DailyBriefers

In the latest news on Rakuten’s moves to fortify its balance sheet, Reuters exclusively reported that Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten was looking to raise around 300 billion yen ($2.2 billion) by issuing new shares to shore up its finances after years of losses from its mobile business. Shares of Rakuten, which were up around 5% in afternoon trade before the May 15 Reuters report, turned negative and ended the day down 9%, their biggest one-day drop in three years. Rakuten also issued shares to founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani and his fund to pay down debt and build base stations. By the time Rakuten confirmed these reports at the close of trade the following day, its stock had fallen another 5%. 

Reuters exclusively reported that Western Digital and Japan’s Kioxia Holdings are speeding up their merger talks and now nailing down a deal structure as a slumping flash memory market has put fresh consolidation pressure on the world’s no.2 and no.4 chipmakers. Under the plan now being worked out, the merged entity would be 43% owned by Kioxia, 37% by Western digital and the rest by existing shareholders of the companies, Reuters reported. Shares of Western Digital rose more than 11% following the Reuters report.  

Reuters led reporting of the Turkish presidential elections, from initial reports showing President Erdogan’s comfortable lead to the subsequent local news of his lead dropping below 50%, making a runoff likely. With Erdogan facing the most credible challenge to his power in two decades, markets were watching the results closely. The lira and stock markets fell sharply as Erdogan’s position went against polling results in the runup to the election.

Reuters was first to report that Argentina’s central bank would hike the benchmark interest rate 600 basis points to 97% after inflation overshot expectations in April to hit 109% on an annual basis. The latest huge hike, part of a package of emergency measures to rein in prices and bolster a weak local peso currency, was confirmed a day later by the South American country’s central bank. 

Reuters was first to report the news that a tribunal granted bankruptcy protection to India’s fourth largest airline Go First, bolstering chances of its revival but dealing a blow to lessors. The decision was keenly awaited by global leasing companies in Europe and elsewhere as the ruling now bars them from repossessing dozens of their Airbus A320neo planes from Go First due to a legal moratorium, setting the stage for prolonged court battles.

Reuters exclusively reported that China has told its “big four” state-owned banks to reduce the ceiling on interest rates they pay on some deposits. The interest rate self-disciplinary mechanism, a top regulatory body overseen by the People’s Bank of China, urged lenders to lower ceilings on some personal and corporate deposits by 30 basis points (bps), effective on May 15.

Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister exclusively shared with Reuters that U.S. President Joe Biden will sign defense and surveillance agreements with the island nation, cementing the strategic importance of the nation where Biden’s uncle died in World War II.

Reuters exclusively reported that CICC Capital, a unit of leading Chinese investment bank CICC (3908.HK), has stopped using Capvision Partners’ services following an investigation into the “expert network” as part of Beijing’s crackdown on national security.

Reuters exclusively reported that Chevron Corp’s (CVX.N) renewed oil operations in Venezuela will enter a new phase next month, boosting production with the goal of accelerating recovery of the $3 billion debt owed by the end of 2025.  

Reuters exclusively reported that Turkey has deferred payment to Russia of a $600 million natural gas bill to 2024 – the first such postponement – under a deal announced last week that underlines deepening ties between Ankara and Moscow.