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Stocks diverge ahead of expected US rate cut

Stock markets were mixed on Monday as traders geared up for an expected interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve this week.Equities have enjoyed a strong run-up over recent weeks as a string of data on jobs and inflation are seen as having provided the US central bank with enough leeway to resume its rate reductions.Wednesday’s policy decision follows figures showing the labour market continuing to soften, while prices have not spiked as much as feared in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war.The keenly awaited meeting is expected to see the Fed lower borrowing costs 25 basis points, although some observers predict it could go to 50 points.”There’s a wait and see mood at the start of the week as investors eye key central bank meetings and assess the potential path of interest rate cuts,” said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.The central banks of Canada, Britain and Japan are due to meet this week.Paris and Frankfurt stock markets advanced in midday trading on Monday, while London was flat.Asia fluctuated after a tepid Friday on Wall Street that saw the Nasdaq inch up to a new peak.Shanghai edged down after data showed further weakness in China’s economy, with growth in retail sales and industrial production much slower than forecast.Seoul hit another record after South Korean officials scrapped a plan to lower the capital gains tax threshold for stock investors.Hong Kong advanced, while Tokyo was closed for a holiday.Also in view are talks between China and the United States in Madrid that will cover a range of issues including trade, with an eye on a November deadline for their tariff pause.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday the United States is “very close” to a deal with China to settle their dispute over TikTok. The meetings are expected to continue through Wednesday — the deadline for TikTok to find a buyer or face a ban.The negotiations come after China launched two investigations into the US semiconductor sector on Saturday.In company news, Hong Kong-listed Pop Mart, which makes the global smash Labubu dolls, tanked more than six percent, wiping billions off its valuation, after JP Morgan downgraded it saying it was overpriced.The firm is up around 180 percent this year but is down more than a fifth from its August record owing to signs demand for the dolls is waning.And in Sydney, ANZ bank, one of Australia’s “big four” lenders, retreated following news it had agreed to pay a record fine of Aus$240 million (US$159.5 million) over “widespread misconduct”.- Key figures at around 1050 GMT -London – FTSE 100: FLAT at 9,284.41 pointsParis – CAC 40: UP 1.1 percent at 7,914.17Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 23,792.03Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holidayHong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 26,446.56 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 3,860.50 (close)New York – Dow: DOWN 0.6 percent at 45,834.22 points (close)Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1756 from $1.1731 on FridayPound/dollar: UP at $1.3606 from $1.3560Dollar/yen: DOWN at 147.35 from 147.67 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 86.40 pence from 86.52 penceWest Texas Intermediate: UP 0.2 percent at $62.82 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $67.09 per barrel

WTO fishing deal: the net results

The World Trade Organization’s agreement on fisheries subsidies — its first environmentally focused accord — entered into force on Monday after years of thorny negotiations at a time of heightened international trade tensions.Agreed by more than 100 WTO members, including the United States, the European Union and China, the agreement sets binding rules requiring governments to consider the legality and sustainability of the fishing activities they subsidise.”This is the first sustainability agreement of the WTO… It’s a big day,” WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told AFP.Speaking to diplomats during Monday’s ceremony, she described the event as a “historic milestone”.”It seems like a dream,” she said. “We have been waiting a long time for today to happen.” The discussions towards the deal began all the way back in 2001, with WTO members finally reaching an agreement by consensus in June 2022.Below are the main points of the agreement, which was celebrated with a ceremony at the WTO’s Geneva headquarters Monday after being ratified by two-thirds of the membership.Broader rules regarding subsidies for activities that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing remain under negotiation.- Bans -“Each year, governments spend an estimated $22 billion in harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing and the depletion of marine resources,” Okonjo-Iweala said.The deal bans subsidies to any vessel or operator engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, or the fishing of overexploited stocks.However, a country can grant or maintain subsidies implemented “to rebuild the stock to a biologically sustainable level”.According to the United Nations, IUU fishing is responsible for depleting between 11 million and 26 million tonnes of fish each year, which “represents 20 percent of the global fish catch”, the WTO chief said.The agreement also prohibits subsidies for unregulated fishing on the high seas, including areas outside the jurisdiction of coastal countries.The agreement “is a significant step forward for the ocean and the coastal communities that depend on it,” said Megan Jungwiwattanaporn, with the Pew Charitable Trusts.- Notification and dispute settlement -The agreement says countries must “take special care and exercise due restraint” when granting subsidies to vessels not flying their own flag, and when granting them to fishing or related activities if the status of the stocks concerned is unknown.Besides regular notifications of subsidies, WTO members are required to update the organisation on how the agreement is being implemented.This includes the status of fish stocks, information on vessels receiving subsidies, and a list of vessels and operators that the country has determined to be engaged in IUU fishing.In the event of disagreements, countries can refer matters to the WTO’s dispute settlement body.- Developing countries -The agreement provides a “peace clause” to the world’s least-developed countries (LDCs) and developing countries, exempting them from subsidy bans within their own exclusive economic zones for two years.Furthermore, developing countries and LDCs whose annual share of the global fish catch does not exceed 0.8 percent can submit their fisheries notifications to the WTO every four years instead of every two years.They will also benefit from technical assistance, and the WTO has set up a special fund to support them, which to date has received $18 million in voluntary contributions.- Agreement could be thrown overboard -The agreement alone “won’t stop the billions in subsidies that fuel overfishing and overcapacity”, warned Rashid Sumaila, a member of NGO Oceana’s board and head of Fisheries Economics Research Unit at the University of British Columbia.And if the second agreement outlining comprehensive rules on overcapacity and overfishing is not adopted within four years, the first agreement will be “immediately terminated”, unless WTO members decide otherwise.

US ‘very close’ to TikTok deal with China: US Treasury chief 

The United States is “very close” to a deal with China to settle their dispute over TikTok, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday as the two sides resumed trade talks in Madrid.Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng opened the latest round of discussions in Madrid on Sunday, seeking to narrow differences on trade and technology that have strained relations between the world’s two largest economies.The meetings are expected to continue through Wednesday — the deadline for TikTok to find a buyer or face a ban.”On the TikTok deal itself, we’re very close to resolving the issue,” Bessent told reporters as he arrived at Spain’s foreign ministry for a second day of talks. “If we don’t reach an agreement on TikTok, it doesn’t affect the overall relationship between the two countries. It’s still very good at the highest levels,” he added.TikTok is owned by China-based internet company ByteDance.A federal law requiring TikTok’s sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect the day before US President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. But the Republican, whose 2024 election campaign relied heavily on social media and who has said he is fond of TikTok, put the ban on pause. – Shaky truce -In mid-June Trump extended a deadline for the popular video-sharing app by another 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or be banned in the United States. That extension is due to expire on Wednesday.While Trump had long supported a ban or divestment, he reversed his position and vowed to defend the platform — which boasts almost two billion global users — after coming to believe it helped him win young voters’ support in the November election.Beijing’s commerce ministry called on Washington on Friday to “work with China on the basis of mutual respect and equal consultations, to resolve each other’s concerns through dialogue and find a solution to the problem”.The talks in Madrid also cover Trump’s threat of steep tariffs on Chinese imports.Trade tensions escalated sharply earlier this year, with tit-for-tat tariffs reaching triple digits and snarling supply chains.Both governments later agreed to lower their punitive tariffs, with the United States imposing 30 percent duties on imports of Chinese goods and China hitting US products with a 10 percent levy, but the temporary truce expires in November.The US-China trade truce has been an uneasy one, with Washington accusing Beijing of violating their agreement and slow-walking export license approvals for rare earths.China is the world’s leading producer of rare earths, used to make magnets essential to the automotive, electronics and defence industries.- Nvidia probe -China on Saturday launched two investigations into the US semiconductor sector. Beijing opened an anti-dumping probe into some IC chips originating from the United States, its commerce ministry said in a statement. The ministry also said in a separate statement it will launch an investigation into whether the United States had discriminated against the Chinese chip sector.And on Monday China said an investigation found US chip giant Nvidia had run afoul of the country’s antitrust rules, and vowed an additional probe.The statement did not provide further details about Nvidia’s alleged legal violations or the further probe.Beijing — which announced the investigation in December — is currently engaged in an intense contest with the United States for supremacy in the critical field of semiconductors.Top diplomats and defence chiefs from both nations held back-to-back phone calls last week, which analysts said could mark a step towards a meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.Trump said in August he expects to visit China this year or shortly afterwards, noting that economic ties between the two countries have improved.

Markets mixed ahead of expected US rate cut

Stock markets were mixed on Monday as traders geared up for an expected interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve this week, while more weak data showed China’s economy continues to struggle.Equities have enjoyed a strong run-up over recent weeks as a string of data on jobs and inflation provided the US central bank with enough leeway to resume its rate reductions.Wednesday’s policy decision follows figures showing the labour market continuing to soften, while prices have not spiked as much as feared in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war.The keenly awaited meeting is expected to see the Fed lower borrowing costs 25 basis points, although some observers predict it could go to 50 points.Trump said on Sunday “I think you have a big cut. It’s perfect for cutting”.Still, Pepperstone’s Chris Weston wrote: “The market would be surprised if we saw any outcome other than a 25-basis-point cut from the Fed, even if several Fed governors do vote for a 50-basis-point cut.”Attention will quickly turn to the tone of the (policy board) statement, the guidance from Powell’s press conference.”The central banks of Canada, Britain and Japan are due to meet this week.Asia fluctuated after a tepid Friday on Wall Street that saw the Nasdaq inch up to a new peak.Shanghai edged down after data showed further weakness in China’s economy, with growth in retail sales and industrial production much slower than forecast.”Given the slowdown of the past few months, we expect that there’s a strong case for additional short-term stimulus efforts,” said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING.And Sheana Yue of Oxford Economics warned “the economy could fall off a cliff in (the fourth quarter) if the sluggish July and August activity pace is sustained, bringing into focus — once again — the urgent need for stimulus”.There were also losses in Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Manila and Wellington.But Seoul hit another record after South Korean officials scrapped a plan to lower the capital gains tax threshold for stock investors.Hong Kong, Jakarta and Bangkok also advanced, while Tokyo was closed for a break.Paris and Frankfurt were on the front foot while London was flat.In company news Hong Kong-listed Pop Mart, which makes the global smash Labubu dolls tanked more than six percent, wiping billions off its valuation, after JP Morgan downgraded it saying it was overpriced.The firm is up around 180 percent this year but is down more than a fifth from its August record owing to signs demand for the dolls is waning.And in Sydney, ANZ bank, one of Australia’s “big four” lenders, retreated following news it had agreed to pay a record fine of Aus$240 million (US$159.5 million) over “widespread misconduct”.Also in view are talks between China and the United States in Madrid that will cover a range of issues including trade, with an eye on a November deadline for their tariff pause.Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and his team will also discuss their dispute over TikTok with the US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.The negotiations come after China launched two investigations into the US semiconductor sector on Saturday.- Key figures at around 0810 GMT -Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 26,446.56 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 3,860.50 (close)London – FTSE 100: FLAT at 9,282.99 Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holidayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1730 from $1.1731 on FridayPound/dollar: UP at $1.3585 from $1.3560Dollar/yen: DOWN at 147.44 from 147.67 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 86.39 pence from 86.52 penceWest Texas Intermediate: UP 0.5 percent at $63.00 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 0.5 percent at $67.29 per barrelNew York – Dow: DOWN 0.6 percent at 45,834.22 points (close)

US-China trade talks resume in Madrid

China and the United States resumed trade talks on Monday in Madrid, seeking to narrow differences on trade and technology that have strained relations between the world’s two largest economies.Talks restarted at Spain’s foreign ministry, a day after delegations led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng opened the latest round of discussions. The meetings are expected to continue through Wednesday.Officials from the two nations were seen entering the headquarters of the ministry on Monday morning, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.The agenda includes two of the thorniest issues in the bilateral relationship: President Donald Trump’s threat of steep tariffs on Chinese imports and Washington’s demand that TikTok be sold to a non-Chinese owner or face a US ban by September 17.Trade tensions escalated sharply earlier this year, with tit-for-tat tariffs reaching triple digits and snarling supply chains. Both governments later agreed to roll back duties to 30 percent on US goods and 10 percent on Chinese exports, but the temporary truce expires in November.Beijing urged Washington last week to resolve disputes “on the basis of mutual respect and equal consultations.”Over the weekend, China launched investigations into the US semiconductor sector, signalling frictions remain high despite the Madrid talks.The meetings could lay groundwork for a possible summit between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this year. Until then, negotiators face the challenge of stabilising an uneasy truce while addressing disputes over technology access, tariffs and rare earth exports.

Chinese factory, consumer activity slow amid economy struggles

China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.Beijing has struggled to fully reignite the world’s number two economy since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the once-booming property sector mired in a debt crisis and exports facing mounting headwinds.The trends have contributed to a slump in consumer confidence, dragging on activity and threatening leaders’ official growth target for this year of around five percent.Industrial production edged up 5.2 percent year-on-year in August, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the slowest pace since the same month last year.The figure missed the 5.6 percent growth forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists.”The activity data point to a further loss of momentum last month,” Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, wrote in a note.”While some of this reflects temporary weather-related disruptions, underlying growth is clearly sliding, raising pressure on policymakers to step in with additional support,” she said.The NBS also said retail sales climbed 3.4 percent last month — the slowest since November and falling short of the 3.8 percent estimated in the Bloomberg survey.The figure is another sign of China’s protracted spending slump, which has also raised fears of a deflationary spiral weighing down growth.- ‘Soft sentiment’ -China’s vast real estate sector once served as a key driver of economic growth, fuelled by decades of rapid urbanisation and improved living standards.But the industry entered its current downturn in 2020 as the debt of several leading firms soared and major projects stalled.In August, new residential property prices fell year-on-year in 65 out of 70 cities surveyed by the NBS, data also showed.”The property market decline is a key driver behind soft consumer sentiment, which continues to dampen retail sales,” wrote Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING, in a note.”Sentiment remains soft despite a slew of measures over the past year,” he wrote.Chinese policymakers have since last year taken various steps to encourage spending, including a subsidy scheme for consumer goods and cancellations of certain restrictions on homebuying.But activity is still lacklustre, with data last week showing consumer prices falling in August at their fastest rate in half a year.Urban unemployment ticked up to 5.3 percent last month, a slight increase from 5.2 percent in July, according to NBS data.”Forward signals on the labour market haven’t improved as growing external headwinds cloud the outlook,” wrote Sheana Yue of Oxford Economics.”We estimate that the economy could fall off a cliff in Q4 if the sluggish July and August activity pace is sustained, bringing into focus — once again — the urgent need for stimulus,” she wrote.- ‘Numerous risks’ -NBS chief economist Fu Linghui acknowledged “weak” demand in the domestic economy during a Monday news conference, noting that “some enterprises are facing operational difficulties”.He added that “there is still much instability and uncertainty in the external environment, and (China’s) economic performance still faces numerous risks and challenges”.One of the main challenges facing the economy is the strained relationship between Beijing and Washington as disputes over technology and geopolitics mount.China-US trade tensions have been on a rollercoaster ride in 2025, with both sides slapping escalating tariffs on each other.Officials from the two countries on Sunday kicked off a fresh round of talks in Madrid, where they are set to thrash out disputes over hefty US tariffs and other key issues.

Australia’s ANZ bank hit with record fine over ‘widespread misconduct’

Australia’s ANZ, one of the country’s “big four” banks, has agreed to pay a record fine of Aus$240 million ($159.5 million) over “widespread misconduct”, the financial regulator said Monday.The fine is the largest ever announced by the regulator against a single entity, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said.ANZ was fined for “acting unconscionably” while managing a $14-billion bond deal with the Australian government.It was also penalised for “failing to respond to hundreds of customer hardship notices”, making false or misleading statements about its savings interest rates and failing to refund fees charged to dead customers.”Time and time again ANZ betrayed the trust of Australians,” Joe Longo, chair of the ASIC, said.”Banks must have the trust of customers and government. This outcome shows an unacceptable disregard for that trust that is critical to the banking system.”ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said: “As one of Australia’s biggest banks, customers trusted ANZ to do the right thing but, even on the basics like paying the correct interest rate, it fell short.” Embattled ANZ, one of four banks that dominate Australia’s financial services industry, announced last week it would cut over 3,500 staff by September next year, part of a restructuring plan it said would cost over Aus$500 million.ANZ Chairman Paul O’Sullivan confirmed that the bank had agreed to the fines, saying “the reality is we made mistakes that have had a significant impact on customers”.”On behalf of ANZ, I apologise and assure our customers we have taken the necessary action, including holding relevant executives accountable,” he said in a statement.CEO Nuno Matos added: “The failings outlined are simply not good enough and they reinforce the case for change”.

‘Demon Slayer’ tops N.America box office with record anime opening

The latest entry in Crunchyroll’s “Demon Slayer” anime film series took first place in the North American box office this weekend with a genre-record $70 million debut, industry estimates showed Sunday.”Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba — Infinity Castle: Part 1,” the first title in a new trilogy based on the popular manga series, opened to the top spot on US and Canadian screens after already becoming Japan’s third-highest grossing film of all time.”Sony-owned Crunchyroll is moving Japanese anime into the American mainstream,” analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research said, calling the movie’s North American figures “eye-popping.”The film, which continues the story of teen fighter Tanjiro Kamado as he tries to save his demon-transformed sister, soared ahead of the previous anime opening weekend record-holder, the original 1999 “Pokemon.””The Conjuring: Last Rites,” another demon-hunting film, fell to second place with $26.1 million after a monster debut last weekend of $84 million, according to Exhibitor Relations.The Warner Bros. offering once again stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, who this time are doing battle with a demon in a family’s home.In third place was Focus Features’ “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” which debuted to $18.1 million.The film is billed as the last installment, for now, in the hit “Downton Abbey” franchise, which follows an aristocratic British family and their staff as they navigate the changing world of the early 20th century.”The Grand Finale” is the third feature film in the “Downton” universe, which kicked off as a British TV series in 2010 with an ensemble cast including Hugh Bonneville and the late Dame Maggie Smith.”This is an excellent opening for the 3rd episode in a drama series,” Gross said.Meanwhile Lionsgate’s “The Long Walk,” an adaptation of the 1979 Stephen King novel, debuted in fourth place with $11.5 million.The dystopian horror story, starring Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, follows an annual competition where young men must keep walking, or be shot and killed.Gross called it a “good opening for a new psychological horror film, but it’s below average for a Stephen King adaptation.”Fifth place was taken by Disney’s “Toy Story,” which was re-released for its 30th anniversary and took in $3.5 million.Rounding out the top 10 were:”Weapons” ($2.7 million)”Hamilton ($2.2 million)”Freakier Friday” ($2.1 million)”Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” ($1.7 million)”The Sound of Music (60th Anniversary)” ($1.5 million)

New round of US-China trade talks kicks off in Madrid

China and the United States kicked off the latest round of trade talks on Sunday in Madrid, where they are set to thrash out their TikTok dispute and President Donald Trump’s promised hefty tariffs.The Chinese delegation is in the Spanish capital until Wednesday and senior officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng, will meet with the US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.The Spanish government said Sunday’s talks got under way at the Palacio de Santa Cruz, the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Trade tensions between Beijing and Washington have been on a rollercoaster ride in 2025, with both sides slapping escalating tariffs on each other.Tit-for-tat US-China tariffs reached triple digits on both sides at one point this year, snarling supply chains.Washington and Beijing have since reached an agreement to de-escalate tensions, temporarily lowering tariffs to 30 percent on the United States’ side and 10 percent on China’s part.In August, they delayed the threatened reimposition of higher tariffs on each other’s exports for another 90 days — meaning the pause on steeper duties will be in place until November 10.”The Chinese and US delegations convened here on Sunday for talks on economic and trade issues,” China’s official Xinhua news agency said in a report from the Spanish capital.Top leaders from both countries will also discuss their dispute over the TikTok social media platform during the meetings in Madrid.China urged the United States on Friday to address their dispute through dialogue.The deadline for the popular app to find a non-Chinese buyer or be banned in the United States is September 17, after Trump extended it for the third time.A federal law requiring TikTok’s sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect the day before Trump’s January inauguration.Beijing’s commerce ministry called on Washington on Friday to “work with China on the basis of mutual respect and equal consultations, to resolve each other’s concerns through dialogue and find a solution to the problem”, according to a statement.- Shaky truce -China launched two investigations into the US semiconductor sector on Saturday. Beijing opened an anti-dumping probe into some IC chips originating from the US, its commerce ministry said in a statement. The ministry also said in a separate statement it will launch an investigation into whether the United States had discriminated against the Chinese chip sector.Senior Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang urged “equal dialogue and consultation” between China and the United States after a three-day visit to Washington in August.The US-China trade truce has been an uneasy one, with Washington accusing Beijing of violating their agreement and slow-walking export license approvals for rare earths.China is the world’s leading producer of rare earths, used to make magnets essential to the automotive, electronics and defence industries.Top diplomats and defence chiefs from both nations held back-to-back discussions on Wednesday, which analysts said could mark a step towards a meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.Trump said in August he expects to visit China this year or shortly afterwards, noting that economic ties between the two countries have improved.

Norway sovereign wealth fund drops French miner over environmental fears

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund said Friday it was excluding French mining company Eramet from its portfolio, citing risks that the company was contributing to human rights violations and environmental damage at a nickel mine in Indonesia.Managed by the country’s central bank Norges Bank and fuelled by its vast energy revenues, the fund is the world’s biggest, with a value of nearly $2 trillion and investments in more than 8,600 companies across the globe.”Norges Bank’s Executive Board has decided to exclude the company Eramet SA due to an unacceptable risk that the company contributes to or is itself responsible for serious environmental damage and gross violations of human rights,” the fund said in a statement.As of June 30, the fund had a 0.44 percent stake in Eramet, valued at around $6.8 million, according to fund data.The decision was made following a recommendation from the fund’s ethics council, which cited “an unacceptable risk that the company is contributing to, or is itself responsible for, severe environmental damage and serious violation of the human rights of uncontacted indigenous people”.Specifically, the council cited “Eramet’s participation in the PT Weda Bay Nickel Joint venture, which is extracting nickel on the island of Halmahera, Indonesia”.The mining would result in the deforestation of rainforest areas and “the loss of critical habitats for endangered and endemic species”, the council said, adding that it also threatened the survival of indigenous people “in voluntary isolation”.Eramet said it “deeply regretted” the fund’s decision.”As a minority shareholder (in Weda Bay Nickel), Eramet strives to promote best practices in mining, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility with its partners, in line with the group’s values and commitment to responsible mining,” it said in a statement.Indonesian authorities told AFP on Friday they had seized nearly 150 hectares (370 acres) of the nickel mine concession that encroached into forest areas without a licence.An AFP investigation earlier this year showed its effects on members of the Hongana Manyawa Indigenous tribe, one of the country’s last isolated hunter-gatherer communities.The community, parts of which remain uncontacted, says the forest they have long relied on for food and shelter is being destroyed by deforestation and environmental degradation linked to the mine.Weda Bay Nickel has denied the allegations and says it is committed to “responsible mining and protecting the environment”.Indigenous rights group Survival International welcomed the fund’s move.”The company is now as toxic as its mining, and we’re calling on all its other shareholders to divest too unless and until there is a no-go zone for the uncontacted Hongana Manyawa people,” Caroline Pearce, director of Survival International, told AFP.