US' Southwest Airlines is recalling over 2,700 flight attendants from leave to support its summer schedule, ending a voluntary furlough program introduced during the Coronavirus pandemic as travel demand waned.

World Business Watch: Southwest Airlines recalls over 2,700 flight attendants for summer

A backlog of container ships carrying consumer goods has grown in some key strategic ports after a near week-long blockage in the Suez Canal, adding to ongoing disruptions to global trade.

World Business Watch: Global supply lines struggle to clear container backlog after Suez Canal chaos

According to reports, Tesla is scouring India for showroom locations as it targets a move into the country but the lack of infrastructure for electric vehicles could make it a tough market to crack.

World Business Watch: Tesla targets India, but faces bumpy road

General Motors and Ford Motor both said that they will cut more vehicle production due to a semiconductor chip shortage that has roiled the global automotive industry.

World Business Watch: GM, Ford cutting more production due to chip shortage

General Motors is testing a variety of battery chemistries, technologies and manufacturing processes aimed at slashing the cost of future electric vehicle batteries and reducing its dependence on such price-sensitive metals as cobalt.

World Business Watch: GM aims at slashing electric vehicles battery costs

To speed up deliveries in small markets United Parcel Service (UPS) has agreed to buy 10 electrical aircraft from Beta Technologies (BETA). The vehicle has a 1,400 lb cargo capacity, a range of 250 miles and zero operating emissions.

World Business Watch: UPS to buy 10 electric aircraft for delivery

The US trade deficit surged to a record high in February as the nation's economic activity rebounded more quickly than that of its global rivals and could remain elevated this year as well, with massive fiscal stimulus expected to spur the fastest growth in nearly four decades.

World Business Watch: US trade deficit hits record high in February

Supported by strengthening domestic demand amid increased COVID-19 vaccinations and additional pandemic aid US job openings rose to a two-year high in February.

World Business Watch: US job openings jump to two-year high in boost to labour market

A US auto industry group urged the government to help as it warned the global semiconductor shortage could result in 1.28 million fewer vehicles built this year and disrupt production for another six months.

World Business Watch: US auto group warns of impact of chip shortage, writes to govt for help

Japan’s household spending fell 6.6% in February from a year earlier, down for the third straight month under the country’s second state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic.

World Business Watch: Japan household spending dropped 6.6% for third month

According to reports US bankruptcies surged in March to the highest level in a year, driven by a 41% jump in month-to-month filings by consumers.

World Business Watch: US bankruptcies increased in March, overall commercial filings also increased

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Sunday said that France's public deficit is expected to reach 9% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, it is up from a previous forecast of 8.5% as the country enters its third national Coronavirus lockdown.

World Business Watch: France lifts 2021 deficit, debt forecasts, lowers GDP projections to 5%

Oil prices have went down in early Asian trade on Monday after OPEC+ agreed last week to gradually ease some of its production cuts between May and July.

World Business Watch: Oil prices slip after OPEC+ agree to ease output cuts

The French government has reached the outline of a deal with the European Commission on a state-backed refinancing package to help strengthen Air France-KLM’s balance sheet.

World Business Watch:  Reports say France, Brussels agree on Air France-KLM refinancing

A measure of US manufacturing activity soared to its highest level in more than 37 years in March, driven by strong growth in new orders, the clearest sign yet that a much anticipated economic boom was probably underway.

World Business Watch: US manufacturing sector index races to 37-year high in March

Japanese big manufacturers’ sentiment improved to pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter as companies planned to increase capital expenditure this year.

World Business Watch: Japan business sentiments improves to pre-pandemic levels

Crude prices rose on Thursday, recouping some of the previous session's losses on expectations that a meeting of OPEC and its allies later on Thursday (April 01) would yield output constraint in the face of resurgent COVID-19 infections in some regions.

World Business Watch: Oil gains ahead of OPEC+ meet on output policy

Investors are shifting focus to the upcoming OPEC+ ministerial meeting that is happening this Thursday (01 April). Analysts expect the group to extend supply curbs given dim demand prospects.

World Business Watch: Analysts expect OPEC+ to extend supply curbs

US consumer confidence has raised this month to its highest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting views that economic growth will accelerate in the coming months, driven by more fiscal stimulus and an improving public health situation.

World Business Watch: US consumer confidence hits one-year high

Brazil’s economy added over 400,000 formal jobs in February, the highest monthly figure since the data series began in 1992, led by a surge in the dominant services sector.

World Business Watch: Brazil creates over 400,000 formal jobs in Feb, highest on record

Underscoring the fragile nature of the economy's recovery from last year's slump, Japanese retail sales fell for the third straight month in February as households kept a lid on expenditure amid the coronavirus emergency.

World Business Watch: Japan's retail sales fall for third straight month

Hyundai of South Korea plans to temporarily suspend production at Ulsan No.1 plant due to chip shortage between April 5 and April 13. The affected Ulsan factory produces 311,000 vehicles annually including the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5.

World Business Watch: Hyundai to suspend production in South Korea due to chip shortage

Major payments platform Visa announced that it will allow the use of cryptocurrency USD Coin to settle transactions on its network in a move to promote digital currencies and bitcoin.

World Business Watch: Visa to open payment option on Crypto platforms

Oil prices bounced back from a plunge day earlier on concerns that a large container ship that ran aground in the Suez Canal may block vital shipping lane for weeks.

World Business Watch: Oil prices recover from a plunge day earlier

Fitch has revised India's GDP growth forecast to 12 .8 % for the fiscal year beginning April 1st from its previous estimate of 11%.

World Business Watch: Fitch raises India's FY22 GDP growth projection to 12.8%

The UK's jobless rate has unexpectedly declined in the three months to January this year. It's a change that partly reflected people giving up their job hunt as lockdown measures tightened at the start of the main jobless rate.

World Business Watch: UK jobless rate down to 5% till January

A group of New York City business leaders has urged officials to refrain from raising taxes as it could jeopardize the state’s recovery from the pandemic and pressure companies to relocate their operations, triggering major economic losses.

World Business Watch: NYC business leaders warn new taxes could cripple city's recovery

Tesla Inc’s use of in-car cameras to record and transmit video footage of passengers to develop self-driving technology. Now it has raised privacy concerns around the world.

World Business Watch: Tesla's in-car cameras pose privacy concerns

German air taxi startup Volocopter is planning to raise fresh funds from the investors adding that deal to go public via a special purpose acquisition company was one option on the table. Volocopter this month tapped investors led by U.S. asset manager Blackrock for $239 million in backing as it seeks certification for its battery-powered flying taxi.

World Business Watch: Air taxi startup Volocopter eyes fresh funding, SPAC an option

New lockdowns in Europe recently and the absence of tourism might make it difficult for Swatch Group to get back to 2019 sales levels this year but the world’s biggest watchmaker maintains that target, for now, is there.

World Business Watch: New lockdowns to jeopardise Swatch sales

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World Business Watch: Southwest Airlines recalls over 2,700 flight attendants for summer

World Business Watch: Global supply lines struggle to clear container backlog after Suez Canal chaos

World Business Watch: Tesla targets India, but faces bumpy road

World Business Watch: GM, Ford cutting more production due to chip shortage

World Business Watch: GM aims at slashing electric vehicles battery costs

World Business Watch: UPS to buy 10 electric aircraft for delivery

World Business Watch: US trade deficit hits record high in February

World Business Watch: US job openings jump to two-year high in boost to labour market

World Business Watch: US auto group warns of impact of chip shortage, writes to govt for help

World Business Watch: Japan household spending dropped 6.6% for third month

World Business Watch: US bankruptcies increased in March, overall commercial filings also increased

World Business Watch: France lifts 2021 deficit, debt forecasts, lowers GDP projections to 5%

World Business Watch: Oil prices slip after OPEC+ agree to ease output cuts

World Business Watch: Reports say France, Brussels agree on Air France-KLM refinancing

World Business Watch: US manufacturing sector index races to 37-year high in March

World Business Watch: Japan business sentiments improves to pre-pandemic levels

World Business Watch: Japan business sentiments improves to pre-pandemic levels

World Business Watch: Oil gains ahead of OPEC+ meet on output policy

World Business Watch: Analysts expect OPEC+ to extend supply curbs

World Business Watch: US consumer confidence hits one-year high

World Business Watch: Brazil creates over 400,000 formal jobs in Feb, highest on record

World Business Watch: Japan's retail sales fall for third straight month

World Business Watch: Hyundai to suspend production in South Korea due to chip shortage

World Business Watch: Visa to open payment option on Crypto platforms