France said on Thursday it managed to reduce its budget deficit by more than forecast in 2015, just as the EU warned it was taking a harder line on the French shortfall.

The deficit came in at 70 billion euros ($76 billion), four billion less than forecast which, Finance Minister Michel Sapin told Europe 1 radio, takes it to levels last seen before the financial crisis.

Finnish telecom group Nokia said Thursday it had reopened its offer to shareholders of newly acquired rival Alcatel-Lucent in a bid to take over 100 percent of the Franco-American company.

The terms of the renewed public exchange offer -- open from January 14 until February 3 -- remain the same as during the initial offer period, Nokia said in a statement.

Oil prices lingered near $30 a barrel in Asia Thursday, with analysts warning they could fall further as a rise in U.S. stocks added to fears a glut in world supplies will last until next year.

Global crude benchmark Brent slipped below the psychologically key point to a 12-year low in the previous session after data showed stockpiles rose in top consumer the U.S.

The EU's economic affairs commissioner on Wednesday called on Athens "not to play games" with the International Monetary Fund as the body decides whether to participate in Greece's latest bailout.

Pierre Moscovici insisted the IMF must play a role in the three-year, 86-billion-euro ($93-billion) rescue package agreed in July, but Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said funds from the institution are not necessary.

South Korea's central bank on Thursday cut its economic growth outlook for 2016 to three percent, citing lingering "uncertainties" over a slowdown in key export markets and the won currency.

Volatility on China's financial markets was also causing shockwaves, Governor Lee Ju-Yeol told reporters, adding that while "the Chinese risk is not unexpected", global bourses are "reacting dramatically to the huge swings that are beyond expectation".

More than 40 heads of state and government will attend next week's World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, which this year is focused on "mastering the fourth Industrial Revolution," organizers said Wednesday.

Those heading to the Swiss resort town for the high-level annual gathering also include 2,500 "leaders from business and society," the WEF said in a statement. 

British supermarket chain Sainsbury's, which is seeking to buy Home Retail Group, reported Wednesday falling sales for the third quarter of its financial year, hit by challenging Christmas trade.

Sales fell 0.7 percent in the 15 weeks to January 9, compared with the equivalent period of last year, the nation's second largest supermarket company said in a trading update.

Foreign investment in Thailand plummeted last year, official data showed, the latest sign that the kingdom's once-vibrant economy continues to falter under prolonged military rule.

Total investment applied for by foreign companies between January and November 2015 plunged 78 percent from a year earlier to 93.8 billion baht ($2.62 billion), according to figures from Thailand's state-run Board of Investment (BoI) sent to AFP late Tuesday.

Slumping prices saved China more than $160 billion on its imports of commodities such as oil, iron ore, coal and copper last year, official figures showed on Wednesday.

Slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy has hammered global raw materials prices, sending shockwaves through resource-rich producer countries from Australia to Zambia.

Palestinian officials pledged to take action Tuesday against Airbnb over rooms for rent in settlements in the occupied West Bank being listed on the website as located within Israel.

Dozens of Jewish settlers advertise their homes for rent in a number of locations across the West Bank.