International News
UK government may allow DUP donations to remain secret
The government is attempting to allow the DUP to conceal details of political donations, in spite of being bound to the transparency rules that were extended to Northern Ireland in 2014.
Europe close: Investors take profits on stocks and bonds ahead of US tax vote
Selling on the Continent accelerated in the last hour of trading, giving back some of the prior day's gains as longer-term government bond yields snapped higher on both sides of the Atlantic ahead of the first of two votes in the US Congress on Republicans' tax reform plans.
US open: Stocks dip ahead of House vote on tax cuts
Wall Street's main market gauges are trading slightly lower as investors wait on a vote on Republicans' tax cut plans in the US House of Representatives scheduled for later in the day.
Global growth next year will be fastest since 2011
According to PwC, the world economy will expand by almost 4% on a purchasing power parity basis, even as the pace of expansion in Britain slumps to its slowest since 2009.
World Bank nudges China 2017 GDP growth forecast a tad higher
The World Bank expects the Chinese economy to cool further over the short-term but said the Asian giant was making progress on re-balancing.
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange files for bankruptcy after second hack.
The South Korean exchange Youbit has been hacked for a second time this year, resulting in the loss of 17% of its total assets, leading to the announcement of a halt in trading in order to staunch losses.
US housing starts jump past forecasts in November
The US housing market continued to be in good shape last month, amid a surge in construction of single-family homes.
Chinese firms move to acquire Canada's Lithium X
Chinese group Tibet Summit Resources, along with its partner NextView Capital, agreed to acquire Canadian group Lithium X for CAD 265m.
US pre-open: Stocks to nudge up amid tax reform optimism
US futures pointed to a mostly positive session on Wall Street on Tuesday as investors grew increasingly hopeful that the US tax reform bill will be passed in the coming days.
Ramaphosa's election boosts South African-exposed shares
Shares in Anglo American, Old Mutual and Lonmin rose after the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as leader of South Africa's ruling ANC party.
Toys R' Us on the brink of collapse, putting 3,200 UK jobs at risk
The Pension Protection Fund is refusing to back the restructuring of Toys R' Us unless it stumps up £9m for the company’s pension fund.
Asia report: Most markets higher as US tax reform optimism grows
Most markets in Asia finished higher on Tuesday, after a solid close on Wall Street overnight as traders remained optimistic that the Republicans would succeed in passing their tax reform bill this week.
Euro area unit labour costs ebb moderately in the third quarter
Euro area labour cost growth slowed over the three months to September, pointing to still restrained core consumer price growth according to economists.
Euro area construction output declines in Germany and Spain in October
Total euro area construction output shrank in October amid sharp falls in output in Germany and Spain.
US blames North Korea for May cyber-attack
The White House claimed that North Korea was "directly responsible" for the WannaCry malware attack that hit more than 30,000 computers in hospitals, businesses and banks across 150 nations in May and caused billions of pounds in damage.
German business confidence deteriorates in December - Ifo
German business confidence unexpectedly deteriorated in December, according to a widely-followed survey released on Tuesday.
Saint-Gobain to buy Norwegian distributor Per Strand
French manufacturer Saint-Gobain has agreed to buy Norwegian distributor Per Strand AS for an undisclosed sum.
Boeing and Bombardier trade dispute intensifies
Aeronautical giants Bombardier and Boeing went to toe-to-toe on Monday as the two traded blows in front of the US International Trade Commission (ITC) in the most recent round of their feud amid claims by both that the other has benefited from massive subsidies.