President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that the United States is on the verge of easing the China trade war, days before new tariffs are due to kick in between the world's two largest economies.

The British pound dipped Thursday as Britons voted in a vital general election that seeks to determine the future of Brexit.

Eurozone stock markets meanwhile edged higher as dealers awaited the latest interest rate decision from the European Central Bank (ECB) at 1245 GMT.

Beijing and Washington are keeping in "close" contact over a potential phase-one deal to resolve their trade war, China's commerce ministry said Thursday, days before another possible tariffs salvo.

Negotiators are still trying to hammer out a mini agreement, but tensions could escalate again if President Donald Trump goes through with a planned increase in import levies on Sunday.

Energy giant Saudi Aramco's share price surged on Thursday, the day after its market debut, briefly raising the company's worth to a $2 trillion milestone before falling back.

The British pound bounced back Wednesday ahead of a UK general election, even as a fresh poll predicted Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling Conservatives would win a much smaller majority than previously forecast.

The Maldives is seeking a "diplomatic" solution to restructure its Chinese debt as the small but strategically located atoll nation struggles with repayments, the foreign ministry has said.

Saudi Aramco shares soared 10 percent to the daily limit on their trading debut on the Saudi stock exchange Wednesday, boosting the energy giant's valuation to a massive $1.88 trillion.

Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday but investors are growing nervous at the lack of news on China-US trade talks, with Washington yet to cancel tariffs on a swathe of Chinese goods planned for the weekend.

France's financial markets regulator said Tuesday it had fined US bank Morgan Stanley 20 million euros ($22 million) for market manipulation at the height of the Greek debt crisis.

Wall Street stocks rose back into record territory early Friday following a blowout November jobs report that reassured on the U.S. economy.