The chief financial officer of auto-making giant Stellantis NV said he doesn't see a need to separate out the company's electric-vehicle business, adding that there are benefits to sticking with a unified operation.

In a call with analysts Thursday, Stellantis CFO Richard Palmer said the company isn't anticipating any big structural changes as it boosts investment in EVs, in part because the cash flow generated by its gas-engine vehicles is critical for funding the technological transition.


U.K. Retail Footfall Recovering but Consumer Confidence Falls

U.K. retail stores footfall in April remained below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels but still continued to recover despite consumer confidence levels falling to the lowest levels seen since the 2008 financial crisis, according to the latest report by the British Retail Consortium.

Footfall in U.K. stores fell 13.1% compared with 2019 in the period from April 3 to April 30, but rose 2.3% when compared with March 2022. This is also an improvement on the three-month average decline of 15.1%.


Russia Steps Up Attacks on Ukraine Railways, Other Infrastructure

Russia is intensifying strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, seeking to disrupt deliveries of Western weapons as Moscow's offensive in the east appears to have stalled.

Ukraine's state railway operator said Thursday that 46 passenger trains were delayed by up to 11 hours because of damage from the Russian attacks.


Russia Struggles to Find New Buyers for Commodities as Europe Severs Links

With Europe weaning itself off Russian oil, natural gas and coal, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a full-scale reorientation of Russia's commodity exports by shipping more cargoes to Asia, building new pipelines and expanding railroad links to the East.

But in redrawing its exports map, Moscow faces significant hurdles, putting its sanctions-stricken economy further at risk.


Suspected Terrorist Attack in Israel Kills at Least Three on Independence Day

TEL AVIV-A suspected terrorist attack in central Israel killed at least three people and injured several others late on Thursday, shaking the country as it celebrated Independence Day.

Two unidentified assailants were involved in the attack, including one who was armed with an ax, according to Deputy Superintendent Mirit Ben Mayor, an Israeli police spokeswoman. It occurred in Elad, a largely ultra-Orthodox town adjacent to the occupied West Bank, and came in the wake of increased tensions at one of Jerusalem's most contested holy sites, where Israeli police and Palestinians clashed in the morning.


GLOBAL NEWS Write to paul.larkins@dowjones.com

Write to us at newsletters@dowjones.com

We offer an enhanced version of this briefing that is optimized for viewing on mobile devices and sent directly to your email inbox. If you would like to sign up, please go to https://newsplus.wsj.com/subscriptions.

This article is a text version of a Wall Street Journal newsletter published earlier today.


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

05-06-22 0553ET