Square Inc, the payments firm of Twitter Inc co-founder Jack Dorsey, will purchase buy now, pay later (BNPL) pioneer Afterpay Ltd for $29 billion, creating a global transactions giant in the biggest buyout of an Australian firm.

Asia’s factories hit a rough patch in July as rising input costs and a new wave of coronavirus infections overshadowed solid global demand, highlighting the fragile nature of the region’s recovery. 

US senators introduced a sweeping $1-trillion bipartisan plan to invest in roads, bridges, ports, high-speed internet and other infrastructure, with some predicting the chamber could pass this week the largest public works legislation in decades.

Indian billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s plan to launch an ultra-low-cost airline could give planemaker Boeing a chance to regain lost ground in India after the fall of one of its biggest customers, Jet Airways, two years ago, industry executives say.

China’s securities regulator said on Sunday it will seek closer cooperation with its US counterpart and will support overseas listings, after US regulators tightened disclosure for Chinese companies and voiced concern about Beijing’s regulatory actions.

A rift between Airbus and engine makers over plans for higher jet output blotted strong aerospace earnings this week, with worries over the supply chain’s industrial capacity masking a deeper tug of war over contrasting business strategies. 

Millions of Americans could find themselves homeless starting Sunday when a nationwide ban on evictions expires, even as billions in government funds meant to help them go untapped.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) said on Friday it was operating its refineries at 90 per cent capacity as diesel sales were yet to reach pre-Covid-19 levels, but it expects to ramp up refining to full capacity within a quarter as demand picks up. 

Oil prices edged higher on Friday, with global benchmark Brent posting a fourth monthly gain, with demand growing faster than supply and vaccinations expected to alleviate the impact of a resurgence in Covid-19 infections across the world. 

Major stock markets pulled back Friday as worries about the Delta variant of Covid-19 and profit taking offset another round of mostly strong corporate earnings.

China’s growth in new home prices slowed in July for the first time in five months, with smaller cities especially weighed down by higher mortgage rates, price caps on resale homes and other steps to cool speculation, a private-sector survey showed on Sunday.

Chinese factory activity weakened in July to its lowest level since the start of the pandemic, data showed Saturday, as manufacturing was impacted by slowing demand, weak exports and extreme weather.

Brazilian cement makers CSN Cimentos, a subsidiary of steelmaker CSN SA; Cimentos Mizu; and Cimento Apodi, in which Titan Cement International has a stake, are among the bidders for assets LafargeHolcim Ltd has put for sale, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

Caterpillar reported a jump in second-quarter profits Friday driven by higher sales across its divisions, but said customers in major industries were still avoiding new investments.

US consumer spending surged in June as vaccinations against Covid-19 boosted demand for travel-related services, but part of the increase reflected higher prices, with annual inflation accelerating further above the Federal Reserve’s 2 per cent target.

Amazon.com Inc needs to spend billions of dollars to expand its warehouse and delivery system, adding pressure to its shares which dropped 7 per cent on Friday after it forecast lower sales growth. 

US oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron  reported strong profits Friday riding a wave of higher prices amid  recovering demand, but pledged to keep a lid on spending.

French bank BNP Paribas said Friday that the improving economy and cost savings help boost its bottom line in the second quarter.

Hong Kong’s economy is continuing to recover, advanced figures showed Friday, albeit at a slightly slower than expected pace with little sign that the international finance hub’s coronavirus pandemic isolation will end any time soon.

Britain is nearing an agreement in principle on a free trade deal with New Zealand, its trade ministry said on Saturday, as London looks to bolster its post-Brexit trade ties with non-EU partners.