Indices

EU reaches initial agreement on tighter EU-Mercosur safeguards

The European Union struck a provisional deal on Wednesday to set tighter controls on imports of farm products resulting from a planned trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur, potentially...

Nigeria's Tinubu nominates new oil regulators after chiefs resign amid Dangote dispute

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm two new heads for Nigeria's oil and gas regulators after their predecessors abruptly quit, amid a high stakes clash between one agency...

EU carbon tax changes for metals are not enough, industry says

Proposed changes to the European Union's carbon border adjustment mechanism are a step in the right direction for Europe's steel and aluminium sectors but not a complete solution, industry...

Nigeria's Tinubu seeks $30 billion budget reset to end overlapping fiscal years

Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked parliament to approve a 43.56 trillion naira spending plan that repeals and re-enacts the 2024 budget to run through December 2025, aiming to end...

Telefonica to delist ADSs from NYSE over cost, administrative burdens

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica said on Wednesday it would delist its American Depositary Shares from the New York Stock Exchange, citing the administrative burden and cost of keeping them listed....

TSX opens higher led by tech, commodity shares

Canada's main stock index opened higher on Wednesday, boosted by gains in technology and commodity shares. At 9:31 a.m. ET, Toronto's S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.6% at 31,450.49...

US confirms tariff elements of trade deal with Switzerland

The U.S. Trade Representative on Wednesday announced the implementation of tariff-related elements in a trade agreement framework reached with Switzerland and Liechtenstein in November. ...

WTO chair rules out reform deal at next major meeting, document shows

Countries are making progress on reforming the World Trade Organization but will fall short of clinching a deal at a major meeting early next year, the ambassador leading the talks said in a...

Sri Lanka forecasts 5% growth in 2026, aided by post-cyclone reconstruction

Sri Lanka expects its economy to expand by more than 5% next year, matching this year's pace and significantly outstripping IMF projections, partly driven by reconstruction efforts following Cyclone...

South African inflation eases, economists see more rate cuts ahead

South African inflation slowed for the first time in three months in November, bolstering expectations that the central bank will cut interest rates further next year even with its new, lower...

Opaque crypto schemes endanger Central African Republic state assets, report says

Central African Republic has embraced opaque cryptocurrency schemes that raise the risk of state assets being captured by foreign criminal organizations, according to a report published on Wednesday...

EU to strengthen carbon levy on high-emission imports

BRUSSELS, Dec 17 - The European Union will expand its carbon border levy - a fee charged on imports of high-emission goods - to cover car parts and washing machines, under European Commission...

Russia-China Far Eastern gas route construction progressing, China ambassador to Russia tells RIA

Construction is progressing on a planned Far Eastern route to supply Russian natural gas to China, Beijing's ambassador to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui, told Russia's RIA news agency in remarks published on...

Oil rises as Trump's Venezuela blockade takes edge off global crude surplus concerns 

Oil prices rallied by more than 1% on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of all oil tankers under sanctions entering and leaving Venezuela, raising global political...

Japan plans new taxes on EVs and plug-ins from 2028, Nikkei reports

Japanese lawmakers were considering new taxes on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, which are likely to take effect from May 2028, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Wednesday.  The...

AfDB raises $11 billion for low-cost lending window, no word on US funding

The African Development Bank raised $11 billion for its fund that lends money to low-income countries on favourable terms, it said on Tuesday, surpassing the previous replenishment round's figure but...

Airtel Africa teams up with Starlink to launch direct-to-cell service in 14 markets

Airtel Africa said on Tuesday it has partnered with SpaceX to introduce Starlink's direct-to-cell satellite technology to all its 14 markets. The satellite-to-mobile service will begin...

Wall Street banks prepare for round-the-clock stock trading, reluctantly

Round-the-clock trading is fast approaching U.S. stock markets, but not all of Wall Street is embracing the move.  Several of the largest U.S. banks are reluctant to push aggressively...

EU to widen carbon border levy to close loopholes on polluting goods, draft shows

The European Union plans to extend its carbon border levy to cover car parts, refrigerators and washing machines, draft documents seen by Reuters on Tuesday showed, in a bid to close loopholes that...