International News
Manchester United's Q2 results reveal cost of sacking Jose Mourinho
Manchester United spent £19. 6m on the sacking of manager Jose Mourinho before Christmas, the football club's second-quarter results revealed on Thursday.
Europe close: Equities fail to hold onto gains
European stocks could not hold onto earlier gains on Thursday as markets rocked back on their heels after a sucker punch from US retail sales.
US open: Stocks open lower as lacklustre retail sales weigh on sentiment
US stocks headed south at the open on Thursday as optimism about Sino-US trade talks was offset by the largest retail sales drop in almost a decade.
US initial jobless claims unexpectedly rise
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, while the monthly average hit its highest level in a year, according to figures from the Labor Department.
Asia report: Markets subdued ahead of trade talks in Beijing
Most markets in Asia were in the negative as they closed on Thursday, as high-level trade talks between the US and China loomed.
US retail sales slide in December, missing forecasts
US retail sales showed a surprise slump in December, the biggest since 2009.
Coca Cola falls flat on cautious outlook
The Coca-Cola Company said that strong demand for zero-sugar fizzy drinks had helped it meet analysts' expectations in 2018 - but warned that organic growth would slow in the current year.
German intelligence monitoring Russian links to far-right parties
Germany's intelligence agency is examining links between far-right parties such as Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Russian government, according to reports from the RND group of newspapers on Thursday.
Puma scores own goal with timid forecasts
Shares in Puma slid on Thursday, after the German sportswear company posted a healthy set of fourth-quarter numbers but predicted a more conservative performance for 2019.
US pre-open: Sino-US trade optimism to fuel more gains
US stocks looked set for more gains at the open on Thursday as optimism about Sino-US trade talks continued to underpin the mood.
Eurozone economy inches ahead as Germany, Italy falter
The eurozone economy continued to grow in the fourth quarter, official figures out on Thursday showed, albeit marginally.
Chinese exports see surprise return to growth
Chinese exports unexpectedly rebounded in January, returning to growth and beating analyst forecasts, official statistics showed on Thursday.
Germany narrowly avoids recession
Germany narrowly avoided a recession last year as growth in the fourth quarter was flat, according to preliminary data released by Destatis on Thursday.
US and China resume trade talks ahead of looming deadline
US and Chinese officials will resume trade talks on Thursday all through Friday as the 1 March deadline to reach an agreement moves closer.