The logo on the outside of eon headquarters being cleaned. German energy group E.ON on Friday announced a restructuring plan for its struggling British division, which includes Npower in a move it said would incur costs of 500 million pounds ($642 million). We’ve emphasized repeatedly that we’ll take all necessary action to return our business there to consistent profitability,” E.ON CEO Johannes Teyssen said in a statement. E.ON said Npower’s residential and small and medium-size enterprise cus

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the central bank’s ultra-loose monetary policy is aimed at hitting its inflation target, rather than funding government spending, warning against complacency in getting Japan’s fiscal house in order. Kuroda repeated his view that the effect of fiscal spending in stimulating the economy can be heightened if complemented by ultra-loose monetary policy. Kuroda also said structural reforms must accompany fiscal and monetary stimulus measures to heighten th

Outstanding loans for mining and construction firms contracted, while the overall non performing loan (NPL) ratio inched up to 2.73%, from September’s 2.66%. Bank Indonesia (BI), the central bank, last week trimmed its outlook for 2019 loan growth to 8%, from a 10%-12% range initially. Souring loans to Duniatex were behind the increase in the overall NPL ratio, Purnomo said, noting NPLs had also risen in trade and mining sectors. Jahja Setiaatmadja, the chief executive of Indonesia’s largest ban

A kettuvallam, or houseboat, in Kerala, India. A bird with a fresh catch in Kerala, India. There, the Brahmaputra River dramatically widens and deposits tons of sediment that create islands of sand in the river. Yoga along the Brahmaputra River, with the Mahabaahu river boat in the background. Heading for the hills: rafting & trekking in the HimalayasAjeet Bajaj is considered a pioneer of river rafting, kayaking and expedition skiing in India.

India is set to announce its GDP figures for the three months that ended in September on Friday — and experts are predicting a further slowdown in growth to levels not seen since 2013. That forecast, if realized, will mark the “slowest pace of growth since March 2013,” they said. “High frequency indicators continued to trend lower in September, with industrial production clocking its worst decline in eight years,” the economists wrote. Apart from an economic slowdown, there is an ongoing crisis

European markets traded lower on Friday amid strained relations between the U.S. and China over protests in Hong Kong. Sentiment was dampened by a recent escalation in tensions between Washington and Beijing after U.S. President Donald Trump signed legislation in support of the Hong Kong protesters. Back in Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron renewed his criticism of NATO Thursday, defending his claim the military alliance was suffering a “brain death.” British online supermarket Ocado was

U.S. government debt prices were higher Friday morning, as investors turned cautious over trade developments between the world’s two largest economies. ET, the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to price, was lower at around 1.7654%, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower at around 2.1879%. The laws, which were introduced to protect Hong Kong’s rights and autonomy, threaten to torpedo efforts to end a protracted trade dispute between the U.S. and China. I

The U.S. and China account for nearly 50% of Chile’s trade — which makes a signed deal between the economic powers very important for the South American country, Chilean vice minister of trade Rodrigo Yanez told CNBC on Wednesday. He also said Chile is “highly dependent” on commodity prices, which have been volatile as a result of the trade war. For more than a year, the U.S. and China have been engaged in a dispute that’s expanded from trade to technology and national security issues. “We expec

Singapore said on Friday it had instructed Facebook to correct a post on its social media platform under a new “fake news” law, after a user declined a government request to do so. On Thursday, Singapore ordered blogger Alex Tan to correct his post on the States Times Review Facebook page that made accusations of the arrest of a supposed whistleblower and election rigging, calling them “false” and “scurrilous”. Tan, who does not live in Singapore and says he is an Australian citizen, said he wou

“Germany faces a difficult choice: allow Huawei in, and alienate the U.S., its most important security partner. In May, President Donald Trump took steps to ban Huawei from selling its technology in the United States. However, the German chancellor has put forward a different view. This tense relationship hit a new low earlier this week when the U.S. ambassador to Germany criticized “senior German officials” for comparing the U.S. to China. “These claims are likewise an insult to the millions of

Ten global partners of Alibaba beat the gong during the company’s listing on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Market on November 26, 2019. “But we still see Hong Kong as being that conduit to enter and exit China in the medium term because it’s really the only option that exists for China to connect to the outside world,” he added. That appeal is evident in Chinese tech giant Alibaba’s recent Hong Kong listing, which attracted strong demand from investors, he noted. “In spite of what’s going

The ruling Conservative Party in the U.K. wants the upcoming general election to be framed largely as a de-facto vote on Brexit. The main opposition Labour party want to move the question on to domestic policies such as health and social care. Should Labour need a coalition to win power, it may turn to the Scottish National Party (SNP) to form a winning alliance. Ian Davidson is a Scottish Labour MP (Member of Parliament) who held successive Glasgow seats from 1992 until 2015. Leon Neal | Getty

U.S. one-hundred dollar banknotes and Chinese one-hundred yuan banknotes are arranged for a photograph in Hong Kong on April 15, 2019. Foreign money is still betting on China, regardless of a slowdown in its economic growth, or tense trade negotiations with the United States. “Beyond financial considerations, this issuance also reflects China’s ongoing efforts to integrate itself into global financial markets, and delivers a strong message that it welcomes foreign investors.” The Chinese governm

Protesters in Hong Kong responded by staging a “Thanksgiving” rally, with thousands, some draped in U.S. flags, gathering in the heart of the city. “We are really grateful about that and we really appreciate the effort made by Americans who support Hong Kong, who stand with Hong Kong, who do not choose to side with Beijing,” he said, urging other countries to pass similar legislation. Pro-democracy protesters take part in a Thanksgiving Day rally at Edinburgh Place on November 28, 2019 in Hong K

U.S. stock index futures were lower Friday morning ahead of a shortened trading session due to the Thanksgiving holiday. ET, Dow futures dropped 100 points, indicating a negative open of more than 92 points. Futures on the S&P and Nasdaq were both lower too. Market players are closely monitoring U.S. and China relations ahead of a Dec. 15 deadline for a fresh round of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. China’s foreign ministry has claimed the U.S. has “sinister intentions” after President Donald Tru

Anthony Wallace | AFP | Getty ImagesU.S. President Donald Trump signed into law two bills supporting Hong Kong protesters on Wednesday. The laws were introduced to preserve Hong Kong’s rights and autonomy, but one of them actually contains provisions that could end up hurting the economies of the U.S., China and Hong Kong. Losing special statusAs a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong is governed under the “one country, two systems” principle. On trade, Hong Kong has been a major de

Stocks in Asia were set to trade higher at the open on Friday as investors continue to watch for developments on U.S.-China trade following a recent escalation in tensions over Hong Kong. Futures pointed to a higher open for Japanese shares, with the Nikkei futures contract in Chicago at 23,480 while its counterpart in Osaka was at 23,470. That compared against the Nikkei 225’s last close at 23,409.14. Meanwhile, shares in Australia edged higher in early trade, with the S&P/ASX 200 up around 0.3

If your list of New Year’s resolutions include saving money and losing weight, these kitchen appliances and tools could come in handy. Instead of spending money at a restaurant, invest in the right kitchen tools to make restaurant-quality food at home, cookbook author and food blogger Cathy Erway told Grow earlier this year. Here are three kitchen tools recommended by celebrity chefs, restaurateurs, and food bloggers that are worth the investment. Twenty/20An air fryer is essentially a small ver

By stacking on other deals — such as cash-back portals, credit card rewards, and bonus coupons — you can often do much better. Video by Ian Wolsten Here are some of the extra discount layers to consider to amp up your Black Friday deal. Discounted gift cardsGift card marketplaces like Raise and Gift Card Granny offer popular retailers’ gift cards for less than face value, says Trae Bodge, the smart shopping expert behind TrueTrae.com. Retailers may also offer extra coupons for cardholders: Banan

But swapping out some holiday staples with inexpensive vegan dishes can help you keep your finances and your health in check. There are so many vegan foods people are already eating, she says. “I think people think [eating vegan] is going to be so radically different than what they’re eating now.” Nierenberg shares her best tips for adding low-cost plant-based foods to your diet for a healthier holiday season and a seasonal vegan succotash recipe that costs $2.51 per serving. Since swapping out