Eurozone business activity picked up strongly in October to a 10-month high, recovering from a dip in September, as economic powerhouse Germany led the way, a closely watched survey showed Monday.

A Chinese conglomerate has agreed to buy New York-listed US insurance firm Genworth Financials for $2.7 billion, the latest in a Chinese buying spree of foreign assets.

Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih said Sunday that the current down cycle of crude prices is close to an end as market fundamentals improve. 

The European Union and Canada will decide on Monday whether to gather for a summit later this week to sign the imperiled CETA trade pact, a European source told AFP.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is to meet with the first ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to plot the path towards Brexit, her office said Sunday.

Sports equipment manufacturer Reebok is bringing some of its shoemaking back to the United States, unveiling plans to open a new manufacturing lab next year using innovative liquid material and 3D drawing.

Some parts of the 300 pairs of shoes planned will come from Asia, but the most technical components will be manufactured in Wixom, Michigan, the company said Saturday.

The head of the European parliament and Canada's trade minister held last-ditch talks Saturday aimed at salvaging a trade deal threatened by a Belgian region's refusal to sign on.

EU assembly chief Martin Schulz also planned an 11th-hour huddle with Paul Magnette, head of Wallonia's socialist government which is blocking the agreement between Ottawa and the 28-nation European Union.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Friday he hoped that a stalled EU free-trade deal with Canada can be struck in the coming days.

South Africa's MTN has denied allegations it illegally transferred $13.9 billion from Nigeria with the collaboration of top officials, in the latest scandal to hit the telecoms company in its largest market on the continent. 

A seven-fold hike in visa fees to do business in Saudi Arabia risks deterring the foreign investment needed to transform its oil-dependent economy, diplomats and other sources say.