The pound slumped to a 31-year low against the dollar Tuesday on concerns over the timing of Britain's planned exit from the European Union, according to traders.

Britain's currency also struck a fresh three-year low point against the euro, while the drops helped pushed London's benchmark FTSE 100 stocks index up to a 16-month high beyond 7,000 points at the open.

Egyptian newspapers are reporting a $3 billion rise in the country's foreign reserves last month.

The reports on Tuesday quote the country's Central Bank as saying that reserves stood at $19.59 billion by the end of September, up from $16.56 billion the month before

Australia's central bank kept interest rates at a record low Tuesday in the first meeting for newly-minted chief Philip Lowe, amid solid domestic growth and signs that commodity prices have passed their trough.

Australian growth has remained robust despite the economy's uneven transition away from mining-driven expansion, but a recent run of sluggish inflation figures drove the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut rates in May, and then again in August to 1.50 percent.

"Divorces always cost you a lot of money," sighed Charlie Mullins, one of many British bosses pushing ministers for more details on life post-Brexit at the Conservative Party's annual conference.

Saudi Arabia's government has transferred delayed funds to construction giant Saudi Binladin Group so it can pay back-wages to its remaining employees, the company said on Monday.

Greece on Monday said it expected a 2.7-percent growth spurt in 2017 after years of almost unbroken recession in a budget draft also predicting a better-than-expected primary surplus of 1.8 percent.

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel headed a large business delegation to Iran on Monday, seeking to rebuild trade ties and support the country's opening to the world despite political differences.

Ethiopia began three days of national mourning Monday for 52 people who were killed in a stampede at a religious festival after police clashed with anti-government protesters, according to state-controlled media.

The country's Oromo community had gathered Sunday in the town of Bishoftu near the capital Addis Ababa for their Irreecha (thanksgiving) ceremony to mark the end of the rainy season.

Jordan on Monday defended its deal to buy Israeli natural gas that has stirred public opposition, insisting the accord would not leave the Arab country reliant on the Jewish state.

Information Minister Mohamed Momani, who is also government spokesman, told Jordanian television that the deal would cut $600 million a year from the state's energy bill.

Saudi government workers will be paid according to the Gregorian calendar instead of the Islamic Hijri calendar, making the working month longer as part of cost-cutting measures, newspapers reported Monday.

The change, approved by cabinet last week, brings civil service pay in line with the government's January-December fiscal year, the Arab News and Saudi Gazette reported.