Economy

Car giants vie for EV crown at Beijing's Auto China show
Car giants vie for EV crown at Beijing's Auto China show

Chinese car giants locked in a cut-throat price war descend on the capital for the start of the Auto China show Thursday, vying to draw consumers and headlines in the world's biggest electric vehicle market and abroad. Beijing's Auto China show, which lasts until May 4, will see dozens of firms square off in a bid to draw customers at one of the country's biggest car shows.

France's Casino supermarket chain to axe up to 3,200 jobs
France's Casino supermarket chain to axe up to 3,200 jobs

French supermarket group Casino said Wednesday it would axe between 1,300 and 3,200 jobs as part of a reorganisation following its recent takeover led by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. That ended with the arrival in March of Kretinsky at the head of a group of main creditors who oversaw a debt restructuring deal.

Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss

Troubled aviation giant Boeing reported a first-quarter loss of $343 million on Wednesday, reflecting recent safety troubles that have slowed production and deliveries. "Our first quarter results reflect the immediate actions we've taken to slow down 737 production to drive improvements in quality," said Chief Executive Dave Calhoun, who will step down at the end of 2024.

Malaysian airline mogul Fernandes delays retirement
Malaysian airline mogul Fernandes delays retirement

Malaysia's Tony Fernandes, one of Asia's most prominent entrepreneurs, has decided to extend his contract as chief executive of Capital A, the firm said Wednesday, after the board persuaded him to delay his planned retirement.

EU opens probe into China's medical device market
EU opens probe into China's medical device market

The European Union has launched an investigation into Chinese public procurement of medical devices, the EU's official journal said Wednesday, in a move that risks raising further tensions with Beijing. It is the first probe under the EU's International Procurement Instrument which seeks to promote reciprocity in access to international public procurement markets.

Heineken beer sales pop but hazy days ahead
Heineken beer sales pop but hazy days ahead

Dutch brewer Heineken said Wednesday its beer sales were up but saw a "challenging and uncertain" economic outlook and couldn't guarantee the same growth for the rest of the year. "We continue to see the economic environment as challenging and uncertain, and will remain agile and focused," he said.

German forecast to offer signs if ailing economy on the mend
German forecast to offer signs if ailing economy on the mend

The German government will present its latest growth forecasts on Wednesday as Europe's crisis-hit top economy shows tentative signs it is finally turning a corner. But slight improvements in indicators do not mean the government will make any big changes to its forecasts, with analysts still expecting tepid growth this year.