QT = hurty
When the Office for Budget Responsibility gets nasty
Central banks
EU parliament strikes down pesticide law
Rightwing politicians muster majority against proposed rules to limit use of agricultural chemicals
Chemicals
UK government ‘minded’ to probe Telegraph deal over Abu Dhabi links
Redbird IMI plans to offer further assurances to ensure independence of the newspaper
Mergers & Acquisitions
Visa/Mastercard: threat from open banking remains remote
Fintechs are chipping away at card providers’ duopoly but progress will be slow
Fintech
Activist investors pile pressure on Ladbrokes owner Entain
Hedge funds take aim at chief executive of UK gambling company
Travel & leisure industry, Mergers & Acquisitions
Italy’s Enel to cut renewable investments
Green energy champion unveils 3-year plan after clash with government over group strategy and debt levels
Renewable energy
Chinese police arrest tech founder on suspicion of running casino
DouYu chief was taken away by authorities in October after probe of alleged porn and gambling on streaming service
Travel & leisure industry
Rio Tinto to pay $28mn penalty in US settlement over Mozambique mine
SEC also fines former chief Tom Albanese $50,000 over allegations investors were misled
Financial & markets regulation
Thyssenkrupp writes down value of steel business by €2.1bn
German group’s shares rally as investors hope unit will be spun off
Mergers & Acquisitions
ECB warns of ‘early signs of stress’ at eurozone banks as default rates rise
Stability review notes sector’s resilience but urges lenders to increase provisions to cover rising loan losses
Central banks, Financial & markets regulation