Slapping import bans on products like mangoes, coal and salmon has long been China's way of punishing countries that refuse to toe its political line.

Steadily rising U.S. auto sales helped fuel the economic recovery, but sales have shifted into lower gear even as President Donald Trump counts on carmakers to provide a lift to his economic plans.

The repeated national security scandals rocking the Trump White House could derail the president's economic agenda and dampen the wave of investor enthusiasm that greeted his election, analysts say.

For the moment, the tremors are still slight and most economic data, job creation in particular, are healthy.

Donald Trump's new pointman on trade met Asia-Pacific trade ministers in Hanoi on Saturday as Washington reverses gear on sprawling free trade pacts in favor of one-to-one deals.

With his tough rhetoric on winning back American jobs, President Trump's elevation to the White House has raised serious fears over a new protectionist era.

Following a string of mutinies, plummeting cocoa prices, depressed growth and social unrest, Ivory Coast's economic "miracle" has taken a battering and runs the risk of turning into a mirage. 

Malaysia's economy grew at its fastest pace in two years during the first quarter, the central bank said Friday, boosted by stronger domestic demand and a pick-up in exports.

American oil production is approaching record levels again, led by shale projects, potentially foiling efforts by OPEC to support prices.

Oil prices were boosted this week after Saudi Arabia and Russia signaled they intend to extend an agreement to limit output.  That raised expectations the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will sign off on prolonging the existing production agreement at its May 25 meeting. 

Greek police fired tear gas Thursday as a thousands-strong demonstration in Athens against new austerity cuts turned violent with some hooded youths throwing Molotov cocktails.

Lebanese businessmen were invited Thursday to take part in the reconstruction of neighboring Syria where six years of war have caused tens of billions of dollars worth of destruction.

Greece's parliament on Thursday was to approve a new round of austerity cuts, hoping to secure a pledge of debt relief and loan payment approval by the country's EU-IMF creditors this month.

Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has a slim majority in parliament sufficient to pass the bill this evening.