Shopping centre landlord Intu took a £1.4bn drop in the value of its properties in 2018, a year marked by two failed offers for the company and a steep drop in its share price. 

There was relief for the UK’s insurance brokers on Wednesday as UK regulators said that the industry’s practices did not do significant harm to customers.

Troubled UK regional carrier Flybe has rejected a proposal from investors including a US airline and a hedge fund to replace its current takeover deal.

Lloyds Banking Group shrugged off worries about the likely impact of Brexit and heightened competition that have affected many of its peers in the UK banking sector, announcing a 24 per cent rise in annual net profit and predicting it would hit cost-cutting targets earlier than previously forecast.

The proposed takeover of supermarket retailer Asda by rival J Sainsbury is facing big obstacles after a UK watchdog ruled the deal could reduce competition in stores, online and in fuel retailing.

Glencore has announced an extra $2bn of cash returns alongside annual results that fell short of market forecasts because of weak performance from its trading arm. 

Air France-KLM suffered a punishing final quarter of 2018 as new boss tightened his grip on the group but saw full year profits increase despite strikes which saw the airline change its leadership.

Scor, the French reinsurance group, said that profits increased 12 per cent last year as natural catastrophes turned out to be less severe than they had been in 2017.

A joint venture between Lloyds and Schroders is ditching the Lloyds name in a bid to attract affluent clients in a bid to become one of the top three financial planning businesses in the UK.

Malaysia’s home affairs minister has said the the extradition to the US of a former Goldman Sachs banker embroiled in the multi-billion dollar scandal linked to Malaysian state investment fund 1MDB may be pushed back until after he is tried in Kuala Lumpur. 

High-profile tycoon Anil Ambani has been found guilty of contempt of court by India’s supreme court, and told that he will face prison if his company does not complete a $77m payment to Sweden’s Ericsson within four weeks.

Cathay Pacific expects to record a profit in 2018 on strength in its cargo business, in a return of fortunes for the carrier following two consecutive years of losses amid competition from mainland Chinese and Gulf rivals.

South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday raided the headquarters of Hyundai Motor to look into the way that the South Korean automaker handled vehicle recalls over engine defects.

China’s currency firmed in Asian trading on Wednesday as US-China trade talks continued in Washington and after a report that the Trump administration has pushed Beijing to keep the renminbi stable as part of a potential trade deal. 

Equities were mostly higher in Asia morning trading on Wednesday as trade negotiations between the US and China continue in Washington and slower Japanese exports signal further pressure from China’s slowing economy.

Japanese exports tumbled further than expected last month in the latest sign that economies across Asia are being hit by China’s slowdown and the US-China trade war. 

Human rights groups have called on the Japanese government to address “serious flaws” in the country’s justice system in the wake of the three-month detention of ousted Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Crown Resorts shares tumbled more than 6 per cent on Wednesday after the casino operator posted first-half earnings that showed profits up by less than 1 per cent as revenue shrank and VIP punters bet less.

Bernie Sanders announced on Tuesday that he will run for the White House a second time with a campaign that focuses on many of the same policies he championed the first time around, including a $15 minimum wage, Medicare for all and free college.

US stocks kicked off a holiday-shortened week on Tuesday with gains as investors focused on US-China trade talks and strong sales growth at Walmart.

US regulators want to expand provisions that allow companies to privately suss out investors’ interest in the sale of public securities in the latest bid to boost the US listings market.

Vindication is a dish best served cold. Aurelius Capital Management won big in a highly-anticipated court case on Friday and on Monday took the opportunity to gloat.

Ford says it will get out of the business of selling heavy commercial trucks in its troubled Latin American region, as part of its $11bn global restructuring plan.

Wall Street recovered from its morning losses to trade slightly higher on Tuesday afternoon, following upbeat holiday sales at Walmart and improved home builder sentiment.