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  • Reuters

    China set to keep lending benchmark LPRs unchanged in April

    China is widely expected to leave benchmark lending rates unchanged on Monday, a Reuters survey showed, as encouraging first quarter economic data reduces the urgency for further monetary stimulus to aid a fragile recovery. The loan prime rate (LPR) normally charged to banks' best clients is calculated each month after 20 designated commercial banks submit proposed rates to the People's Bank of China (PBOC). Most new and outstanding loans in the world's second-largest economy are based on the one-year LPR, which stands at 3.45%.

  • Reuters

    UPDATE 1-Blackstone nears deal to sell S.Korean pharma wholesaler to MBK Partners, sources say

    Private equity firm Blackstone Inc is nearing a deal to sell its controlling stake in South Korean wholesale drug distributor Geo-Young to North Asian buyout fund MBK Partners for over $1 billion, three sources said. Blackstone is in final negotiations with Seoul-headquartered MBK about the sale and signing of the deal could happen soon, said one of the sources, who all declined to be named as the information is confidential. Representatives from Blackstone, MBK and Geo-Young declined to comment.

  • The Telegraph

    Why oil prices have withstood Iran’s attack on Israel – so far

    In the wake of Israel’s retaliatory attack on Iran in the early hours of Friday, oil prices spiked before sharply reducing their gains.