Asian markets tracked hefty losses in New York on Wednesday owing to growing China-US tensions ahead of fresh trade talks, while the pound remained beaten down by fears Britain is on the verge of crashing out of the EU.

Britain's debt burden would jump to its highest level in 50 years if it leaves the EU without a deal, a leading think-tank warned Tuesday.

Ireland's 2020 budget includes a 1.2-billion-euro relief fund to cushion the economic blow of Britain leaving the European Union without a negotiated agreement, finance minister Paschal Donohoe said Tuesday.

Crisis-hit Japanese automaker Nissan on Tuesday named Makoto Uchida, an insider currently heading its China unit, as new chief executive as it overhauls its leadership after the Carlos Ghosn scandal.

Australia's ANZ Bank said Tuesday its half-year cash profit would take a Aus$559 million ($376 million) hit as a result of reimbursing customers for unfair fees and dodgy financial advice.

A U.S. businesswoman refused to say Monday whether she had an affair with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson while he was mayor of London, following claims he gave her privileged access to foreign trade jaunts.

Europe's stock markets rebounded Monday as investors bet that gloomy German economic data would help persuade the European Central Bank to continue its "accommodative" monetary policy, dealers said.

Anglo-Dutch commercial giant Unilever said Monday it will cut its use of new plastic by half by 2025 as pressure grows on multinational companies to do more for the environment.

Greece expects its economy to grow by 2.8 percent in 2020 whilst respecting fiscal pledges to the country's creditors, a draft budget released Monday said.

America's jobless rate tumbled in September to its lowest level in 50 years, helping assuage fears of an economic slowdown, according to government data released Friday.