ConocoPhillips to Buy Shale Rival Concho for $9.7 Billion 
 

The all-stock transaction would be the largest U.S. oil deal since the coronavirus pandemic began roiling energy markets, as companies seek to bulk up to ride out weak demand and low prices.

 
Alibaba Takes on Walmart in China With $3.6 Billion Investment in Hypermarket Chain 
 

The e-commerce giant plans to double its stake in Sun Art Retail Group, which operates more than 480 supermarket-department stores in China under the RT-Mart and Auchan brands.

 
Hong Kong's Exchange to Hold Hearing on Ant IPO After Green Light From Chinese Regulator 
 

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong will hold a listing hearing Monday to determine whether Ant Group can proceed with its planned initial public offering in the city, people familiar with the matter said, after the financial technology giant received a notice from the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

 
The Dodo Is Getting Into Pet Insurance 
 

Group Nine Media, owner of the Dodo animal-video brand, has taken a stake in Petplan, the animal insurer. The venture will be rebranded as 'Fetch by The Dodo' next year.

 
Auto Makers Grapple With Battery-Fire Risks in Electric Vehicles 
 

The companies are confronting a new challenge in their race to sell more electric cars: battery-related fires leading to vehicle recalls and safety probes.

 
LLR Collects $1.8 Billion to Invest in Lower Midmarket Businesses 
 

Philadelphia-based LLR closed on the capital late last week, after kicking off fundraising for the new vehicle, LLR Equity Partners VI LP, in early March, said Mitchell Hollin, a partner at LLR.

 
American Equity Chooses Brookfield Deal Over Takeover Offer 
 

American Equity Investment Life Holding rejected a takeover offer by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance and Athene Holding and said it reached a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management.

 
Holiday Delivery Crunch Starts Early This Year 
 

Both FedEx and UPS have told some of their largest shippers that most of their capacity is already spoken for. The outlook has sent retailers on the hunt for alternatives.

 
New 5G iPhones Kick Off Poaching Season for Carriers 
 

While AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all use Apple's high-speed cellular capabilities to promote their networks, their pitches differ.

 
CICC Poised to Raise $1.97 Billion in Shanghai Listing 
 

The A-share listing of CICC, a leading brokerage and investment bank in China, comes as the country further opens up its financial markets to foreign firms, which could ratchet up pressure on domestic players.

 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 19, 2020 09:00 ET (13:00 GMT)

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