Finance

Shell and ExxonMobil weigh sale of joint chemicals unit Infineum for $8 billion
Shell and ExxonMobil are exploring the sale of their joint chemicals unit Infineum, based in the United Kingdom, for about $8 billion, according to the Financial Times. The joint venture, owned 50% by each oil major, is said to have hired Bank of America advisers to manage the deal, which is expected to launch in the coming days and could attract private equity funds. The process is at an early stage and may not result in a transaction. Infineum makes additives for engine oils, fuels and industrial applications.
FinanceInternationalEl ConfidencialOct 22AI
Bimbo books 520 million euro impairment abroad on its Argentina, China and Morocco subsidiaries
Grupo Bimbo has accumulated a 520 million euro impairment abroad on its subsidiaries in Argentina, China and Morocco, according to the latest accounts of Bakery Iberian Investments, the Spanish company that channels the management of those assets, at the close of 2025. Argentina accounts for the largest loss, at 362.5 million, followed by China with 111.5 million and Morocco with close to 45 million. In Venezuela the company writes off all the money it contributes to its subsidiary.
FinanceInternationalEl ConfidencialOct 22AI
Musk says merging SpaceX and Tesla "would be a good idea" as analysts flag risks for shareholders
Elon Musk said merging SpaceX and Tesla "would be a good idea", after months of speculation, and said both companies had formed special committees to discuss it. A Wall Street Journal analysis says the deal could benefit Musk by bringing his businesses together, but warns of a possible "conglomerate discount" that would hurt Tesla shareholders most. The companies already have ties: Tesla sells cars, batteries and energy infrastructure to SpaceX, they collaborate on Terafab, and Tesla has invested $2 billion in SpaceX.
FinanceInternationalEl ConfidencialOct 22AI
Citi warns of the risk AI-driven deposit sweeping poses to banks' margins
A Citi report on Spanish banking examines so-called deposit sweeping: user-created AI agents that move their liquidity across several accounts to maximize remuneration. According to Bank of Spain data at the end of August, households hold 1.104 trillion euros in current accounts and deposits and companies another 366.5 billion, with overnight deposits paying 0.16% to households and 0.52% to companies. Citi estimates an average position of 23,000 euros per customer.
FinanceInternationalEl ConfidencialOct 22AI
France caught between record debt and protests demanding more public spending
France faces a projected fiscal deficit of 5.4% of GDP, above the 3% set by eurozone rules, and public debt of 119.3% of GDP, a record since 1978. The risk premium hit its highest level since 2011 and French 10-year bonds yield around 5%, compared with 3.4% for German bonds. Emmanuel Macron's government proposes cutting the deficit to 5% by 2027 through spending cuts, while protesters and unions demand more state investment.
FinanceInternationalFrance 24Oct 22AI
Air-e warns energy consumption rises 20% in subnormal sectors of Colombia's Caribbean region
Ramiro Castilla, Air-e's intervention agent, warned at the National Energy Balance Hearing that energy consumption in subnormal electrical sectors of the Caribbean rose 20%, compared with 12% in regularized sectors and 6% in the rest of the country. He said $65 billion pesos are not being collected in those areas and that the company loses $520 billion pesos monthly. Mines and Energy Minister María Nohemí Arboleda stressed the need to save energy to get through the El Niño phenomenon.
FinanceColombiaZona CeroOct 22AI
L'Oréal ties part of its skincare sales momentum to the weight-loss drug boom
L'Oréal, the world's largest cosmetics company, said the boom in GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, known by brands such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, is boosting sales of beauty and skincare products. CEO Nicolas Hieronimus said on an investor call that the phenomenon is having an impact on consumption of these products. The company reported a 7.7% rise in third-quarter sales, above analysts' expectations.
FinanceInternationalLa NaciónOct 22AI
Banco de la República governor explains why the interest rate is not being cut
Banco de la República governor Leonardo Villar Gómez explained at Camacol's Colombian Construction Congress in Cartagena why the monetary policy interest rate is not being cut. Villar said he would "love" to lower it sustainably, but noted that keeping rates high is a requirement for inflation to fall. He attributed inflationary pressures to the sharp minimum wage increase, a larger primary fiscal deficit and strong growth in domestic demand. He acknowledged that high rates affect housing construction.
FinanceColombiaEl Universal (Cartagena)Oct 22AI
Banco Hipotecario extends UVA loan term for modular homes from 6 to 8 years
Banco Hipotecario of Argentina extended from six to eight years the term of its UVA-denominated personal loan line for buying or building industrialized homes, aiming to lower the initial installment and the income required to qualify. The line finances up to 100% of the home's value, with a 15% rate, a maximum of 50,000 UVA and a network of more than 145 affiliated companies nationwide.
FinanceInternationalLa NaciónOct 22AI
Nubank lets customers finance Bre-B transfers with their Nu credit card limit
Nubank, the neobank founded by Colombian David Vélez, announced that customers with a Nu credit card can finance Bre-B transfers using that product's available limit and pay in installments. The option is available in the Nu app, where users choose between their debit account or credit card, and can split payments into 1 to 36 installments regardless of the amount. The company explains that the operation works as a cash advance and that the transferred amount accrues interest, plus a financing fee.
FinanceColombiaRED+ NoticiasOct 22AI
Apple becomes a Wall Street safe haven amid fears over AI spending
Apple shares are up 27% this year and are the biggest contributor to the S&P 500's 12% gain, as well as the best performer among the Magnificent Seven. According to Bloomberg, the company has largely stayed on the sidelines of the heavy AI infrastructure spending by Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Meta, and its correlation with the chip index is negative. On Thursday it was the only Magnificent Seven stock to close higher while the broader market fell.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 22AI
Fund managers adjust portfolios for "Super El Niño" impact on global markets
Fund managers are preparing their portfolios for the possibility of a stronger El Niño than previously recorded, according to Bloomberg. The phenomenon causes droughts and floods that damage crops, push up food prices and lead economists to revise inflation and deficit forecasts. Man Group warned that power grid infrastructure, metals and fertilizers could be exposed; T. Rowe Price uses custom models to protect its US$165 billion portfolio in emerging-market debt and equities. The Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute identified Indonesia, Brazil and Colombia as the most vulnerable countries.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 22AI
Five major issuances move Brazil's corporate market on the B3
Brasil PCH, BSB Energética and Eletroriver issued simple bonds worth 2.1 billion reais (about 417.6 million dollars) on the B3, with Itaú BBA as lead underwriter and shared guarantees with 14 other companies in the group. The operation included the early repayment of BSB and Eletroriver debt. On the same exchange, Aço Verde do Brasil placed 250 million reais in green bonds, Trisul 100 million in commercial notes, Ambiental Metrosul 300 million and BRF 825 million in agribusiness receivables certificates.
FinanceInternationalLexLatinOct 22AI
Japan tops central bank inflation target, reinforcing bets on a rate hike
Japan's core CPI, which excludes fresh food, rose 2.1% year on year in September, in line with economists' forecasts, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The gauge exceeded the Bank of Japan's target for the first time this year, reinforcing the case for a widely expected rate hike in December. The index excluding both fresh food and energy stood at 2.4%, and services prices rose 1.5%, the fastest pace since March.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 22AI
Dollar closes at 827 pesos in Cuba's informal market as the euro reaches 915 CUP
Cuba's informal currency market closed on Thursday, October 22, 2026, with the dollar at 827 Cuban pesos and the euro at 915 CUP, both up from the previous session. The dollar rose 4 pesos on the day and has gained 29 pesos over the week, while the euro added 3.5 pesos daily and 20 over seven days. The MLC stands at an indicative value of 676 CUP. The Central Bank's official rate (Segment III) remains at 734 CUP per dollar and 824 per euro.
FinanceInternationalCiberCubaOct 22AI
L'Oréal ties part of its skincare sales momentum to the GLP-1 drug boom
L'Oréal, the world's largest cosmetics company, says the boom in GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, known by brands such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, is boosting beauty and skincare sales. CEO Nicolas Hieronimus said on an investor call that GLP-1 use is "a very important phenomenon" for the company. L'Oréal reported a 7.7% rise in third-quarter sales, above analysts' expectations.
FinanceInternationalBBCOct 22AI
Spanish heavy industry warns over energy prices and paralysis ahead of the 29-N election
Spanish industries such as ceramics, paper, chemicals, steel and cement posted timid performance and even output declines in the first half of the year due to high energy costs. According to the AEGE Barometer, an equivalent electro-intensive consumer pays 34% less for electricity in France than in Spain and 12% less in Germany. The government has so far taken no direct measures, and the 29-N elections add uncertainty for the coming months.
FinanceInternationalABCOct 22AI
Asian stocks extend losses after Nasdaq slump driven by tech shares
Asian stocks extended losses after Wall Street's decline, with MSCI's regional index falling 0.3% in its second straight day of losses. The Nasdaq 100 plunged 2.9% and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index 6.7%. Doubts about the profitability of artificial intelligence investment weighed on tech companies, while Treasuries posted their biggest rally in more than two years and the yen strengthened to 156.60 per dollar.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 22AI
Trump and World Liberty sued over crypto deals tied to the United Arab Emirates
J. Benjamin Greenberg, a Circle Internet Group shareholder, sued Donald Trump and World Liberty Financial in a federal court in Washington. He alleges that two World Liberty crypto transactions with the United Arab Emirates violated the Foreign Emoluments Clause and harmed Circle investors, as World Liberty competes with Circle in the stablecoin market. World Liberty says the allegations are "baseless" and that it complies with US law; Circle said it did not take part in the lawsuit.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 22AI
Villar warns a 9.4% of GDP fiscal deficit in 2027 would be "unimaginable" for Colombia
Banco de la República governor Leonardo Villar warned that if the government's announced adjustments are not applied, the fiscal deficit would reach 9.4% of GDP in 2027, a figure he called "totally unimaginable" for Colombia since the War of the Thousand Days. With the corrections, the deficit could stand at 7.2% of GDP, a level similar to 2021. Villar explained that the inflow of resources to finance the 2027 budget contributes to the appreciation of the peso.
FinanceColombiaEl ColombianoOct 22AI