Asian markets edged up Friday despite China reporting its economy grew at its slowest pace for more than three years, as investors expressed relief the figures were in line with expectations.

Official data showed expansion slowed to 7.6 percent in the second quarter, but the figures were cheered by some traders who thought they would encourage the government to take fresh moves to stimulate growth.

Seoul is considering an offer by Tehran to send crude on Iranian tankers to South Korea, officials said Friday, as a way to circumvent EU sanctions and resume imports of oil from Iran.

South Korea has been hit hard by the EU measures against Iran, imposed in the form of a ban on the provision of insurance cover for tankers carrying Iranian oil.

Oil prices are unlikely to change over the balance of this year but could come under pressure in 2013 as the global economy falters due to slower U.S. and Chinese growth, the IEA said Thursday.

The International Energy Agency, which advises developed countries on energy policy, said supply risks appeared to have put a floor under prices for this year even as global economic growth slows.

European aircraft maker Airbus announced Thursday that Lebanese airline MEA has proposed to buy ten of its single-aisle neo passenger planes.

Airbus did not disclose the deal amount for the aircraft, which have a combined list price of $1.0 billion at list prices.

Aid agencies warned Thursday that a critical shortage of funds was threatening lives in Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp complex, the world's largest, risking worsening an already volatile security situation.

"Tens of thousands of lives (are) at risk with money for vital services set to run out in two to three months," said the group of eight aid agencies, including CARE, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam and Save the Children.

French auto group PSA Peugeot Citroen said Thursday it would cut 8,000 jobs to cope with a very sharp downturn in the European market, sparking a fierce union response.

Union reaction was uncompromising, describing the announcement as a "declaration of war" and an "earthquake," with the hardline stance certain to add to the problems facing the new Socialist government.

Eurozone nations must act now to prevent creating a further 4.5 million unemployed workers in the next four years, the head of the U.N.'s labor agency warned on Wednesday.

"The Eurozone is facing its worst crisis since the creation of the single currency," International Labor Organization Director-General Juan Somavia told reporters at the launch of a report on the Eurozone crisis.

Asian markets were mixed Wednesday, recovering from earlier losses sparked by a fall on Wall Street and concerns about Italy's finances which stoked fresh fears about the Eurozone.

Stocks had also been pushed lower by the prospect that Germany may delay the launch of a permanent bailout fund for the Eurozone. The euro held steady in Asian trade.

Former Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond will give up bonuses worth £20 million after resigning over a rate-rigging scandal, the bank's chairman said Tuesday.

But chairman Marcus Agius told a British lawmakers investigating the scandal that Diamond, whose pay packages during the financial crisis were fiercely controversial, would still receive a final pay-off of around £2 million ($3 million, 2.5 million euros).

The resource-rich Australian city of Brisbane was Wednesday selected to host the G20 summit in 2014, drawing stinging criticism from officials in Sydney.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who announced last year the country had been picked as host nation, said the Queensland capital would hold the summit of the leaders of the world's 20 largest economies.