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Novartis acquiring US firm Avidity Biosciences for $12 bn
Novartis acquiring US firm Avidity Biosciences for $12 bn
by  AFP

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis announced Sunday it had agreed to buy Avidity Biosciences, with the San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company being valued at $12 billion. Novartis, based in Basel in northern Switzerland, announced in April that it planned to invest $23 billion in the United States over five years. rjm/jj

US treasury secretary signals deal to ease trade war with China
US treasury secretary signals deal to ease trade war with China
by  AFP

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday signalled a tentative deal with China to de-escalate their damaging, tariff-fueled trade war -- just days before a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Bessent said he expected the two leaders to formally announce the deal at their summit.

Nigeria refinery aims to be world's biggest with expansion
Nigeria refinery aims to be world's biggest with expansion
by  AFP

Nigeria's Dangote oil refinery, already the largest in Africa, aims to become the biggest in the world in three years' time with an expansion doubling its capacity, its owner said on Sunday. "This expansion reflects our confidence in Nigeria's future, our belief in Africa's potential and our commitment to building energy independence for our continent," Dangote said.

India and China to resume direct flights as ties improve
India and China to resume direct flights as ties improve
by  AFP

India and China resume direct flights on Sunday after a five-year suspension, a move important both for trade and a symbolic step as Asia's giants cautiously rebuild relations. Exports from India to China were $ 1.47  billion, modest by comparison, but up around 34 percent year-on-year.

How risky is the growth in US private credit?
How risky is the growth in US private credit?
by  AFP

The recent bankruptcies of US companies First Brands and Tricolor have focused attention on risks associated with the growth in the private credit market, or lending outside traditional banks. However, anxiety about the sector rose following bank losses from First Brands, a US auto supply company and Tricolor, a subprime auto lender.

US Fed will likely cut again despite economic murkiness from shutdown
US Fed will likely cut again despite economic murkiness from shutdown
by  AFP

The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its second rate cut of the year on Wednesday, despite a lack of clarity over the health of the US economy due to the ongoing government shutdown. Swonk expects the Fed to cut twice more this year, and to announce an end to its program of shrinking its balance sheet next week -- known as quantitative tightening -- in the face of rising liquidity risks.