The G20 warned Friday of the risks to the global economy of populist politicians playing up anti-globalization sentiments to voters.

With the global economy already dragging, finance ministers of the group of leading economies said such populism could further hurt growth.

Qatar Airways announced a large airplane order with Boeing Friday that includes up to $6.9 billion in single-aisle planes following delays in a rival Airbus offering.

Under the agreement, Qatar will buy 30 new-generation Boeing 787s and 10 Boeing 777s, both widebody aircraft, for $11.7 billion, the companies announced. 

Europe's leaders have vowed no compromise on the terms of their divorce with Britain as a free-falling pound on Friday dramatically underscored the perils ahead for Prime Minister Theresa May's government.

When the British pound fell off a cliff on Friday morning, it soon became clear what may have been responsible -- the computers.

The Bank of England is "looking into" what caused the pound to slump more than six percent against the dollar in less than ten minutes Friday, a spokesman told AFP.

"We are looking into what happened,"  he said after sterling suffered a "flash crash" in Asia trading hours -- hitting a new 31-year low point at $1.1841. The pound slumped also to a 6.5-year trough against the euro, at 94.15 pence.

Sterling suffered a dizzying "flash crash" against the euro and dollar on Friday in a computer-generated sell-off, sending Brexit shockwaves across markets after France warned of perils ahead for Britain.

Samsung Electronics responded warily Thursday to a plan submitted by the US activist hedge fund Elliott Management for splitting the South Korean electronics giant into a separate holding and operating company.

"We will carefully review the shareholders' proposals," the technology conglomerate said in a terse one-line statement, with its spokesmen declining any further comment.

Vietnam and Iran pledged Thursday to boost future trade to $2 billion, as Tehran seeks to jump-start its sputtering economy after crippling international sanctions were lifted this year. 

Iran's moderate President Hassan Rouhani, in Vietnam on a three-country swing through Southeast Asia, has come under fire from conservative critics who say the nuclear deal signed with world powers has failed to bring a hoped-for economic boom. 

US presidential candidate Donald Trump has pledged to bring long lost American manufacturing jobs back from China. But he may be too late -- even for products that bear his family name.

A Chinese company that makes shoes for his daughter's fashion line is moving production to Africa, where labour is much cheaper.

Sri Lanka's cash-strapped national carrier said Wednesday it will pay a penalty for canceling leases on four Airbus A350s, with official sources putting the figure at about $115 million.