Greece's parliament has approved a controversial bill allowing banks to sell non-performing loans to the private sector, paving the way for the next payment of bailout funds.

International creditors had put pressure on Greece to pass the bill, which is aimed at lightening the load of bad loans on the banks' books, making it a condition for handing over one billion euros ($1.1 billion).

Switzerland on Wednesday published for the first time a list of dormant bank accounts to give their owners' heirs a chance to come forward and claim the funds.

The list contains the names of individuals or companies without any movements on their Swiss bank accounts for the past 60 years.

Saudi Arabia has pledged a total of eight billion dollars in investment and aid to Egypt over the next five years, as Riyadh looks to boost military and economic ties with its ally.

Saudi's King Salman "ordered that Saudi investments in Egypt exceed 30 billion riyals ($8 billion)" and that the kingdom "contribute in providing Egypt with its needs for petrol," said a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency.

Asian markets surged Wednesday, while the dollar held its strength after overnight gains as buying confidence returned to trading floors ahead of an expected U.S. interest rate rise.

After more than a week of sharp losses, equities enjoyed some healthy buying after a rally in New York and Europe fuelled by upbeat economic data and a rare rally in oil prices.

Slumping commodity prices and lower tax receipts will see Australia's budget deficit balloon to Aus$37.4 billion (U.S.$27.2 billion) this year, Treasurer Scott Morrison said Tuesday as he downgraded economic growth forecasts.

Australia's resources-driven economy has enjoyed more than 20 years of growth but it is now transitioning out of an unprecedented mining investment boom, and the going has been bumpy with revenues under pressure.

The boss of British Airways' parent group on Monday threatened to develop the business abroad rather than in Britain after the government further delayed a decision on expanding airport capacity.

Prime Minister David Cameron had promised a decision on where to expand airport capacity in southeast England by the end of the year, but last week said no decision would be taken until at least the middle of next year.

Oil prices began shedding gains in late Asian trade on Tuesday after rebounding from sub-$35 levels in New York ahead of an expected hike in U.S. interest rates.

With global oversupply still dictating price trends, U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in January dipped 11 cents to $36.20 at 0615 GMT, while Brent crude for January was 16 cents lower at $37.76. 

Greece said Monday it agreed to sell 14 regional airports to a German operator, the first major privatization move for the country's left-wing government.

The Greek privatization agency said it was selling the airports to German airport operator Fraport for 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion).

Lithuania on Monday introduced new power lines to Sweden and Poland connecting the EU-member Baltic states to the western energy market while reducing their dependence on imports from Russia.

Vilnius hopes its new 700-megawatt undersea power link to Sweden will bring in cheaper energy while its 500-megawatt line to Poland should help integrate the Baltic states into the European power grid.

An Israeli parliamentary committee refused to give its blessing Monday to a natural gas deal aimed at tapping a huge field in the Mediterranean despite a strong push by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The 7-6 vote against the deal by the Knesset's economics committee was however non-binding and Netanyahu is expected to seek to move ahead anyway, with a court battle likely to result.