France added to its debt pile in the first quarter, official data showed Thursday, taking the country further away from meeting eurozone debt criteria.

A top Singapore bank said Thursday it has suspended loans to anyone wanting to buy property in London, citing uncertainty from Britain's vote to quit the EU but dealing a blow to investors looking to make the most of the weak pound.

Oil prices fell in Asia on Thursday as supply outlook improved with both commodities hovering close to the key $50 mark, worrying traders about producers coming back online.

Crude dipped after two days of strong gains which saw the commodity soar past the benchmark that makes financial sense for producers to restart production.

US President Barack Obama said Wednesday he is "confident" that Britain's vote to leave the European Union will not harm the the global financial system, as markets rebounded from post-Brexit losses.

"Given the vote of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, our economic teams are going to continue to work together so that we remain focused on keeping our economies growing and making sure that the global financial system is stable, something I am confident that we can do," Obama said at a summit with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts in Ottawa.

Iraq secured a deal Wednesday for a $2.7 billion US loan to finance the buying of ammunition and maintenance of tanks and fighters used in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Turkey's already limping tourism industry is suffering a fresh grievous blow after the latest in a series of attacks targeted at tourists claimed dozens of lives, analysts said Wednesday.

Dubai's transport authority announced Wednesday it had awarded a French-led consortium a $2.88 billion contract to extend its metro network to the site of the Expo 2020 world trade fair.

The consortium, led by France's Alstom Conglomerate and also including Spain's Acciona and Turkey's Gulermak, will construct a 15 kilometre (nine mile) extension to the site of the fair, a statement said.

Consumer confidence in Germany is on the rise as households feel that robust domestic demand, rising wages and low inflation will keep Europe's biggest economy on a growth path, a poll found on Wednesday.

"In contrast to the weather, German consumer sentiment is showing itself from its sunny side," market research company GfK said in a statement.

Starwood Hotels on Tuesday took over management of a luxury hotel in central Havana, becoming the first big American hospitality chain with a presence on the island since the Cuban Revolution a half-century ago.

Oil prices extended gains in Asia on Wednesday, tracking a recovery in equity markets as leaders look to temper fears over the effects of Britain's shock EU exit, while traders bet on measures to negate any turmoil.

Asian stocks and currencies have recovered this week after Friday's global sell-off, as speculation swirls that authorities will inject fresh stimulus into financial markets.