French telecoms operators Orange and Bouygues both confirmed Tuesday in separate statements that they were were in "discussions" with a view to a possible tie-up.

Orange announced it had "renewed preliminary discussions" with Bouygues, while the company headed by Martin Bouygues said in its statement that "a confidentiality agreement" had been signed Tuesday by the two groups.

Oil prices rebounded in Asia Tuesday as a diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Iran deepened, but a global crude supply glut and economic weakness in China are keeping any increases in check.

Tensions between the two major oil producers over Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric have erupted into a full-blown diplomatic crisis after Riyadh and its Sunni Arab allies cut or reduced ties with Iran, sparking global concern.

Oil prices rose in Asia Monday after crude kingpin producer Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran following a row over the Saudi execution of a Shiite cleric.

Saudi Arabia announced the decision Sunday, a day after protesters ransacked its embassy in Tehran over the execution of the cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Greece's prime minister on Sunday said his government will not give in to "unreasonable" demands as the debt-ridden country braces for critical negotiations with international creditors on the thorny issue of pension reform. 

The warning came just days after Athens got one billion euros under the terms of its third bailout programme.  

Macau's gambling revenue ended 2015 with a whimper, falling for a second straight year as China's corruption crackdown continued to keep high rollers from the Asian gaming hub.

Revenue slid 34.3 percent to a five-year low of 230.84 billion patacas ($28.92 billion), according to numbers released by Macau's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. Gaming revenue fell 2.6 percent in 2014.

Russia's finance ministry said Friday it was suing Ukraine for defaulting on a $3-billion debt to Moscow, following an order by President Vladimir Putin.

Kiev is "in a state of default" regarding its obligations toward Moscow and legal proceedings would ensue, the ministry said.

Japan's All Nippon Airways is buying three Airbus A380s in a billion-dollar deal, business daily Nikkei said Friday, making it the first Japanese carrier to own the superjumbo jet.

The Japanese airline plans to introduce the double-decker planes on flights to Hawaii and other overseas destinations, in an effort to boost its international business.

China's new home prices increased in December for the fifth straight month, a survey showed Friday, following a series of stimulus measures aimed at boosting lending.

The gains come as authorities have vowed to stabilize China's property market -- a key pillar of the world's second-largest economy.

Ukraine's free-trade deal with the EU comes into effect Friday, coinciding with the start of Moscow's food embargo against Kiev that will force the impoverished former Soviet republic to revisit its economic model.

The free-trade accord is part of the broader EU Association Agreement -- signed at the end of June 2014 -- and stands at the heart of the drastic deterioration of Ukraine's relations with Russia, furious at seeing its Soviet-era satellite turn to the West.

South Korea's exports fell last year at their fastest rate since the global financial crisis, with 12 straight monthly declines fueled by a strong won and plunging oil prices.

The government data published Friday is a grim annual report for a country whose exports account for roughly half of its economic output.