MADRID (Reuters) -Spain's Santander on Tuesday said its net profit in the first quarter rose 58% compared to the same period a year ago thanks to higher revenues in Europe and a solid performance in South America.

UBS posted a 17% rise in first-quarter net profit on Tuesday, upending expectations for a fall in profit amidst uncertainties over the war in Ukraine, thanks to strong trading. Net profit for the quarter ended in March of $2.136 billion outpaced average expectations for $1.79 billion in a poll of 21 analysts compiled by the Swiss bank.

Ether has promised to do better. It has promised to go to the next level, edging out crypto rivals and even outshining the godfather, bitcoin. But the clock's ticking.

Battery startup Soelect and Korean supplier Lotte Chemical said on Tuesday they intend to invest more than $200 million in a joint venture to make advanced battery components for electric vehicles in the United States.

Spain's Santander on Tuesday said its net profit in the first quarter rose 58% compared to the same period a year ago thanks to a recovery in Europe and a solid performance in South America.

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's jobless rate unexpectedly fell to 2.6% in March, hitting the lowest rate since April 2020, although the number of furloughed workers remained high due to effects of the pandemic, official data showed on Tuesday.