Germany's two biggest lenders, the ailing Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, said Sunday they would launch formal talks toward a possible merger that could create a "national champion" in financial services.

Apple dismissed Friday Spotify's accusations of anti-competitive behavior, saying the Swedish music streaming giant was trying to enjoy the benefits of its online market without paying the cost of its upkeep.

Stock markets rose Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump struck an upbeat note on trade talks with China, while the pound ended a volatile Brexit-fueled week by rising against the dollar.

Production cutbacks by OPEC nations are building a supply cushion that could be called upon to mitigate a possible supply shock from an abrupt drop in crisis-hit Venezuela's output, the IEA said Friday.

With a nationwide blackout that paralysed the country for one week, demonstrating the unreliability of the country's electricity network, new questions are being raised about Venezuela's ability to continue to produce and export oil.

Asian markets rose Friday as Donald Trump struck an upbeat note on trade talks with China, while the pound held steady after British MPs voted to delay Brexit.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the "unlimited" potential of a trade deal with Britain -- as Brexit is deadlocked in parliament.

The European Parliament on Thursday failed to back the launch of trade talks between the EU and the United States, dealing an unexpected blow to efforts to avert a trade war.

The pound retreated Thursday awaiting yet another Brexit vote, after the UK currency struck multi-month highs versus the dollar and euro thanks to British MPs ruling out a no-deal departure from the European Union. 

Dubai port and logistics giant DP World said Thursday its net profit for 2018 rose over five percent on increased trade and higher returns from new acquisitions.

The global provider, which runs port operations in over 40 countries, said in a statement that it posted a net profit of $1.27 billion in 2018, compared to $1.21 billion the previous year.

Britain's economy faces major possible risks in the event of a "no deal" Brexit including recession, a collapse in the pound, surging inflation, and multinationals leaving the UK.

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