Asian hospital operator makes strong trading debut

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Asia's largest hospital operator IHH Healthcare surged more than 10 percent in its trading debut Wednesday on Malaysia and Singapore's stock exchanges, defying a downturn in global markets after raising nearly $2 billion in the world's third-biggest IPO this year.

Credit Suisse scales back Mideast private banking research: Sources

DUBAI: Credit Suisse has moved the head of its Middle East private banking equity research division to Geneva, two sources told Reuters on Sunday, the latest European bank to scale back research roles in the region.

Barclays dragged into new probe after Libor blow

LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays Plc revealed a new regulatory probe and more U.S. lawsuits on Friday, making it harder for the British lender to rebuild its reputation damaged by the central role it played in the interest rate-rigging scandal shaking banks.

China’s CIC Has Worst Overseas Performance in 2011 Amid Slowdown

China’s sovereign wealth fund posted a 4.3 percent loss on its overseas investments last year as declines in global commodity prices roiled the value of its resources-heavy portfoli.

UPS sees global economy getting worse

NEW YORK (AP) — UPS expects the global economy to get worse before it gets better. Again. The world's largest package delivery company is more pessimistic about U.S. growth than many economists.

Wall Street flat as Europe, outlooks weigh

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street was flat on Tuesday as traders remained focused on high bond yields in Spain and as cautious outlooks from major companies including United Parcel Service weighed on sentiment.

Italy court unfreezes Libya's Eni stake

ROME (Reuters) - An Italian court has unfrozen shares in Italian oil and gas group Eni held by the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) on behalf of the family of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, judicial sources said on Monday.

From Russia with risk: Oligarch's crash provides lessons for Barclays' future

London (CNN) -- The winter sun was low in the sky on Nice's Promenade des Anglais when the $650,000 Ferrari Enzo driven by Suleiman Kerimov skidded into a tree and burst into flames.

Morgan Stanley may sell commodity stake to Qatar - CNBC

REUTERS - Morgan Stanley (NYS:MS - News) is in advanced talks over selling a stake in its multibillion-dollar commodities trading division to Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, CNBC reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

IMF: UK should slow budget cuts if growth does not recover

The government should slow the pace of budget cuts next year if growth in the UK does not recover, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

WSJ UPDATE: Credit Suisse Moves to Address Capital Concerns

Credit Suisse Group AG (CS, CSGN.VX) said Wednesday it is shoring up its capital base through the sale of convertible bonds, more divestments and the launch of another cost-savings program, in a move that ends its feud with Switzerland's central bank but raises new questions about the credibility of its management team.

China aims to rewrite perceptions on Africa investment

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing is eager to rewrite negative perceptions of its growing ties with Africa at a summit this week, citing expanding private investment and a push to shift low-end manufacturing to the continent long seen as a commodities and energy cache for China.

Singapore wealth fund Temasek sets 30-yr coupon record

July 16 (IFR) - Temasek Financial on Monday set a fresh record low coupon of 3.375% for a US dollar-denominated 30-year bond, coming inside the 3.60% achieved by agribusiness Monsanto Co just a week ago.

Retail Purchases in U.S. Unexpectedly Decrease 0.5%

Retail sales in the U.S. unexpectedly fell for a third month in June as limited employment gains took a toll on consumers.The 0.5 percent drop followed a 0.2 percent decrease in May, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington.

Italy faces bond sale test after Moody's downgrade

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's auction of up to 5.25 billion euros in bonds on Friday looks altogether more testing after Moody's cut its rating on the euro zone's third-largest economy to just two notches above junk status.

Peru to Seek Investments From Singapore State Investment Firms

Peru will seek investments from Singapore’s sovereign wealth firms after they indicated interest in the Latin American country’s projects, Finance Minister Miguel Castilla said.

Russia Wealth Fund May Aim at 2 to 1 Bonds/Shares Ratio -Deputy Fin Min

MOSCOW--Russia may aim at having a stocks to bonds ratio at 1 to 2 in its sovereign wealth funds, using Norway's pension fund's structure as an example, Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak said Tuesday.

Banking Union: Perhaps Too Little, Too Late

PARIS — Signs are growing that Europe’s economic and monetary union may be fragmenting faster than policy makers can repair it.

Cyprus Leader Discusses Aid From Outside the European Union

NICOSIA, Cyprus — The finance minister of Cyprus, Vassos Shiarly, strongly criticized European and international lenders on Friday, accusing them of damaging his nation’s banking sector during the bailout of Greece.

Condition for ESM bond-buying will be reforms: EU's Rehn

ROME (Reuters) - Countries who want the euro-zone's permanent bailout funds to buy their bonds to help lower borrowing costs will have to commit to a reform program, EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said in an Italian daily on Saturday.

Employers Get More From U.S. Workers as Jobs Gain Lags Forecast

Companies in the U.S. are relying on existing workers and temporary employees instead of hiring, helping to explain why payrolls grew less than forecast in June.

Bank of England warns UK banks need more capital

Britain's banks do not have enough capital to withstand an escalation in the eurozone crisis, the Bank of England has warned.

Bahrain fund chief: economic reform on track

MANAMA (Reuters) - Bahrain's ambitious economic reform program is still on track, the head of the country's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat said this week, despite a year of turmoil in the Gulf Arab state as the monarchy tackles a pro-democracy protest movement.

Singapore's Temasek seeks investment in Europe, commodities

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings , whose portfolio swelled to a record in the last fiscal year, is looking to acquire assets in Europe and plough more money into energy and commodities after doubling its exposure to the sector.

Malaysia's IPO boom is a one-off: analysts

Malaysia is tipped to be Asia's top IPO market for 2012 thanks to two of the world's biggest company listings this year, but analysts say the momentum is likely to fizzle out.

Giant Japan pension fund to dip toe in emerging markets

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund, the world's biggest public pension fund, said on Monday it had selected six asset managers to make its first investments in emerging markets as it tries to boost returns in the face of rising payout obligations.

In India, undercurrents of optimism about reform

After a storm-tossed six months for the economy, India's authorities are trying to get things back on an even keel.

Merkel seen as big loser in euro zone showdown

BERLIN/PARIS: Angela Merkel was portrayed across Europe as the big loser of a euro zone showdown in Brussels after the German chancellor was forced to accept the crisis-fighting measures championed by countries struggling with their debts.

Qatar iron man faces off with Glencore

DUBAI (Reuters) - Ahmad al-Sayed, the Qatari investment manager holding the fate of Glencore's $26 billion takeover of Xstrata in his hands, is known as an aggressive negotiator who relishes the big deal.