News

* London shares fall 5% after earlier Hong Kong gains (Adds management comment, updates share price)

Hong Kong stocks reversed earlier losses to end higher on Thursday, after Beijing indicated more support to bolster its economy pressured by the coronavirus outbreak. ** At the close of trade, the Hang Seng index was up 82.13 points or 0.31% at 26,778.62. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index rose 0.87%...

Lebanon intends to ask for a seven-day grace period for a $1.2 billion Eurobond that matures on March 9, as it is entitled to, in order to give financial advisers more time to draft a restructuring plan, a government source said on Thursday.

NMC Health said on Thursday trading in its shares on the London bourse has been suspended, a day after the UAE healthcare firm removed its top boss and granted its finance chief an extended sick leave as details of an investigation into the company emerged. Abu-Dhabi based NMC's shares have...

The coronavirus epidemic has prompted Australian firms to cut over $500 million from profit forecasts in the current financial year, a Reuters analysis showed, as a stock sell-off sparked by the outbreak wipes billions of dollars from company valuations.

Standard Chartered booked a robust 46% jump in annual profit but warned a key earnings target would take longer to meet as the coronavirus epidemic adds to headwinds in its main markets of China and Hong Kong.

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Pakistan's banking system faces a credit risk from the country's continued inclusion on an international "grey list" of nations falling short of global money laundering rules, rating agency Moody's said on Thursday.

A surge in small-cap Chinese stocks, fueled by government stimulus measures to support the virus-hit economy, is triggering fears of a repeat of the boom that preceded the 2015 market crash.

* Flags delay to 10% profitability goal as headwinds grow (Recasts and adds CEO comments, share reaction)

Indonesia's state-owned enterprises minister said on Wednesday the government is looking at state-controlled Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) working with two state financial firms by June to tap synergies and avoid overlaps.