Reuters UK Business Archives - Page 1873 of 3179

Umicore profit slumps on weak EV demand, takes 1.6 billion euro writedown

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

By Mathias de Rozario and Olivier Sorgho (Reuters) -Metals recycling group Umicore reported on Friday a 24% fall in half-year core profit and booked a 1.6 billion euro impairment for its battery materials division in the face of weak demand for electric vehicles. The maker of catalytic converters and battery materials for carmakers has decided …

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Paris Olympics broadcasters diverge on AI approach

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

By Sheila Dang (Reuters) – The Paris Olympics will be a showcase of generative AI for American viewers but European audiences won’t see a similar approach, a contrast that reflects how global media companies are deliberating over the use of the technology. Comcast’s NBCUniversal is diving into AI for its U.S. broadcast of the Games, …

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Seven banks share data with UK law enforcement in ‘dirty money’ crackdown

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

By Kirstin Ridley and Sinead Cruise LONDON (Reuters) – Barclays, NatWest and Lloyds are among seven banks to share customer data with the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the largest project of its kind worldwide to tackle criminal gangs, money laundering and “dirty money” flowing through the country. Reuters revealed one year ago that more …

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Germany’s Merck raises 2024 forecast on healthcare, electronics units’ performance

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

(Reuters) -Germany’s Merck on Friday raised its forecast for the group, mainly driven by a strong operating performance at its healthcare and electronics units. The maker of pharmaceuticals, lab gear and specialty chemicals now expects net sales to be between 20.7 billion euros ($22.49 billion) and 22.1 billion euros for 2024. The healthcare unit’s performance …

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ECB’s Schnabel still sees tough ‘last mile’ in inflation fight

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The European Central Bank still faces a tough “last mile” in its fight against high inflation, as evidenced by stubbornly high growth in the prices of services, ECB board member Isabel Schnabel said in an interview published on Friday. Schnabel, the most influential among the hawkish policymakers who drove the ECB’s steepest ever …

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Analysis-BNP Paribas aims at ‘usual suspect’ status in hard-to-crack UK market

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

By Mathieu Rosemain LONDON (Reuters) – When acquisitive Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky set his eyes earlier this year on one of Britain’s most iconic companies, the Royal Mail, he chose BNP Paribas along with two Wall Street giants to advise him. The 3.57 billion pound ($4.63 billion) takeover of Royal Mail’s owner still needs UK …

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Amazon under second investigation in Milan for tax evasion, sources say

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

MILAN (Reuters) – An Italian unit of Amazon is being investigated by Milan prosecutors for suspected tax evasion, two sources said on Friday, but the inquiry was not linked to a multi-million euro seizure from another of the group’s Italian units this week. Italy’s tax police on Tuesday seized some 121 million euros ($131 million) …

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European shares end higher as earnings barrage impresses

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

By Shashwat Chauhan and Pranav Kashyap (Reuters) -European shares closed higher on Friday, boosted by an earnings-driven advance across several sectors including luxury, while global markets remained stable after data showed an improving U.S. inflation picture. The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed 0.8% higher after hitting a more than two-month low in the previous session, …

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UK watchdog finds little evidence supermarket loyalty prices mislead shoppers

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

By James Davey LONDON (Reuters) – The British competition regulator’s ongoing review of supermarket loyalty prices is unlikely to identify widespread evidence of promotions that mislead shoppers, the watchdog said on Friday. Loyalty schemes have proved hugely successful for the UK’s biggest supermarkets, offering significantly lower prices for members. The vast majority of customers now …

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Holcim cuts full-year sales outlook after U.S. downturn

26 Jul 2024 26 Jul 2024

By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) -Holcim cut its guidance for full-year sales growth on Friday after a downturn in Europe and North America hit second-quarter sales at the cement and building materials maker. In the first results under new CEO Miljan Gutovic, Holcim reduced its outlook for sales growth to the low single-digit percentage range …

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