* Third and final offer rejected by bank* Challenger banks ripe for consolidation (Adds details, share movement, background)By Noor Zainab HussainJune 6 (Reuters) - British challenger bank Shawbrook Group Plc said it rejected a raised and final 868 million pounds ($1.12 billion)offer from private equity groups trying to take control of the lender."Independent directors believe that the final offer...Read More
June 6 (Reuters) - Foreign investors stepped up their investments in Asian equities in May, with inflows into seven markets including Taiwan, South Korea and India rising over 25 percent from a month earlier.Among the seven countries, South Korea received the highest amount of foreign investment, of about $1.7 billion, taking the tally for the year to nearly $8 billion, while Taiwan got inflows of...Read More
DUBAI, June 6 (Reuters) - The Qatari riyal fell against the U.S. dollar in the spot and forwards markets early on Tuesday because of concern about the long-term economic impact on Qatar after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates severed ties with it.The dollar was bid at 3.6470 riyal in the spot market, its lowest level since June 2016, according to Thomson Reuters data. The currency is pegge...Read More
SHANGHAI, June 6 (Reuters) - China stocks ended higher on Tuesday, with consumer and financial shares lending support as investors pondered the impact of new regulations on initial public offerings and ahead of a flurry of economic data.The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.7 percent, to 3,492.88 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.3 percent to 3,102.13 points. China's economy is likel...Read More
* UAE's Jebel Ali port closed to Qatar shipments* Norsk Hydro looking at alternative options* Shares in Norsk Hydro down 2 pct (Adds background, analyst, share)By Joachim Dagenborg and Terje SolsvikOSLO, June 6 (Reuters) - Qatar's isolation by top Arab nations has already hit aluminium exports from a plant part-owned by Norway's Norsk Hydro which warned on Tuesday it would take time to restart the...Read More
By Rafael Nam and Suvashree ChoudhuryMUMBAI, June 6 (Reuters) - India's central bank will likely strike a less hawkish tone while leaving interest rates unchanged at a policy meeting on Wednesday, according to analysts, as inflation is running well below forecasts, and the economy has slowed more than expected.A Reuters poll showed 56 of 60 analysts expected the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) monet...Read More
(Updates to close)June 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell on Tuesday with financial and material stocks leading the decline, while the central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, as widely expected, at its June policy review.The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 1.52 percent, or 87.367 points, lower at 5,667.5, its lowest close since Feb. 9.Shares in the 'Big 4' banks fell between 1.4 percen...Read More
* RBA holds rates at 1.5 pct on optimism for outlook* Q1 economic growth seen around 0.2 pct q/q, 1.6 pct y/y* Current account deficit of A$3.1 bln misses forecasts* Net exports trim 0.7 ppt from Q1 GDP as bad weather hits volumes By Wayne Cole and Swati PandeySYDNEY, June 6 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank held interest rates for a 10th month on Tuesday, taking an optimistic tone on the econ...Read More
* Investors cautious ahead of coming major events* Peso falls on benign May inflation data* Baht gains after relaxation of FX measures (Adds text, updates prices)By PatturajaMurugaboopathy June 6 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies edged up against the dollar on Tuesday, though the same global developments that hurt the greenback also reduced risk appetites for cautious investors. Against the yen ,...Read More
TOKYO, June 6 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average slumped on Tuesday, surrendering the 20,000 level after losses on Wall Street and a stronger yen sapped sentiment.The Nikkei ended down 1 percent at 19,979.90, moving away from Friday's high of 20,239.81, which was its loftiest since August 2015. U.S. stocks edged down on Monday, and a stronger currency also weighed on Japanese shares. The dol...Read More
June 6 (Reuters) - British challenger bank Shawbrook Group Plc said it rejected a raised and final 868 million pounds ($1.12 billion)offer from private equity groups trying to take control of the lender."Independent directors believe that the final offer undervalues Shawbrook and its prospects and therefore advise that shareholders take no action with regards to the final offer," Shawbrook said in...Read More
* Shares fall as much as 6.3 pct* Market needs time to understand such instruments - traders* At least $1.3 bln of listings expected from InvITs (Adds quotes, background)By Swati BhatMUMBAI, June 6 (Reuters) - India Grid Trust's shares fell as much as 6.3 percent on their debut on Tuesday, clouding the listing prospect for other infrastructure investment funds after raising 22.5 billionrupees ($34...Read More
ZURICH, June 6 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI was seen opening 0.9 percent lower at 8,963 points on Tuesday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer .Here are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks:ROCHE A clinical trial combining Roche's newer targeted drug for breast cancer with an older treatment resulted in a modest benefit for women with a specific type o...Read More
* Dollar/yen slips below 110.00, dollar index hits 7-mth low* Caution begins to mount ahead of UK elections, Comey testimony* RBA stands pat on rates as expected, Aussie pares losses (Updates with reaction to RBA's policy decision)By Shinichi SaoshiroTOKYO, June 6 (Reuters) - The dollar hit a six-week low against the safe-haven yen on Tuesday, with investors cautious ahead of Britain's election, a...Read More
DUBAI, June 6 (Reuters) - Qatar's stock market may remain weak on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates severed ties with Doha, but the drop should slow from Monday's 7.3 percent plunge, fund managers said.Monday's panic selling may ease if investors start speculating about the possibility of some kind of negotiated solution, while some traders think Qatari state-linked fu...Read More
TOKYO, June 6 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices inched down on Tuesday with the market weighed down by an overnight slip in U.S. Treasuries, although firm demand for new 30-year debt helped contain the losses.The benchmark 10-year JGB yield was half a basis point higher at 0.050 percent. The 20-year yield was unchanged at 0.560 percent.The bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of demand, at Tuesda...Read More
By Chris ThomasJune 6 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets, except Vietnam, were sluggish on Tuesday, taking a cue from Asian peers that fell as global risk appetite dampened amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and ahead of key events later this week.Asian shares pulled back from a two-year high hit on Monday, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan falling 0.2...Read More
* SSEC -0.2 pct, CSI300 +0.1 pct, HSI +0.4 pct* China May data expected to show stable economic growth* Evergrande shares hit record high after bond redemption plan SHANGHAI, June 6 (Reuters) - China stocks were flat in subdued trade on Tuesday morning, as investors pondered the impact of new regulations on initial public offerings and awaited a flurry of Chinese economic data. The CSI300 index r...Read More
MANILA, June 6 (Reuters) - The Philippine government expressed concern over several Arab powers breaking off diplomatic ties with Qatar, saying this may have "ripple effects" on Filipinos working overseas."Concerned government agencies are looking at the matter and will extend assistance and other support for OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) who may be affected by such action." Ernesto Abella, pre...Read More
SYDNEY, June 6 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank left its cash rate at 1.5 percent on Tuesday, a widely expected decision given policy makers have signalled a steady outlook for much of the year ahead.The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) made the announcement following its monthly policy meeting. A Reuters poll of 68 analysts had found all but one expected a steady outcome this week. (Reporting...Read More