Country Garden Holdings Co. $2007.HK, China’s former top property seller, reports a sharp decline in housing sales for May, revealing deeper issues than those affecting the overall housing market in China. The Foshan-based developer experienced a 28% decrease in monthly sales compared to the previous year, amounting to approximately 3.1 billion yuan (431 million USD). This decline starkly contrasts with the 8.6% drop in new home sales observed among the nation's top 100 developers, highlighting the company's particularly challenging circumstances.

On Wednesday, the Italian Republic had a successful bond issuance, confirming growing investor interest and the attraction of significant funds. The total value of requests reached over €103 billion ($117.1 billion) for a €12 billion offering, demonstrating positive market sentiment and the recent upgrade in the country’s credit rating.

ABN Amro Bank NV $ABN.AS, one of the leading lenders in the Netherlands, has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter. The bank's net profit amounted to €397 million (or $411 million), falling short of analysts' expectations of €448.5 million. These figures highlight the challenging conditions the bank is facing amid rising costs.