France's highest court scrapped Thursday fines for firms that fail to monitor foreign subcontractors and suppliers, a measure meant to avoid deadly disasters such as the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment complex in Bangladesh.

Workers at the world's largest copper mine, BHP Billiton's Escondida in Chile, ended a lengthy strike Thursday that had caused turbulence on global copper markets.

U.S. President Donald Trump had yet to bring skeptical conservative Republicans on board Thursday with his plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, throwing the health care bill into doubt as the clock ticked down on a vote in Congress.

Australia urged China Thursday to press ahead with economic reforms as Premier Li Keqiang began a trade-focused visit amid growing fears of a US slide towards protectionism.

On the sidelines of the meeting of the Egyptian-Lebanese Joint High Committee in Cairo, the Egyptian-Lebanese Businessmen's Forum organized a conference sponsored by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, Saad Hariri and Sharif Ismail, at the Four Seasons Hotel.

German carmaker Porsche said Wednesday it would celebrate a record year with a one-off payment to workers of up to exactly 9,111 euros, a nod to the its iconic 911 sports car.

European markets sank Wednesday, tracking a U.S. and Asian sell-off as the Trump-fueled surge stumbled on doubts over his ability to fire up the world's biggest economy.

Japan's trade surplus hit a multi-year high in February, government data showed Wednesday, as exports to China rebounded after a Lunar New Year lull.

Asian markets tumbled Wednesday, tracking a US and European sell-off as the Trump-fuelled surge in equities went into reverse on fears about the prospects for his plans to fire up the world's top economy.

European stock markets turned lower on Tuesday, dragged down by losses on Wall Street where investors fretted about U.S. President Donald Trump's ability to push through his promised reforms, dealers said.