Town Hall News

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand on Thursday announced a worse-than-forecast budget deficit as a slowing economy and a lower tax take hit its coffers, leaving the Labour government walking a tight rope as its spending plan is expected to fan inflationary pressures. In his last budget ahead of what is set to be a close-run election in October, finance minister Grant Robertson announced billions towards rebuilding infrastructure […]

(Corrects to fix typographical error in 4th bullet) By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand on Thursday announced a worse-than-forecast budget deficit as a slowing economy and a lower tax take hit its coffers, leaving the Labour government walking a tight rope as its spending plan is expected to fan inflationary pressures. In his last budget ahead of what is set to be a close-run election in October, finance minister […]

By Andrew Hayley XIAN, China (Reuters) – Central Asian heads of state converged in China’s historic city of Xian on Thursday for one-on-ones with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to seal pledges of “enduring” friendship, and paving the way for a summit expected to result in a regional pact with Beijing. The bilateral talks will set the stage for a group meeting on Friday, the first in-person gathering of the six […]

By Chayut Setboonsarng BANGKOK (Reuters) -The leader of the progressive Move Forward Party that secured a stunning victory in Thailand’s election this week said on Thursday he was confident of building more support and being able form a stable and balanced government. Speaking at a press conference as part of an alliance of eight parties with about 313 of the 500 lower house seats, leader Pita Limjaroenrat said there was […]

By Matt Tracy (Reuters) -Many U.S. regional lenders may have to consider selling off commercial real estate (CRE) loans at a steep discount after breaching key regulatory thresholds for exposure to the troubled sector, according to new data and market sources. Regional banks, the largest lenders to the beleaguered U.S. CRE and construction markets, have reduced their exposure to the sector by tightening standards and making fewer loans, especially in […]

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand on Thursday announced a worse-than-forecast budget deficit as a slowing economy and a lower tax take hit its coffers, leaving the Labour government walking a tight rope as its spending plan is expected to fan inflationary pressures. In his last budget ahead of what is set to be a close-run election in October, finance minister Grant Robertson announced billions towards rebuilding infrastructure following […]

BANGKOK (Reuters) – The leader of the Move Forward Party that won Thailand’s election this week on Thursday said he was confident of being able to form a government that would be stable and balanced. Leader Pita Limjaroenrat was speaking at a press conference as part of an alliance of eight parties worth about 312 lower house seats, short of the 376 votes needed from the 750-member bicameral legislature to […]

By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – Deutsche Bank AG has agreed to pay $75 million to settle a lawsuit by women who say they were abused by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, and accused the German bank of facilitating his sex trafficking. The accord resolves claims in a proposed class action in Manhattan federal court by Epstein’s accusers, and was confirmed by their lawyers late on Wednesday. Court approval […]

ROME (Reuters) -Holger Rune sent an off-colour Novak Djokovic tumbling out of the Italian Open on Wednesday as the young Dane prevailed 6-2 4-6 6-2 in an epic battle against the defending champion to secure his place in the semi-finals. For the first time since 2004, neither Djokovic nor the injured Rafa Nadal will be in the Rome final. Rune outlasted Djokovic in three sets in last year’s Paris Masters […]