NEW YORK (Reuters) - Independent hotel operators and giant global chains are increasingly linking up in franchise agreements as high-interest rates have slammed the hospitality industry, slowing down new hotel construction. For big chains, new franchise agreements from conversions keep investors happy by opening new hotels in the short term. Meanwhile, independent, unbranded hotels like switching to franchise agreements because...

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Private equity-backed mergers and acquisitions in Asia are set for their worst start to the year in nearly a decade, as a lull in dealmaking in China and broader economic and geopolitical uncertainties dragged on sentiment, data showed. PE-backed M&A in Asia totalled $13.5 billion over January to March 19, down 32% from the corresponding year-earlier...

March 25 (Reuters) - Boeing's ( BA ) largest labor union, the International Association of Machinists District 751, is seeking a board seat at the plane maker, the Financial Times reported on Monday. ...

LONDON (Reuters) -Investors will be looking for reassurances from new H&M CEO Daniel Erver that he has the right plan to reboot revenue growth when the fast fashion retailer reports its first quarterly earnings under his leadership on Wednesday. Erver took the helm in January after his predecessor Helena Helmersson stepped down unexpectedly on the day of H&M's annual results,...