Wall Street IPO activity slows as weak demand halts listings

Wall Street IPO activity slows as weak demand halts listings

Wall Street’s run of initial public offerings is faltering as weak demand and concerns over valuations lead to several paused listings in the US. The delay to Anthropic’s highly anticipated public debut has sent a chill through equity markets in recent weeks, according to the Financial Times.

China closes record number of banks amid stability concerns

China shut down more than 670 lenders last year—a record figure—as rating agency Fitch described smaller players as the sector’s weakest part. The closures form part of wider efforts to shore up China’s financial system.

Italy acts on tax evasion as thousands use Polish car registrations

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni plans to reduce unpopular road levies that have fuelled evasion schemes. Around 60,000 vehicles have been registered in Poland to avoid Italy’s taxes, prompting a review.

Bosnia election exposes EU ambitions and Russian influence

Bosnia’s latest elections highlight tensions between hopes for EU integration and the backing Serbian nationalists receive from Moscow. The US is also increasingly active in talks in the region.

Israeli settlers push new West Bank expansions before vote

Jewish settlers are expanding into the occupied West Bank in ways that would be hard for any new Israeli government to reverse, according to the Financial Times, ahead of the upcoming election.

Google faces £1.2bn UK lawsuit over Play Store charges

Google is set to defend a £1.2bn lawsuit in the UK, as British claimants challenge what they allege are excessive download fees in the company’s Play Store. The case intensifies regulatory pressure on tech giants.