General News

(Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Tuesday its U.S. auto sales rose 11% in May from a year earlier, helped by a healthy demand for SUVs, pickup trucks and hybrid vehicles.

Demand for crossover SUVs and pickup trucks has helped U.S. automakers post stronger sales over the past few years as Americans prefer the flexibility offered by those vehicles.

Ford's overall sales in May rose to a little over 190,000 from a year ago.

ECB To Demand More CRE Loan Provisions From Some German Banks - Bloomberg

(Reuters) - Two of the world's biggest solar panel makers, First Solar and Hanwha Qcells, became the first to register products under an environmental ratings system preferred for U.S. government purchasing, an industry group said.

Combined, the companies have seven products that meet the EPEAT standard created by the Global Electronics Council, according to Qcells, the GEC and the Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance, a solar industry group.

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Microsoft expects to take additional steps to resolve an EU antitrust investigation into its chat and video app Teams which is part of its Office product, even as it seems likely to get EU charges in the case, its President Brad Smith said on Tuesday.

The European Commission launched an investigation into Microsoft's tying of Office and Teams last year, following a 2020 complaint by Salesforce-owned... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) -Short seller Hindenburg Research on Tuesday took a short position in Axos Financial, alleging lax underwriting standards and glaring issues with the bank's loan portfolio, sending its shares down 14% in premarket trading.

Hindenburg said the bank was exposed to the riskiest asset classes, and had increased its total exposure to the deteriorating commercial real estate (CRE) market, while its peers had backed away from the sector.