Reuters - Before the Bell

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Monday, February 18, 2019

Britain does not support total Huawei network ban: sources

British security officials do not support a full ban of Huawei from national telecoms networks despite U.S. allegations the Chinese firm and its products could be used by Beijing for spying, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Germany's Bafin bans Wirecard 'short' positions over volatility

Germany's financial watchdog has banned "short" selling of Wirecard shares after reports in the Financial Times sparked recent volatility in the payments firm's stock.

Britain's FT says allegations over Wirecard reporting are false

Britain's Financial Times rejected as "baseless and false" any allegations accusing the newspaper or its reporters of market manipulation or unethical reporting in relation to German payments company Wirecard.

World stocks lifted to 2-1/2 month highs by trade optimism

Hopes of progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks and expectations of policy stimulus from central banks lifted world stocks to 2-1/2 month highs on Monday, though European gains were dampened by concerns over the car sector's outlook.

Citi in talks to buy Canary Wharf office building: source

Citigroup is in talks to buy the tower housing its European headquarters in London's Canary Wharf district, which is on the market with a price tag of around 1.2 billion pounds ($1.55 billion), a source familiar with the matter said.

SoftBank invests in Mubadala's new $400 million European tech fund: source

Japan's SoftBank Group has provided nearly half of the cash for Abu Dhabi's state investor Mubadala Investment Co's new $400 million fund investing in European start-ups, a source familiar with the matter said.

New Zealand will conduct own assessment of Huawei equipment risk: PM

New Zealand will independently assess the risk of using China's Huawei Technologies in 5G networks, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday after a report suggested that British precautions could be used by other nations.

New Zealand to target online giants with digital tax

New Zealand said on Monday that it plans to update its laws so it can tax revenue earned by multinational digital firms such as Google, Facebook and Amazon, extending a global effort to bring global tech giants into the tax net.

U.S. agency submits auto tariff probe report to White House

The U.S. Commerce Department sent a report on Sunday to U.S. President Donald Trump that could unleash steep tariffs on imported cars and auto parts, provoking a sharp backlash from the industry even before it is unveiled, the agency confirmed.

Famed Cullinan mine banks on big diamonds to drive down debt

The owner of one of the world's most famous diamond mines could be about a decade away from clearing its multi-million-dollar debts, in a sign of the struggles facing an industry assailed by synthetic rivals and uncertain demand.