LONDONNEW YORK, Aug 18 Reuters Chocolate makers like Hershey and Mondelez face tougher trading conditions over the next year as they attempt to pass on soaring cocoa costs to cashstrapped consumers who are cutting back. The industry has enjoyed bumper profits over the past couple of years as demand for chocolate held up despite price hikes, but […]

June core CPI rises 3.1 yryr, matching forecast Corecore CPI accelerates as service prices pressure persists Analysts see BOJ sticking to easy policy for now TOKYO, Aug 18 Reuters Japan39;s core consumer prices slowed in July, supporting expectations the Bank of Japan BOJ will be in no rush to phase out monetary easing, even as […]

Thailand39;s GDP seen expanding 3.1 yy in Q2 vs 2.7 in Q1 Q2 GDP seen at 1.2 qq sa vs 1.9 in Q1 Q2 GDP data due on Monday, Aug 21 BENGALURU, Aug 18 Reuters Thailand39;s economy likely grew 3.1 in the AprilJune quarter from a year ago, up from 2.7 in the previous quarter, […]

MUMBAI, Aug 18 Reuters India39;s central bank on Friday forbid banks and other lenders from charging penal interest from borrowers for not complying with the contractual terms and conditions of a loan to ensure fair lending practices and protect the interest of consumers. Penalty, if charged, should be treated as penal charges and not be […]

Chinese EV makers growing market share in Europe, target more Chinese brands unlikely to be able to sell as cheaply as at home Import costs and low brand recognition pose challenges BERLIN, Aug 18 Reuters China39;s electric vehicle EV makers, which have raced past foreign rivals to top sales rankings at home, are arriving in […]

LONDON, Aug 18 Reuters British retail sales fell more sharply than expected in July as heavy rain put off shoppers who are also feeling the hit from high inflation and 14 backtoback increases in interest rates. Official data showed sales volumes last month were 1.2 lower than in June. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 Reuters Malaysia39;s economic growth hit the lowest in nearly two years in the second quarter due to sliding exports and a global slowdown, prompting the central bank on Friday to warn that fullyear growth will come in at the lower end of its previous forecast. The weaker outlook does not change […]

Kuwait crude exports to drop as much as 18 in H2 2023 Chinese refiners most exposed to drop in sour crude supply Sour crude discount to sweet narrows sharply SINGAPORE, Aug 18 Reuters Asian refiners are on the hunt for crude oil to replace Kuwaiti supply as the OPEC producer cuts exports by nearly a […]

SYDNEY, Aug 18 Reuters Australia39;s wine industry faces severe oversupply problems that will need years to resolve, experts say, pointing to Chinese tariffs, high production and export bottlenecks during the COVID19 pandemic. Vineyards nationwide have enough wine in domestic storage to fill 859 Olympic swimming pools, Rabobank said this week in its thirdquarter wine report. […]