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Indian state-run companies seek government approval to issue deep discount, long-tenor bonds
Four sources familiar with the matter confirmed on Tuesday that at least six Indian state companies had sought approval from the government to issue corporate bonds at deep discounts. They chose this rarely used structure in order to raise funds for their operations. Sources said that these companies include Indian Railway Finance Corp. (IRFC), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency. (IREDA), Power Grid Corp of India. (PGC), REC, SIDBI, and NABARD. REC is seeking permission once again to issue these bonds. In September, the company raised 587 million dollars ($50 billion) through aggressive bids, but yields were lower than expected. REC confirmed this development, but no other companies responded to email seeking comment. Deep-discounted bonds are usually issued at a discount of more than 20-25% to their face value. They do not pay interest and have a similar feature to zero-coupon bills that eliminates the risk of reinvestment. These bonds are a great way to reduce borrowing costs for companies, especially in a time when interest rates continue to fall. These bonds offer investors a long-term capital gain benefit, even though they are not tax-free. Bankers say that this, combined with the rarity, is driving up demand for these notes. At maturity, investors will receive a return that is taxed at capital gains rates. The zero-coupon bond is attractive because it reduces the effective tax rate. This was stated by Nikhil Aggarwal. He is the founder and CEO of Grip Invest, an online bond trading platform. Housing and Urban Development Corp. (HUDCO), a state-owned company, became the third to receive approval to issue these bonds last week. One source said, "HUDCO is the most likely candidate. They have the approval. We expect REC and IRFC will be the next candidates." Sources said that the government may approve zero-coupon bonds in phases, as it is not happy with an influx of zero-coupon bond supply. Sources refused to identify themselves as they were not authorized to speak with the media. HUDCO was given approval to raise 50 Billion Rupees via bonds with a 10 year and 1 month maturity, while Power Finance Corp. (PFC) received approval to raise 100 Billion Rupees in the month of March. Both companies have until March 2027 for raising these funds.
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Minority owners demand that oil group Equinor explain discrepancy in climate.
A group of minority shareholders demanded that the board of Norway's Equinor explain how its plan to increase oil and gas production is in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change. Equinor, a 67% state-owned company, has joined Shell and BP this year in pledging higher oil output, while reducing investment in renewables. Minority owners have proposed a resolution that will be voted upon at Equinor’s annual general meeting on May 14. They claim there are "material inconsistencies” between the climate strategy of the company and the expectations expressed by the majority shareholder. The expectations of the Noway government from two years ago included Equinor setting goals and implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emission "both short-term and long-term" in accordance with the 2015 Paris Climate Accord. "Other investors have reasonable expectations that a company will move in the direction of aligning with the expectations and wishes of the majority shareholders." Equinor, however, has taken the opposite path," Brynn O'Brien of the Australasian Center for Corporate Responsibility, which filed the motion with the ACCR, stated in a press release. The board of directors at Equinor, however, requested that the shareholders reject the motion. This was also submitted by the Danish pension fund Sampension, and the Swedish pension fund Folksam. In a press release, the board stated that it believed the company's business model and strategy were in line with global goals on climate change. It added that "Scenarios for future energy requirements, including those that align with the goal of limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius," indicate oil and gas needs will continue to be needed in decades to come. Equinor, Europe's leading pipeline gas supplier. The result of the vote depends on the position taken by the Norwegian government. Generally, the Norwegian government supports the board position at AGMs. The ministry of industry did not respond immediately to a comment request. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, Nerijus Adomiaitis)
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Halliburton's first-quarter profits fall on North America drilling weakness
Halliburton reported lower first-quarter profits on Tuesday, as a decline in drilling activities in North America dampened the demand for its oilfield equipment and services. Shares of the company fell by 6% before market opening following results which included a $356 million pre-tax charge. Halliburton, the largest U.S. oilfield service provider, is the first to announce earnings. The sector is bracing for the impact that President Donald Trump's new tariffs will have on supply chains. They are also expected to increase the price of steel equipment like drilling rigs and casings. The sector is under pressure due to a continuing decline in drilling activity in North America. Oilfield service firms in North America have struggled due to the reduced U.S. Shale activity. Operators are cutting drilling budgets, focusing on capital management, resulting in lower demand and less rigs operating. Halliburton reported that North America's revenue for the first quarter was $2.2 billion. This is a decrease of 12% from a year ago. The Houston-based firm posted a loss of $204 millions, or 24 cents a share, for the three months ending March 31. This was lower than its profit last year, which was $606 million or 68 cents a share.
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Vance wants closer US-Indian ties but warns that a 'dark period' is coming if not
On a Tuesday visit to India, JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, said that the United States was looking to sell more defence and energy equipment to India. He added that the ties between India and the United States will shape this century. In a speech delivered in Jaipur, a city in northwestern India, he stated that if India and the United States worked together effectively we would see a prosperous and peaceful 21st century. "But I believe that the 21st Century could be very dark for humanity if we do not work together effectively." After their dinner, he praised Narendra Modi repeatedly. Vance, his wife (who is the daughter an Indian immigrant) and their three kids are on a four-day, mostly personal visit to India. The visit comes as India rushes to seal a trade deal before the 90-day suspension of tariffs announced by the Trump administration. "Prime Minister Modi has a reputation as a tough negotiator." Vance, to loud laughter in the audience, said that Modi is a tough negotiator. Nirmala Sitharaman, Indian Finance minister, said on Monday in San Francisco that India hopes to have "positively concluded" the first portion of a new trade agreement by autumn. Vance confirmed that he and Modi had made progress in the trade negotiations and confirmed the finalisation of the terms for reference. He said that the roadmap outlined in the document would lead to a final agreement between our two nations. Reporting by Rupam JAIN; Writing by Sakshi DAIL; Editing By YP RAJESH and Kim Coghill
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Copper gains defy gloomy outlook
The copper price hit its highest level in over two weeks on the Monday after a weaker US dollar triggered fund purchases. However, traders are unsure that this upward momentum will continue as long as U.S. tariffs dominate sentiment. The levy imposed by Donald Trump has harmed the outlook for economic growth in the world and for demand for industrial metals. By 1126 GMT, the benchmark copper price on London Metal Exchange (LME), which had reached its highest level since April 4, was now up 1.5% to $9,325 per metric tonne. One copper trader stated that the market was not based on fundamentals but rather on funds buying as a reaction to the dollar, and people cutting short positions. Concerns over the independence and credibility of the Federal Reserve have impacted the currency after Trump's attacks on Fed chief Jerome Powell. A weaker dollar makes metals priced in dollars cheaper for buyers of other currencies. This could boost demand. This relationship is used in the trading of funds called commodity trading advisors, which trade on signals generated by numerical models. Copper has broken through resistance on the technical front at the 50-day- and 100-day-moving averages, respectively, at $9,290 and $ 9,330. The 21-day moving avg. is $9,380. This represents the next barrier to the upside. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's (ShFE) warehouse stocks, which fell 36% since February to 171,611 tonnes, and lower inventories at Shanghai's bonded storage facilities are supporting copper prices. . Citi analysts in a China note said that while trade conflicts are expected to affect demand in the second- and third-quarters, businesses hope for stimulus to offset this. Dealers are optimistic that the domestic market will remain resilient, despite recent export headwinds, they wrote. Other metals saw a 0.8% increase in aluminium at $2,384 per ton. Zinc gained 1.5% at $2,616, while lead was up by 0.6% at $1,933. Tin was up 1.3% at $31,030, and nickel rose 0.4% to $15,690.
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Argentex, a FX company, suspends its trading of shares due to market volatility
The shares of British currency management firm Argentex, which is based in London, were suspended on Tuesday. Argentex said that the sharp drop in the U.S. Dollar had caused a serious deterioration in its liquidity. The company stated in a filing that "Argentex is exposed to significant volatility of foreign exchange rates... As a result, (it) experienced a rapid impact on its short-term liquidity position due to, inter alia margin calls related to its FX Forward and Options books." It stated that it has the support of its main liquidity provider, and is looking to strengthen its positions. However, "in the event the volatility on the currency markets worsens, the company's liquidity position will be stretched if it does not improve in the near future." The global markets have been volatile this month as President Donald Trump’s tariff policy has increased uncertainty about the economy. Argentex stated that it was particularly exposed to the "rapid devaluation of the U.S. Dollar against other major benchmark currency." According to LSEG, the dollar is at its lowest level in three years compared with a basket major currencies. It's also on track for its worst first-four months performance in 50 years. Analysts believe that its decline can be attributed to global investors selling U.S. investments due to concerns about the health of U.S. businesses and the economy Argentex's website describes it as "a global expert in currency risk and alternative banking". It offers its clients payment services and strategies to hedge their currency risks. The company's shares were suspended Tuesday, but they have already logged a 50% gain in 2025. (Reporting and editing by Amanda Cooper, Susan Fenton and Samuel Indyk)
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Severstal, a Russian company, blames the economic slowdown for a 55% drop in its first-quarter profits
Severstal, a Russian steelmaker, said that the economic slowdown in Russia and the reduced demand for steel in the construction and machine building industries led to a drop of 55% in its net profit during the first quarter. In a press release, Alexander Shevelev, the CEO of the company, said that "economic cooling measures, especially the high key rate, continue to put pressure on all major consumers" of rolled metal. Government forecasts predict that Russian economic growth will slow this year to 2.5% from 4.3% by 2024. The central bank's main interest rate is still at 21% - the highest level since the early 2000s. He added that "our estimates indicate that the steel consumption in Russia has decreased by about 13% on an annual basis, primarily due to reduced economic activities in the construction and machinery-building sectors." Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), which are the company's earnings, fell by 40% during the first quarter. Revenues, however, only decreased by 5%. The company announced that it would not be paying a dividend for the first quarter due to "market uncertainties". Shevelev stated that the company was able to increase its sales of metal products and high-value products by 9% despite difficult economic conditions. The company increased investment by 140% during the first quarter thanks to a cash cushion. Many Russian companies claim that high interest rates stifle investment. (Reporting and Anastasia Lyrchikova, Writing by Gleb Brnski; Editing Jan Harvey)
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Japan's crude steel production falls 4.5% in fiscal 2020/21 due to weak construction demand
The world's third largest producer of crude steel, Japan, saw its output fall 4.5% during fiscal 2024/25. This was due to a lackluster demand for construction and manufacturing, as well as sluggish exports, as China, the top producer of steel in the world, increased exports. The Japan Iron and Steel Federation announced on Tuesday that the output, which was not adjusted for season, fell to 82.95 millions metric tons during the year ending March 31. This is the third consecutive drop in annual production. According to an analyst with the Federation, production was at its lowest level since fiscal 2020/21. A collapse in demand caused by the COVID-19 epidemic pushed the production to the lowest point it had been for roughly 50 years. The analyst stated that "steel demand has been dampened by construction delay caused by labour shortages, high material costs and a slow recovery in the automotive and other manufacturing sector." He added that "as well, a surplus of steel in the overseas market due to China's massive exports has contributed to reducing Japan's exports." The production is expected to decline as Nippon Steel closed one of their blast furnaces by the end of March, and JFE Steel will temporarily suspend one blast furnace in mid-May. The analyst also said that U.S. Tariffs have increased uncertainty regarding steel demand. Tadashi Imai, chairman of the Federation, warned that U.S. steel and auto tariffs could cause Japan's crude steel production to drop by several millions tons, down to 80 million tons. No exemptions were allowed by President Donald Trump when he raised import duties for steel and aluminum to 25% on March 12. On April 2, tariffs on auto parts and vehicles went into effect. Analysts at the Federation said that in March, Japan's crude-steel output increased by 0.2% compared to a year ago, reaching 7.21 million tonnes. This was the first rise in 13 months. However, local demand continued to be weak. The output was up 12.6% compared to February. (Reporting and editing by Kim Coghill; Yuka Obayashi)
How severe heat threatens health and safety
With extreme heat gripping much of the Northern Hemisphere this week, authorities and public health experts have provided heat warnings to assist keep people safe.
Parts of China, India, the Middle East, southern Europe and the United States are bracing for the possibility of new record highs.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH THREATS?
Heat impacts health in numerous methods.
Heat exhaustion, which can consist of dizziness, headaches, shaking and thirst, can affect anybody, and is not typically severe, offering the person cools down within thirty minutes.
The more serious version is heatstroke, when the body's core temperature level goes above 40.6 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit). It is a medical emergency situation and can result in long-lasting organ damage and death. Symptoms include quick breathing, confusion or seizures, and nausea.
As climate change continues to drive temperatures up in coming years, the danger of humidity is also expected to increase. Warmer air can hold more moisture. And more moisture in the air makes it harder for people to sweat to cool down.
WHO IS AT DANGER?
Some people are more susceptible, consisting of young infants and older individuals, in addition to people who should stay active or are more exposed, such as homeless individuals.
Existing conditions, including respiratory and heart diseases, in addition to diabetes, can likewise heighten danger - and be intensified by heat.
Numerous nations do not record heat as a particular cause of death, which suggests we do not have data to gauge this threat on neighborhoods.
However, a 2021 study in The Lancet approximated that just under a half-million deaths can be attributed to excess heat every year - a conservative count that does not have data from lots of low-income nations.
Many in Europe fear a repeat of the 2022 summer season, during which heatwaves eliminated an approximated 61,000 people, scientists said.
The threats will continue to rise as climate modification pushes international temperature levels even higher in coming years.
LESS APPARENT THREATS
Apart from checking a body's internal thermostat, extreme heat can pose a host of other, secondary threats.
Warmer temperature levels motivate the development of germs and algae. So heatwaves can raise the danger of water being contaminated with illness like cholera, or of water bodies ending up being choked with harmful algae.
Heat can also damage crops, contributing to issues about food security.
Beginning with 2030, professionals anticipate that worldwide death tolls will increase by 250,000 per year as an outcome of 4 climate-related health threats: heat tension, malnutrition related to food insecurity, malaria, and diarrhoea, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Wildfires fueled by dried-out trees or shrubs can result in unsafe levels of air pollution, which can trigger lung swelling and tissue damage.
Research studies have actually likewise suggested that both extreme heat too as exposure to wildfire smoke could also be linked with low birthweight and early births.
Heat stress can likewise contribute to poorer psychological health. Rising night-time temperatures can interfere with individuals's sleep patterns, aggravating mental health results.
TIMING MATTERS
Specialists say more deaths occur earlier in the summer when individuals's bodies have actually not had a possibility to acclimatize to the season.
Place matters, too; individuals are at greater danger in places where they are not utilized to such heat, consisting of parts of Europe.
As outdoor work ends up being hazardous amid heats, some countries and communities have actually shuttered schools or forced a shortening of daytime work hours for organizations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Public health firms from India to the United States have released suggestions on keeping cool, including preventing exertion where possible and remaining hydrated.
Authorities frequently aim to assist by setting up cooling centers, dispersing additional water or supplying open door to air-conditioned public transport.
Workers need to think about having more breaks and changing their clothing too, scientists stated.
It is very important to sign in on the susceptible, including older and separated individuals, they said.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency and needs instant professional attention.
(source: Reuters)