| * Vedanta sells India's largest ever offshore bond * Chinese solar companies seek EU and US tariff deals * Petrobras looks to issue bonds in euros * China factory data to test political calculations * Peru warns of economic downturn * Securities brokerages at centre of China regulator's crackdown * Zimbabwe: exchange plans IPO to draw in foreign investors * Tata Steel reports $1.3bn full-year loss from European weakness * India's Ranbaxy: another can of worms Markets: mostly down
Vedanta sells India's largest ever offshore bond
Vedanta has sold India's largest-ever offshore bond, raising $1.7bn from mostly US and European investors, joining domestic peers in catching the flood of US dollars being unleashed by central banks.
Chinese solar companies seek EU and US tariff deals
Chinese solar-panel makers are seeking separate trade settlements with the US and the EU to avoid steep tariffs in their biggest markets.
Petrobras looks to issue bonds in euros
Petrobras is looking to sell bonds in euros this year after being taken by surprise by the immense demand from investors for its $11bn offering last week, the largest corporate debt sale from an emerging market on record.
China factory data to test political calculations
According to China's political calendar, big decisions about economic policy this year are supposed to wait until the autumn, when a major meeting of the Communist party brings together the country's top leaders.
Peru warns of economic downturn
Peru's stellar economic growth is facing a downward correction amid the end of the commodities supercycle and a slowdown in top trade partner China, according to Luis Miguel Castilla, the country's finance minister.
Securities brokerages at centre of China regulator's crackdown
On the first anniversary of its stock market listing last month, Xi'an Longi Silicon Materials Corp served its factory workers steaming plates of simmered fish, an unusual delicacy for the staff canteen. It was to "ensure that all employees would share in the happy occasion", the company says.
Zimbabwe: exchange plans IPO to draw in foreign investors
Investing in Zimbabwe is not for the faint-hearted. But its stock exchange has been booming of late. To maintain the momentum, management at the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange is planning to sell shares in the organisation this year to raise funds for modernisation.
Tata Steel reports $1.3bn full-year loss from European weakness
Tata Steel, India's largest private-sector steelmaker by sales, has reported a full-year loss of Rs71bn ($1.3bn) and refused to rule out selling parts of its lossmaking European operations.
India's Ranbaxy: another can of worms
Last week Ranbaxy Laboratories, India's biggest pharmaceuticals company, must have thought it had at last settled an eight-year dispute when it paid $500m in fines and compensation and pleaded guilty to felony charges related to production and distribution of adulterated drugs in the US.
Emerging Markets
MSCI Emerging Market Index down -0.07% at 1,025Americas
DJIA down -0.08% at 15,295
S&P 500 down -0.29% at 1,651
Bovespa down -0.14% at 56,350
Asia
Nikkei 225 down -2.66% at 14,099
Topix down -0.99% at 1,177
Hang Seng down -0.20% at 22,624
Shanghai Composite up +0.10% at 2,278
MSCI Asia ex-Japan down -0.24% at 546.54
CNX Nifty down -0.29% at 5,950
Currencies
€/$ 1.29 (1.29)
$/¥ 101.29 (102.01)Commodities
Brent Crude (ICE) down -0.06 at 102.38
Light Crude (Nymex) down -0.44 at 93.81
100 Oz Gold (Comex) unchanged 0.00 at 1,392
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