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German advertiser Stroeer's sale in doubt as economy falters

LONDON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) -German group Stroeer's sale of its multi-billion-euro outdoor advertising business has suffered a setback as two bidders balked at the asking price, amid worries over the country's economy, three people familiar with the talks told Reuters. Stroeer, Germany's leading outdoor advertiser, is a bellwether of Europe's biggest economy, which is deep in recession and uncertainty as it awaits the outcome of negotiations to establish a government. Stroeer said in January it had received indicative offers from private equity investors for its "out-of-home" advertising business that is responsible for thousands of posters, billboards and digital screens across the country's train stations, shopping centres and town squares.

BP Refocuses on Oil Amid Elliott Pressure, But Cuts Buybacks

(Bloomberg) -- BP Plc announced a major pivot back to its core oil and gas business and promised to sell assets and reduce spending, but shares fell as the company sharply cut buybacks. Most Read from BloombergNYC’s Congestion Pricing Pulls In $48.6 Million in First MonthThe Trump Administration Takes Aim at Transportation ResearchShelters Await Billions in Federal Money for Homelessness ProvidersNYC to Shut Migrant Center in Former Hotel as Crisis EasesNew York’s Congestion Pricing Plan Faces A

Lowe's forecasts muted annual profit on uncertain economy, cautious spending

Lowe's Cos joined rival Home Depot in forecasting lackluster annual sales and profit on Wednesday, signaling that a downturn in the home improvement sector would linger amid higher interest rates. Shares of the Mooresville, North Carolina-based retailer were up 3.7% in premarket trading as it reported a surprise rise in fourth-quarter same-store sales, helped by demand for water cans, generators and cleaning supplies after Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year. The home improvement sector has witnessed a sharp slowdown over the last two years as high mortgage rates, rising home prices as well as refinancing costs stifled demand.

Oil holds at two-month low on rising supply concerns

Oil prices held at two-month lows on Wednesday as a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine continued to weigh on prices while lower U.S. crude stockpiles provided some support. Brent crude was down 19 cents at $72.83 a barrel by 1256 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell by 13 cents to $68.80. Prospects for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine are improving, ING commodities strategists said in a note on Wednesday, adding that the market was also watching for potential implications of a minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine.

US dollar rises as economic, tariff outlook gauged

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The U.S. dollar rose on Wednesday to move further from recent 11-week lows, as investors assess the strength of the economy and tariffs outlook after the most recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump. The greenback stumbled on Tuesday as economic data showed a sharp drop in consumer confidence, the latest in a string of data points that have prompted concerns about the strength of the U.S. economy and persistent inflation, and caused U.S. Treasury yields to tumble. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield plunged nearly 10 basis points (bps) on Tuesday and was last down 4.2 basis points to 4.256% after falling to 4.249%, its lowest since December 11 as an earlier attempt to stabilize dissipated.