler again and what you should take into account until then.

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia · russia

Kuaishou chip spin-off taps new funding for in-house designs amid US export controls

Chinese internet giants are increasingly moving beyond software and into semiconductor design, betting that proprietary chips will give them greater control over computing infrastructure as artificial intelligence workloads surge and geopolitical tensions hamper access to advanced foreign technology. Short video giant Kuaishou is the latest to ride the wave, after its chip spin-off TranStreams raised an undisclosed amount in a Series A+ financing round this week led by QF Capital, according to..

◇ unclassifiedmiddle-east · russia · usa

$70 Oil Could Put India Back on Track for 7% Economic Growth

India’s economy could return to the trajectory to grow by 7% and even more in the fiscal year through March 2027 if oil prices remain close to the current $70 per barrel, according to a senior official at India’s central bank. Oil prices at about $70 a barrel eased tensions in the Middle East, and a pick-up in tanker traffic at the Strait of Hormuz would reduce upward pressure on India’s inflation and improve the outlook for its economy, Nagesh Kumar, an external member of the Reserve Bank of In

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia

‘Looming dangers’ under China-US ties: AI and rare earths reveal a fragile floor

Deep-seated structural rivalry and lingering regulatory barriers are likely to limit any thaw in China-US ties, even though last month’s summit put a temporary floor under the fragile relationship, an expert from China’s top state-affiliated think tank has warned. Speaking at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Dalian on Thursday, Zhao Hai, of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), struck a cautious note on the trajectory of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationship,

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia · uk

Hygiene brand Dettol faces PR crisis in China after ad aimed at critiquing misogyny backfires

British hygiene brand Dettol faced significant backlash in China for an advertisement perceived as objectifying women, prompting an apology and the removal of the commercial. Legal experts indicate it may have violated local laws and could face potential penalties. Dettol issued an apology on June 22 regarding its latest advert for laundry sanitiser. The four-minute commercial, presented as a micro-drama, was released in late May but gained notoriety on Chinese social media after segments were..

Bio-Techne: Merck acquires life science company for $11.3 billion

The Darmstadt-based Merck Group is making another billion-dollar purchase, thereby strengthening its life science business.

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Wang Fuk Court fire result of ‘systemic failure’ in policy, experts tell hearing

Hong Kong’s deadliest inferno in decades was a result of a “systemic failure” in public policy, two fire engineering experts have said, citing the lack of strategies to fight flames on the facades of high-rise buildings and the prolonged use of combustible materials in “temporary” works. An independent committee inquiry heard on Thursday that last year’s Wang Fuk Court fire was unprecedented in magnitude, with flames moving upwards along the buildings’ facades at more than 10 metres (32.8 feet).

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia · uk

Food: High fertilizer costs: Agriculture Minister wants to examine further aid

Business prospects for farmers are depressed - also because energy and fertilizer are so expensive. Is the federal government increasing money from the EU?

Investment: break in your portfolio while on vacation? Here's how you can prepare

How much cash is necessary, do purchase limits make sense, how do I deal with AI and SpaceX stocks and when do I not need to do anything before the internet break? Answers to seven questions.

Analysis: Report assesses the chances for the AfD ban application as good

A group of experts analyzed the AfD's basic program, its election programs and parliamentary proposals. Statements from officials were also evaluated for the report.

◇ unclassifiedchina · asia · europe

1 in 5 coffees sold in Europe contains pesticides: report

There is a one in five chance that a packet of coffee beans sold in Europe contains residues of pesticides thought to have been erased during roasting, and in some cases include banned sprays that cause cancer, according to new research. There is a “systemic pattern” of pesticides showing up again and again in beans from most major production regions, says Coffee Watch, a US-based non-profit organisation seeking to reform the global coffee industry. Coffee Watch partnered with Pesticide Action..