International News
US close: Records continue as Dow, S&P, Nasdaq continue surge
The records kept coming on Wall Street as equities soared to their fourth straight day of gains, shrugging off a raft of weaker-than-expected economic data.
Intel faces lawsuits over Meltdown and Spectre bugs
Intel is facing at least three class-action lawsuits over software bugs revealed earlier in the same week.
Saudi Aramco IPO looks more likely as change in legal status paves the way for flotation
Saudi Aramco, the Dhahran-based petroleum and natural gas company which had recently been forced to deny plans that it was abandoning its $2tn flotation of 5% of the company, received a shot in the arm on Friday after a royal decree converted the firm into a joint stock company, allowing it to expand its shareholder base beyond the Saudi Arabian government.
US open: Wall Street pushes higher despite slight miss on jobs report
Wall Street was making new inroads into record territory despite the release of a raft of weaker-than-expected economic data, although a top US rate-setter did hold out the possibility in a speech that tax cuts might unleash a sharp increase in investment.
US tax cuts may unleash a lot of investment, Fed's Bullard says
A top US central banker and one of the foremost 'doves' in policy-making circles in the States said the recently enacted tax cuts should not force the monetary authority to tighten policy more quickly.
Boardriders acquires Billabong in $155m takeover bid
Iconic Australian surfwear brand Billabong was sold to rival Boardriders on Friday as part of an estimated $155m takeover bid aimed at turning around the Queensland-based group after turning a profit in just one of the last five years.
Fed will only need to hike rates twice in 2018, Philly Fed's Harker says
The US central bank will only need to hike rates twice in 2018 and the risk of persistently soft inflation needs to be closely monitored, a top US central bank official said.
ISM services index drops to 55.9 in December
Activity in the US services sector unexpectedly slowed in December, according to data released on Friday.
Trump book 'Fire and Fury' released despite White House legal threats
Donald Trump’s lawyers tried to shut down the release of the book that has already exposed delicate issues regarding the President and his administration, leading the publisher to release the book a week early.
US jobs fall short of forecasts in December, economists still see 4 Fed hikes
US job growth fell short of forecasts at the end of 2017, contrary to the findings of a widely-followed survey of hiring conditions published the day before.
US November foreign trade deficit makes for grim reading, economists say
America's shortfall in trade with the rest of the world widened in November as the climb in world oil prices increased the country's energy bill.
Citi tells clients to overweight emerging market and European stocks
Citi predicts another positive year for stocks around the world on the back of rising corporate earnings.
North Korea agrees to talks after the South and US postpone military drills
North Korea has agreed to hold the first official talks in more than two years with its neighbour to the South after Seoul and Washington postponed their annual large-scale military exercises until after the 2018 Winter Olympics.
US pre-open: Stocks on course for fresh records ahead of payrolls report
US futures pointed to more records on Wall Street on Friday as market participants looked to the release of the non-farm payrolls report.
Trump proposes massive expansion of offshore drilling
The Trump administration is planning a massive expansion of offshore drilling by opening up protected areas in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.