International News
Europe close: Travel stocks battered by UK quarantine turmoil
European shares finished the week in the red as Britain's ongoing coronavirus travel quarantine confusion hammered travel shares while disappointing data out of China and deadlocked US stimulus talks also dampened the mood.
US consumer sentiment steady in August
Consumer sentiment in the US was broadly stable in August as Americans remained concerned about the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact on the economy, according to preliminary data released on Friday.
Google to ignore data requests from Hong Kong govt - report
Google said on Friday it would no longer respond to data requests from the Hong Kong government following the enactment of the new national security law imposed by Beijing.
US retail sales miss forecasts in July as Covid-19 bears down
US retail sales rose less than expected in July after coronavirus infections continued to spread across the world's biggest economy.
US reportedly confiscates Iranian fuel en-route to Venezuela
Four tankers carrying Iranian fuel bound for Venezuela have been seized by the US, according to media reports on Friday, citing unnamed sources and officials.
US pre-open: Futures mostly lower amid stimulus 'stalemate'
Wall Street futures had stocks opening mostly lower on Friday as Republican and Democratic lawmakers hit a brick wall in stimulus talks.
Eurozone €21.2bn trade surplus beats forecasts
The eurozone recorded a forecast-beating €21. 2bn (£19bn) trade surplus in June as exports to the rest of the world fell 10% and imports dropped 12. 2%.
Eurozone suffers record employment fall in Q2
The eurozone suffered a record decline in employment in the second quarter as the Covid-19 pandemic took its toll, according to figures released by Eurostat on Friday.
China's recovery falters as retail sales dip unexpectedly
China's retail sales dipped unexpectedly and manufacturing output disappointed in July fuelling concerns about the strength of the recovery in the world's second-biggest economy.
Asia report: Shares lacklustre on weak China data, US stimulus worries
Asian shares were broadly flat on Friday after weak Chinese economic data and fears that US fiscal stimulus would be delayed weighed on sentiment.
Novavax to supply UK govt with 60m doses of Covid-19 vaccine
US vaccine development company Novavax has agreed to supply the UK government with 60m doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, NVX-CoV2373, as early as the first quarter of 2021.