Troubled German lender Deutsche Bank reported Thursday a surprise 256-million-euro ($279 million) profit in the third quarter, compared with a loss of more than six billion in the same period last year.

Deutsche outdid the expectations of analysts surveyed by Factset, who had predicted it would book a loss of 949 million euros between July and September.

A Verizon executive overseeing the purchase of Yahoo said Wednesday the deal was moving ahead pending the outcome of an investigation into an epic hack.

Japan's Fujitsu said on Thursday it was in talks to merge its struggling PC business with Chinese computer giant Lenovo, sending its shares soaring as the company also announced a recovery in profits.

British bank Barclays on Thursday said it had set aside an extra £600 million ($733 million, 672 million euros) to compensate customers mis-sold insurance, a day after rival Lloyds gave a similar update.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was set Wednesday to persuade Japanese executives his country is "open for business", after upending traditional alliances by insulting the U.S. and making overtures to China.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Tuesday threatened to veto the EU's budget over a lack of solidarity from European neighbors as it struggles with a huge influx of migrants. 

A senior commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday that cooperation with foreign firms on oil projects was necessary, but putting them in charge would be a national "disgrace."

The slow global economy and the health-driven turn against sweet sodas dented Coca-Cola sales for the sixth straight quarter, delivering a 28 percent hit to net income, the company reported Thursday.

Coca-Cola said worldwide revenues fell in the quarter to September 30 by 7.0 percent from a year ago to $10.6 billion, with sharp declines in its Latin America and Europe-Africa-Middle East regions.

Saudi Arabia's financial position remains strong despite sinking oil prices, although there is "some pressure" on bank liquidity, the finance minister has said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday urged foreign businesses in the Philippines worried about his deadly drug war to "pack up and leave", as he launched another anti-American tirade before flying to Japan to attract investments.