Barrick Said to Mull Options Including Stake Sale

Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX) has explored cash-raising options ranging from a strategic equity investment to a sale of part of its copper business during a months-long effort to cut debt, said people with knowledge of the matter.

South Korea September output hit by auto strikes; recovery seen intact

SEOUL: South Korea's industrial production unexpectedly fell the most in six months in September as strikes hit major car makers, but sidestepping that blip, analysts see a quick return to upbeat indicators when Friday's export data is published.

Kuwait wealth fund hires ex-BofA banker as infrastructure head - sources

DUBAI, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), the Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund, has appointed a head for its newly-created infrastructure arm, seeking to bolster its investments in the sector, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Blackstone’s Tony James Sells 3.25 Million Shares, Filing Shows

Blackstone Group LP (BX) President Tony James this week sold about $88.6 million in company stock, at least his third sale of the year, as shares trade near a six-year high.

Germany may see higher tax revenues, could play role in talks

BERLIN: Germany's tax revenues are likely to rise more than expected in 2013 and beyond, newspapers reported on Saturday, potentially giving the new government financial leeway and playing a role in coalition talks focused on the economy and energy.

Legg Mason, in turnaround bid, says profit up despite outflows

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Asset manager Legg Mason Inc on Friday said its quarterly profit rose 7 percent compared with a year ago as assets and performance fees rose, but reported an outflow of investor cash from its equity funds.

Gulf funds may take stake in EDF's UK nuclear project - paper

PARIS (Reuters) - Gulf state funds could take a stake of up to 15 percent in French utility EDF's (PAR:EDF) 16 billion pound project to build two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in the UK, French financial daily Les Echos reported.

Oman Shuns Hedge Funds as Sovereign Investor Targets Equities

Oman, the largest oil producer in the Arabian Peninsula that’s not a member of OPEC, said it’s shunning hedge funds and alternative assets to invest directly in emerging market equities and real estate in stable countries.

Public borrowing figures show George Osborne on track to meet target

Chancellor George Osborne is on track to meet his budget goal for this year, economists said on Tuesday after the latest public finance figures suggested a quickening economic recovery was boosting government coffers.

Investors jump back into money funds after US debt deal: JPMorgan

NEW YORK: Investors poured cash back into U.S. money market funds the day after Washington reached an agreement to raise the federal debt ceiling temporarily and avert a default, J.P. Morgan Securities analysts said on Monday.

Hedge Funds Seek to Trade in Comfort as Bankruptcy Insiders

Hedge funds that invest in bankrupt companies are demanding protection from insider-trading lawsuits before agreeing to take part in restructuring talks -- a reaction by the industry’s top performers to an obscure court decision involving the 2008 collapse of Washington Mutual Inc.

New York investors agree to buy large Florida farming company

MIAMI: A majority interest in one of the largest private landowners in Florida, agribusiness company Alico Inc, is being sold for $138 million to a group of New York private investors.

Bank of Japan to extend loan facilities to make banks create more credit: Sources

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan is preparing a plan to extend three special loan facilities that have backed more than $81 billion in lending over the past three years, a step intended to nudge Japan's risk-averse banks to start creating credit, according to people familiar with the matter.

EU backs new joint banking supervision

LUXEMBOURG: European Union officials on Monday approved the creation of a centralized banking supervisor, even though they still squabbled over the next steps in the bloc's quest to stabilize its financial system.

Norway Fund Joins Axa to Target Large Europe Property Loans

The manager of Norway’s sovereign-wealth fund, the world’s largest, formed a venture with Axa Real Estate Investment Managers to provide European commercial real estate debt as borrowers seek to refinance maturing loans.

China to invest millions in Manchester airport development

Chinese investors will pump millions of pounds into the £800m development of Manchester's Airport City which is hoped will strengthen business links between Britain and the world's second largest economy.

Obama warns of 'economic shutdown' as debt deadline approaches

WASHINGTON: Faced with the looming prospect of a debt default, President Barack Obama today appealed to Congress to pass the budget while pushing Republicans to agree to hike the borrowing limit to prevent an "economic shutdown".

Royal Mail soars on stock market debut

LONDON (AP) — Shares in newly-privatized Royal Mail soared on their stock market debut Friday, bolstering criticism that the company — which traces its five-century history back to King Henry VIII — was undervalued by the British government.

China aims to triple minimum capital level for new foreign banks: Paper

SHANGHAI: China's banking regulator plans to more than triple the minimum registered capital requirement for new wholly-owned foreign banks and joint-venture banks, a state-owned newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Biggest Pension Fund at Risk Holding 60% in Japanese Debt

Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, the world’s largest manager of retirement savings, isn’t ready for Abenomics, according to the head of an expert panel advising on public investments.

Norway finds diversification easier said than done

Spare a thought for the incoming Conservative-led coalition government in Norway. The likely next Norwegian prime minister, Erna Solberg, has a problem every other leader would like to face: how to supervise a massive sovereign fund that already has assets of more than 150% of the country’s gross domestic product, and is destined to get even bigger in coming years.

Sovereign Funds Boosting Alternative Investments, Invesco Says

Sovereign wealth funds, which control about $6 trillion of wealth globally, are boosting investments in alternative assets like real estate and private equity to increase returns, a survey by Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) found.

Japan’s GPIF May Opt for Growth Stocks in Bid for Returns

Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund plans to boost investment in growth stocks to increase returns and may eventually allocate several trillion yen to such equities, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Oct. 5.

Malaysia Sovereign Wealth Fund Buys 4.95% Stake in Beijing Water

The Malaysia state investment fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd acquired almost 5 percent of Beijing Enterprises Water Group Ltd. (371) for $152 million to expand in China, making it the company’s third-largest shareholder.

Government Shutdown Impact on Hedge Funds

The impact of the October 1 shutdown of the federal government on hedge funds is now playing out in slow motion.

Investors bet on a U.S. default

Want to bet against the "full faith and credit" of the United States government?

Bank of England warns borrowers and lenders not to overstretch themselves

The Bank of England has warned it is keeping a close eye on developments in the housing market and said borrowers and lenders should be careful not to overstretch themselves.

Gross Says U.S. Will Avoid ‘Catastrophic’ Default on Debt

Pacific Investment Management Co.’s Bill Gross said the U.S. will avoid a “catastrophic” default on Treasury securities if lawmakers fail to extend the debt limit on the nation’s debt.

ECB ready to add liquidity if necessary: Makuch

BRATISLAVA: The European Central Bank stands ready to pump more liquidity into the market if needed, ECB Governing Council member Jozef Makuch said on Monday.