It was a step that seemed unimaginable a year ago: the Russian authorities stepping in to stop the country's currency from getting too strong.

President Donald Trump's plans to upend U.S. trade policy with import tariffs and new negotiations, slash taxes, and spend on infrastructure makes the Federal Reserve's work more challenging this week.

Since his election in November, Trump's pronouncements have left U.S. central bankers guessing and citing the "considerable uncertainty" for monetary policy until they turn into specific policies.

Switzerland's economy minister said Sunday he wants to have "background" talks with Britain so that a trade deal can be in place as soon as the UK leaves the European Union.

The head of the World Food Program said she was hopeful of continued U.S. funding for the organization, despite reports that Washington was mulling heavy cuts in financial support.

Canadian pipeline builder TransCanada announced Thursday it had submitted an application to build the Keystone XL pipeline, a controversial project that has been given the green light by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Britain will continue to obey EU rules on negotiating trade deals as long as it remains a full-fledged member of the bloc, finance minister Philip Hammond said on Friday.

The comments were made just hours before British Prime Minister Theresa May is to sit down with US President Donald Trump to begin drawing up a free trade deal linking the countries after the UK leaves the European Union.

Swiss banking giant UBS said Friday its net profit plunged 46 percent in 2016 under the weight of restructuring costs and a downturn for its investment bank in difficult market conditions.

Switzerland's largest bank reported its net profits for the year were 3.3 billion Swiss francs (3.09 billion euros, $3.3 billion).

Most Asian markets rose again Friday following another positive lead from Wall Street, with Tokyo boosted by a plunging yen, although traders remain nervous about the outlook for global trade with Donald Trump in the White House.

British Prime Minister Theresa May headed to the United States on Thursday where she will be the first foreign leader to meet President Donald Trump, with post-Brexit trade top of the agenda.

Global stocks rallied higher Thursday after Wall Street bulldozed its way to another record peak, as investors rediscovered their fervor for U.S. President Donald Trump's pro-spending policies, dealers said.