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Howard Marks, co-chairman, Oaktree Capital.Courtesy David A. Grogan | CNBCBillionaire investor Howard Marks said he was hopeful about China's economy, but cautioned that the country's growth target was a monumental challenge."I'm still optimistic on China's long-term possibilities, as long as they execute well and as long as they remain constructive with regard to the rest of the world," the co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management said.Marks told CNBC's Emily Tan on the sidelines of the third Global Financial Leaders Investment Summit hosted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority that "Even though the growth rate they [China] are targeting sounds modest compared to their history, it's still very much above average for for the rest of the world, and will represent a Herculean challenge."Chin...

A general view of the gate of the Thyssenkrupp industrial area in Duisburg, Germany, on August 29, 2024. (Photo by Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images).Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesShares of Germany's Thyssenkrupp jumped on Tuesday after the company posted a narrowed net loss and a 1-billion-euro ($1.06 billion) impairment on the firm's struggling steel division.The company's Frankfurt-listed stock was up 7.5% at 8:48 a.m. London time.Thyssenkrupp posted adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of 151 million euros in the fourth quarter, coming in above a Visible Alpha consensus of 120 million euros, according to Reuters. Across the full fiscal year ending Sept. 30, it narrowed its net loss to 1.5 billion euros after deducting minority interest, compared to a net loss of 2 billion...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves gives a speech at the Treasury on July 8, 2024 in London, England.Pool | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesLONDON — Doubts are mounting over the Labour government's flagship growth and investment agenda, with one analyst warning further tax rises could be coming as soon as next year.U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves last week announced a series of reforms, including financial services deregulation and measures to boost pension investments — the latest in a slew of changes aimed at getting the country's economy growing again.A higher economic growth rate could theoretically boost the government's tax take without the need to raise taxes further, because overall revenues would be higher. Labour has a fine balance to strike, however, in keeping taxes high enough to fu...

Hiroki Takeuchi, co-founder and CEO of GoCardless. Zed Jameson | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesLISBON, Portugal — Financial technology unicorns aren't in a rush to go public after buy now, pay later firm Klarna filed for a U.S. IPO — but they're keeping a watchful eye on it for signs of when the market will open up again.Last week, Klarna made a confidential filing to go public in the U.S., ending months of speculation over where the Swedish digital payments firm would list. Timing of the IPO is still unclear, and Klarna has yet to decide on pricing or the number of shares it'll issue to the public.Still, the development drew buzz from fintech circles with market watchers asking if the move marks the start of a resurgence in big fintech IPOs. For now, that doesn't appear to be the case — however...

Hong Kong has been bracing for the outcome of the territory's largest ever national security trial for months.Forty-five pro-democracy activists have been sentenced with jail terms ranging from four years to ten years. They were accused of conspiracy to commit subversion after holding an unofficial primary election in Hong Kong in 2020. They were arrested in 2021.Hong Kong authorities say the defendants were trying to overthrow the territory's government.Democracy activist Benny Tai received the longest sentence of ten years. He became the face of the movement when thousands of protesters took to the city's streets during the "Umbrella Movement" demonstrations. However, Hong Kong officials accused him of being behind the plan to organise elections to select candidates.Tai had pleaded guilt...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends a campaign event for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. November 1, 2024. Joel Angel Juarez | ReutersDental care supplier Henry Schein advanced in Monday trading as investors bet that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Health and Human Services secretary, could recommend removing fluoride from the U.S. water system, a move that would lead to a boom in dental visits.Shares of Henry Schein shares jumped about 7.5%, notching its best day since 2022. Fellow dental product makers Dentsply Sirona and Envista also rose in the session.Monday's moves come as investors ready for public health changes under a second Trump administration. Kennedy posted on X before the presidenti...