Crystal Ball drops in Times Square for test

In final preparation for New Year's Eve, the iconic Times Square New Year's Eve ball was lit and sent up the 130-foot pole atop One Times Square for one final test run before the countdown to 2017. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Tech to boost 2017 IPO market

In addition to Snap's public offereing, a dozen expected IPOs of relatively obscure software firms could help thaw the long-frozen market. Jane Lee reports.

Read more

2016 sees third largest number of M&As ever

A telecommunications carrier seeks to become a TV network and movie studio owner, while a major software company acquires one of the world's largest social networks. These are some of the major merger and acquisitions which took place in 2016 as Laura Frykberg reports.

Read more

Markets fare well despite a year of shock

Global markets have fared surprisingly well in a year marked by major political shocks, including June's Brexit vote and the unexpected election of Donald Trump as U.S. president in November. And as Sonia Legg reports, U.S. stocks have hit successive record highs and emerging equities have rebounded 8 percent after three years in the red.

Read more

China's currency plunges in 2016

Beijing officials face a long list of worries as China's yuan posts its biggest annual fall in more than two decades, and Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on Chinese imports could add further pressure in 2017. Tara Joseph reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Disney's Netflix fix

Antony Currie and Jen Saba outline how buying the streaming-video service could help the House of Mouse solve both its consumer technology and CEO succession issues – at a price.

Read more

Asia stocks end 2016 on buoyant note

Asian stocks looked set to end 2016 on an upbeat note, with the benchmark headed for its first annual gain in three years, while the dollar reversed earlier losses and oil was poised to record its biggest gains in seven years. Sonia Legg reports

Read more

Cubans plug in as internet access spreads

More Cubans are getting access to the internet, a rarity in a country with one of the lowest internet penetration rates in the world. Laura Frykberg reports.

Read more

Burger King, Tim Hortons cut antibiotics in chicken

Restaurant chains Burger King and Tim Hortons are switching to chicken raised without antibiotics. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Wall St edges down as bank shares weigh

Wall Street ended slightly lower on Thursday, held down by bank shares in quiet holiday trading as traders looked to position for the new year. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Dear Donald Trump

Reuters asks top investors: "If you found yourself in an elevator with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, what advice would you give him?

Read more

Jonathan Corpina's best investment idea for 2017

Meridian Equity Partners' Jonathan Corpina talks with Bobbi Rebell about the best investments for next year, and why the Dow is unlikely to cross 20,000 this year, as he had earlier predicted.

Read more

Takata could settle next month - source

Japan's Takata, maker of defective air bags that have been linked to 11 deaths in the U.S., could settle criminal charges with the U.S. Department of Justice before the Obama administration leaves office next month, a source told Reuters. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Cubans optimistic despite economic contraction

Cuban people are optimistic in the face of economic contraction in 2016. Laura Frykberg reports.

Read more

Sprint, OneWeb say 8,000 jobs part of SoftBank pledge

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said telecommunications group Sprint Corp and a U.S. satellite company OneWeb will bring 8,000 jobs to the United States, and the companies said the positions were part of a previously disclosed pledge by Japan's SoftBank. Alicia Powell reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Trickledown Trump

Antony Currie and Gina Chon explain how the president-elect's policies on tax, infrastructure and repatriating corporate cash will benefit the rich way before they help the less well-off.

Read more

Brexit Britain: business morale high for now

Morale in large British companies hit an 18-month high in the fourth quarter, bolstered by robust economic growth and recovering fully from a slump that followed the Brexit vote. But, as Laura Frykberg reports, the Deloitte's survery also showed business were still loath to increase investment spending becasue of uncertainty about Britain's divorce from the EU.

Read more

Ad agency head resigns over 'death by overwork'

The president of Dentsu Inc, Japan's largest advertising agency, will step down over the "death by overwork" of a young employee. As Sonia Legg reports, the suicide has prompted official probes and fresh hand-wringing over Japan's overtime culture.

Read more

Toshiba shares tumble after second downgrade

Shares in Toshiba have fallen more than 19 percent, clocking a third day of heavy losses after the Japanese tech-to-nuclear conglomerate said earlier this week it faced a potential multi-billion dollar writedown. Sonia Legg reports

Read more

2016: Europe banks' annus horribilis?

Italy's in the grip of a banking crisis but Monte dei Paschi isn't the only lender hoping for a change of fortunes next year. As Ivor Bennett reports, it's been an 'annus horribilis' for several of Europe's biggest lenders.

Read more

S. Korea fines Qualcomm $854 mln

South Korea's antitrust regulator fined Qualcomm $854 million for unfair business practices in patent licensing and modem chip sales. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Tim Anderson on why Dow 20k may be a distraction

Tim Anderson of MND Partners, a division of TJM Investments talks with Bobbi Rebell about the extreme focus on Dow 20k, and what it will really mean to investors.

Read more

Indictment & tax amnesty: what next for Argentina?

Argentines concerned about a harsh recession have found themselves reminded of ghosts from their recent past. As Sonia Legg reports, former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has been indicted on charges she ran a corruption scheme with a public works secretary who was arrested in June while trying to stash millions of dollars in a convent.

Read more

Delta cancels order for 18 Dreamliners

Delta Air Lines nixes an order for 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes, which it assumed as a part of its merger with Northwest Airlines. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Abbott allowed to buy St. Jude Medical

Healthcare company Abbott Laboratories wins U.S. antitrust approval for its proposed $25 billion acquisition of medical device maker St. Jude Medical. Roselle Chen reports.

Read more

Japan firms ramp up output

Japan's factory output rose in November and manufacturers expect to ramp up production in coming months, data shows, underscoring the central bank's view that a pick-up in global demand will underpin a steady economic recovery. As Sonia Legg reports, the data comes as some bankers and lawyers say Japan Inc could become a more important force in dealmaking next year.

Read more

Global stocks 2017: after the highs, the lows?

2016 ends with record highs for US stock markets and strong gains elsewhere, as a post-Trump rally carries through into a new year and markets shrug off Brexit. But could 2017 be a year or reckoning as risks to the global outlook become reality? David Pollard reports.

Read more

Qualcomm fined $854 million by South Korea

South Korea's fair trade commission rules that the U.S. chipmaker took advantage of its position as a dominant player, forcing phone makers to pay excessive royalties. Tara Joseph reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Cash but not jobs

Breakingviews editors dissect a likely 2017 Trump tax break for U.S. companies repatriating cash from overseas and explain why most of it is likely to go to shareholders, not towards factories and job creation.

Read more

An animated guide to the BOJ's long struggle to get Japan growing

An animated graphic explains the tactics used by the Bank of Japan to boost the country's stagnant economy.

Read more

Monte Paschi rescue fund rises-sources

The Italian government is likely to put in around 6.5 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to rescue the country's third biggest lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena, more than initially expected. As Hayley Platt reports the higher cost of the state rescue is due to the fact that the European Central Bank has revised the bank's capital shortfall to 8.8 billion euros from a previous estimate of 5 billion euros.

Read more

Nasdaq hits record high

U.S. stocks rose slightly, supported by upbeat consumer and housing data, with gains in technology shares lifting the Nasdaq Composite to a record close. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Iran says it sealed Boeing plane deal at half price

Iran says it negotiated to pay only about half the announced price for eighty new Boeing airliners in an order that the American planemaker had said was worth $16.6 billion. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Panasonic invests $256 mln in Tesla's plant

Panasonic will invest more than $256 million in a Tesla factory in New York to make photovoltaic cells and modules. Roselle Chen reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: U.S. states' $1 trln hole

Kevin Allison and Richard Beales discuss how rising interest rates may help reduce U.S. states' pension funding shortfall in 2017 – but not by much, especially with investment return assumptions still too high.

Read more

Day after Christmas shopping spree

The day after Christmas is not just for returning gifts -- it's a time for bargains. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

Read more

A tough habit to break as Myanmar farmers try to turn away from illicit crops

Myanmar farmers struggle to turn away from illicit but lucrative opium crops. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

Read more

Wall St rises, Dow racks up 7th straight weekly gain

Wall Street ended the week on a positive note on Friday as investors doubled down on a rally fueled by optimism that President-elect Donald Trump's policies will boost economic growth. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Ken Kamen on why the markets are too optimistic

Mercadien Asset Management's Ken Kamen talks with Bobbi Rebell about the Dow's 7 week winning streak, and whether the markets re too optimistic about the time it will take to implement president-elect Donald Trump's economic plans.

Read more

Amazon ships itself to speed up

Amazon's Prime Air cargo planes are flying nearly full, taking business away from FedEx and UPS, Reuters has learned. Fred Katayama reports.

Read more

Holiday sales lackluster - analyst

Brick and mortar stores offer a lot of discounts, but their margins are eroded, partly due to fierce competition from online retailer Amazon, says retail analyst Mary Epner. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

$12bn hit for Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse

Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank have been hit with a combined penalty of more than $12 billion over the sale of U.S. toxic debt, further hampering two of Europe's leading investment banks as they grapple with falling profits. Ciara Lee reports.

Read more

Amazon Prime takes to the sky

The e-commerce giant, ubiquitous in our lives, is now taking to the air as it races to deliver everything from toilet paper to diapers in two-day shipping for its Amazon Prime members.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Steering driverless cars

Among the many issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, there are growing questions about insurance. Richard Beales and Jeffrey Goldfarb consider the risk assessments for GM, Google, Geico and beyond.

Read more

Sherry: a drink for life or just for Christmas?

A glass of sherry is a long established Christmas tradition in Britain, but a dramatic slump in sales over the last decade has led to a campaign to drum up support for the drink over the festive season. Ivor Bennett reports.

Read more

Can bailout save Monte dei Paschi?

The Italian government has approved a decree to bail out Monte dei Paschi di Siena after the world's oldest bank failed to win investor backing for a desperately needed capital increase. Ciara Lee asks whether the bailout will be enough to fix the ailing lender.

Read more

Weight Watchers stock: "dog with fleas," says Ross Gerber

Weight Watchers stock climbed, but Gerber Kawasaki's Ross Gerber tells Reuters' Fred Katayama people prefer using digital products to manage weight loss than count calories at the weight management chain.

Read more

Trump's team ponders tarriffs - CNN

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is pondering an early executive action to impose tariffs on foreign imports, according to CNN. Roselle Chen reports.

Read more

Saudi budget slashes deficit to boost spending

Saudi Arabia says it’s managed to reduce its record budget deficit this year. The Middle East’s largest economy also says it’ll spend more in 2017 to try and boost slowing economic growth. Nawied Jabarkhyl reports.

Read more

Uber retreats in San Francisco

Uber removes its self-driving cars from San Francisco streets just as Alphabet and Honda Motor explore a partnership over autonomous vehicles. Fred Katayama reports.

Read more

Bailout time for Monte dei Paschi?

As a final deadline approached for Monte dei Paschi di Siena to pull off a last-ditch rescue plan, a state bailout for the ailing Italian bank looked certain. David Pollard reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Latam pain-gain trade

Antony Currie and Martin Langfield explain how austerity measures implemented by right-leaning leaders in Brazil and Argentina could spark a populist backlash if growth doesn't ignite soon.

Read more

Nokia strikes back at Apple over patents

The mobile telco industry goes on a war footing as Nokia files lawsuits against Apple for violating 32 technology patents. As Hayley Platt reports, the move is a strike back at the iPhone maker's own legal action a day earlier.

Read more

Russell Investment's Stephen Wood on why he believes stocks are too expensive

Stephen Wood, Chief Market Strategist at Russell Investments talks with Bobbi Rebell about the recent stock market rally, and why he thinks it has gone too far.

Read more

Japan approves record spending plan for 2017/18

Japan's cabinet approves a record $830 billion spending budget for fiscal 2017. As David Pollard reports, it counts on low interest rates and a weak yen to limit borrowing as Tokyo strives to curb the industrial world's heaviest debt burden.

Read more

U.S. existing home sales rise to near 10-year high

U.S. home resales unexpectedly rose in November, reaching their highest level in nearly ten years. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Wall Street loses ground after Trump rally

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday, with healthcare and real estate shares losing ground a day after the Nasdaq and Dow hit record highs. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

More U.S. sanctions on Russia, but for how long?

The U.S. State Department has defended new sanctions on Russia, saying they were prompted by Moscow's actions in Ukraine. But as Ivor Bennett reports, with Donald Trump becoming President in a few weeks they may not have much long term impact on the economy.

Read more

VW agrees to fix, buy back more U.S. diesel vehicles

Volkswagen AG has agreed to a $1 billion settlement to fix or buy back another 80,000 polluting diesel vehicles sold in the United States as the German automaker took new steps to put its emissions cheating scandal behind it. Hayley Platt reports.

Read more

Michael Bapis: More upside for financials

Despite the 18% gains for financials after the election, HIghTower's Michael Bapis tells Reuters' Fred Katayama there's more room for financials to rally.

Read more

Dow at 20000 is a sign of market health

The Dow closing in on 20000 mark is a stake in the ground for the health and pricing of the market, says Jane Barratt, founder and CEO of GoldBean.

Read more

South Koreans scramble as egg prices jump

South Koreans say they are grappling with an egg shortage after the country's worst bird flu outbreak resulted in the culling of close to one-fifth of its poultry population.

Read more

U.S. investigates one million Fiat Chrysler vehicles

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching an investigation into about one million Fiat Chrysler Ram pickup trucks and SUVs for roll-away crashes. Fred Katayama reports.

Read more

EU: Facebook misled it over WhatsApp

EU regulators charge the social network gave them misleading information during its purchase of the messaging service. As Fred Katayama reports, Facebook could face a massive fine.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Robots vs. Trump

The president-elect wants to restore U.S. manufacturing jobs. But Antony Currie and Gina Chon explain the bigger effect on employment is the rise of machines, not much-maligned free trade.

Read more

Italy bids to borrow €20bln for ailing banks

Italy's government is to seek parliamentary approval to hike national debt by up to 20 billion euros to cover any eventual operation to stabilise the banking system. As David Pollard reports, it comes as the government is widely expected to have to step in to save Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which must raise 5 billion euros in capital by the end of the year or face being wound down.

Read more

2017 - The Year Ahead Part Two

Kimberley Lim talks to Daniel Franklin, Simon Derrick and Louise Cooper about the future of the EU and the Indian economy in 2017.

Read more

BOJ upbeat but shrugs off rate hike talk

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda offers an upbeat view of the economy but seeks to douse market talk the central bank may soon consider raising interest rates, vowing instead to keep policy loose to achieve the BOJ's 2 percent inflation goal. Sonia Legg reports.

Read more

2017 - The Year Ahead Part Two

Kimberley Lim talks to Daniel Franklin, Simon Derrick and Louise Cooper about the future of the EU and the Indian economy in 2017.

Read more

2017 - The Year Ahead Part One

Kimberley Lim talks to Daniel Franklin, Simon Derrick and Louise Cooper about the prospects for the global economy in 2017 and Donald Trump’s Presidency.

Read more

Platinum Partners charged with fraud

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission charged Platinum Partners with defrauding investors. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Monte dei Paschi's last-ditch funding effort

Troubled Italian bank Monte dei Paschi makes a last-ditch attempt to raise 5 billion euros by the end of the year and avoid a state bailout. But as Ciara Lee reports, time is running out for the world's oldest bank to convince investors to back it.

Read more

A hitch for Hollywood in China's cinemas

Hollywood finds a new formula for cracking China's tough box office: make the films in China. Matt Damon leads the charge with 'The Great Wall', already raking in the millions on its first weekend in China. But Hollywood faces some fresh challenges in what will soon be the world's biggest movie market.

Read more

Iran could land first Airbus jet within weeks

Iran expects to get its first new jet within weeks under a multi-billion-dollar deal with Airbus for 100 planes, as Tehran and Western firms race to reopen trade. Ciara Lee reports.

Read more

UK's May slams December strike wave

Britain's Prime Minister has criticised a wave of strikes sweeping Britain as unacceptable action that showed "contempt" for ordinary people in the run-up to Christmas. As Sonia Legg reports, walkouts by airline cabin staff, baggage handlers, rail conductors and Post Office counter workers are all planned this month.

Read more

Apple appeals EU tax ruling

Apple has launched a legal challenge to a record $14 billion EU tax demand, arguing that EU regulators ignored tax experts and corporate law, and deliberately picked a method to maximize the penalty. Sonia Legg reports

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Marissa Mayer's misses

Jennifer Saba and Richard Beales wonder how much has to go wrong on the Yahoo CEO's watch before she loses the traditional second chance and becomes unemployable as a company boss.

Read more

Looting breaks out in Tachira, Venezuela amid economic crisis

Venezuelans in Tachira defy security forces and loot warehouses as citizens struggle with shortages in the midst of a brutal economic crisis. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Read more

Markets pin hopes on Santa rally

Stock markets may look for more strong gains after last week's surge in US and European equities, while on the macro front, the Bank of Japan and Germany's latest IFO reading take centre stage in the run-up to Christmas. And as David Pollard reports, some in the markets may just sit back and ponder the year ahead.

Read more

Tech drags Wall Street lower

U.S. stocks fell on Friday, weighed by a drop in Oracle shares. Angela Moore reports.

Read more

Mylan launches EpiPen generic at $300 per two-pack

Mylan will start selling a generic version of its life-saving EpiPen allergy treatment for $300 per two-pack, a more than fifty percent discount. Jeanne Yurman reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: DeVry gets schooled

As for-profit education stocks soar, Kate Duguid and Tom Buerkle discuss the fraud settlement by DeVry University, possibly the last of its kind with the Trump U. founder set to take office

Read more

Harsh reality sets in for Brazil

Brazil's President Temer has unveiled a raft of stimulus measures to try and quell the growing discontent across the country, after the Senate approved a controversial 20-year spending cap in a bid to get the country's economy back on track. Kate King reports

Read more

Post-Fed dollar surge: the winners, the losers ...

The dollar climbs towards a 14-year peak as global markets adjust to the idea of higher U.S. interest rates, triggering worries over who stands to lose from a higher greenback. As Kate King reports, emerging markets are seen as one major casualty.

Read more

Upbeat outlook ahead for 2017, says Germany's IFO

Germany's influential IFO institute seals a week of positive data from the euro zone data with an upbeat outlook for its largest economy. Germany will rebound more strongly in Q4, it says, and its growth momentum will follow through into 2017. David Pollard reports.

Read more

Zimbabwe's new bond notes: the view on the street

Zimbabwe's new bond notes - issued last month as a quasi-currency to ease a serious cash crunch - may have prompted hyperinflation fears, but local vendors say they're now able to sell their goods more easily. Hayley Platt reports.

Read more

Betting big on China's thirst for clean milk

A Chinese millionaire is paying more than $200 million for a dairy farm in Australia. He plans to fly the milk fresh to China where it will sell at a steep premium. It's an expensive and complicated logistic feat. But Reuters' Clyde Russell explains why it just might work.

Read more

Banks push Wall Street up; Dow brushes against 20,000

U.S. stocks rose led by gains in bank shares, a day after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the second time in nearly a decade. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Stifel's Lindsey Piegza on the economy and the markets

Stifel Chief Economist Lindsey Piegza talks with Bobbi Rebell about the latest U.S. economic data, the Fed and what is all means for the financial markets.

Read more

Yahoo shares plunge as Verizon explores nixing deal

Verizon is looking at ways to modify or nix its $4.8 billion deal to buy Yahoo's core internet business after the technology company disclosed a second massive data breach. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

White House says FBI investigating Yahoo breach

The White House says the FBI is investigating a massive security breach at Yahoo from 2013 and adds that officials want to ensure that releasing public information about those behind the attack would not compromise the probe. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Read more

Nigeria: Buhari boosts budget but anger soars

Nigeria's President Buhari has presented a record budget for 2017 to lawmakers in bid to pull Africa's biggest economy out of recession. As David Pollard reports, ordinary Nigerians are venting their frustration at what they see as a series of failed promises from the government.

Read more

Euro zone dampens Greek Christmas spirit

Greece responds to a euro zone decision to put debt relief on hold in a row over Christmas bonuses for pensioners - by scheduling its own parliamentary vote on whether to go ahead with the payment. Ivor Bennett reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Fox eye on the Sky

Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox has agreed to take full ownership of European pay-TV operator Sky for $15 bln. Jeffrey Goldfarb and Jen Saba discuss the strategic and financial logic.

Read more

Global PMIs: year ends on high note

Businesses in the euro zone end the year on a high note, with PMI surveys showing solid growth. As David Pollard reports, Japan's manufacturing also grew - at its fastest pace in almost a year.

Read more

Fed rate forecasts: rhetoric or reality?

European bank stocks get a boost from the Fed's interest rate hike but markets elsewhere wobble on the prospect of three further rate hikes signalled for next year. Ivor Bennett reports.

Read more

Murdoch's Fox agrees deal to buy Sky for $14.6 bln

Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox says it has agreed to buy European pay-TV firm Sky for $14.6 billion. Ciara Lee reports.

Read more

Wall Street slides after Fed raises rates

U.S. stocks fell the most in two months on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter point, and signaled hikes could come next year at a faster pace than some expected. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Fed raises rates, sees faster pace of hikes in 2017

The U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates by a quarter point and signales a faster pace of increases in 2017. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Fed raises rates

The U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates by a quarter point on Wednesday and signaled a faster pace of increases in 2017 as the Trump administration takes over. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Read more

Lakshman Achuthan's take on the Fed's rate hike

Lakshman Achuthan talks with Bobbi Rebell about the Fed's decision to raise rates by a quarter of a point, and what that will mean for the economy, and the financial markets.

Read more

The Fed and You

How the Fed's actions affect everyone in the economy, from top to bottom.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: A tale of two banks

Tom Buerkle and Antony Currie discuss what the latest senior-management changes mean for Goldman Sachs and dig into fresh stumbles for Wells Fargo boss Tim Sloan.

Read more

China to penalise U.S. automaker for monopolistic behaviour

China will soon slap a penalty on an unnamed U.S. automaker for monopolistic behaviour, the official China Daily newspaper reported, quoting a senior state official. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Trump, Silicon Valley's elite seek to smooth over frictions

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will host executives from top technology companies for a meeting at his Manhattan tower on Wednesday. Fred Katayama reports.

Read more

Italian PM wins confidence vote

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni wins a confidence vote in the upper house Senate, allowing his coalition government to take office. As Ciara Lee reports, his most pressing issue will be staving off a banking crisis.

Read more

Global economy: upbeat Tankan as Fed meets

As the US Fed concludes a policy meeting almost certain to deliver a rate hike, new data points the way up for the global outlook. Japan's key Tankan survey brightens to a one-year high and inflation in the euro zone hints at a rebound. David Pollard reports.

Read more

'Fast fashion' speeds up Inditex sales

'Fast fashion' helps Zara clothing retailer owner Inditex outpace many of its rivals - the Spanish group reporting a 9 per cent jump in profits from February to October, with a nearly 15 per cent jump in sales. Hayley Platt reports.

Read more

Stocks rise to record highs

The Dow Jones Industrials got closer to hitting the psychologically key 20,000 mark one day ahead of a closely watched Fed meeting on interest rates. Fred Katayama reports.

Read more

Sanofi - new suitor for Actelion?

After Johnson & Johnson ended its bid, France's Sanofi is reported to be the next suitor in waiting for a tie-up with Europe's largest biotechnology drug maker, Actelion. As Ciara Lee reports, a deal could value Actelion at as much as $30 billion.

Read more

Bill Gates meets with Donald Trump

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates meets with Donald Trump in New York and says he spoke with the president-elect about innovation. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Rex Tillerson

Kevin Allison and Richard Beales weigh the pros and cons of the Exxon Mobil CEO becoming Donald Trump's secretary of state, and what it means for the leadership of the $380 billion energy giant.

Read more

Inflation-hit Venezuela pulls biggest bank note

Venezuela, mired in an economic crisis and facing the world's highest inflation, will pull its largest bill, worth two U.S. cents on the black market, from circulation this week. David Pollard reports.

Read more

Trump picks Tillerson for State

President-elect Donald Trump chose Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his Secretary of State. As Fred Katayama reports, Tillerson could be in for a contentious Senate confirmation hearing.

Read more

Caviar farm hopes quality will beat low prices

A French caviar producer in southwestern France says it's employing painstaking methods to farm sturgeons and harvest their eggs, in order to justify high prices as the industry sees a bump in stocks and new competition. Sonia Legg reports.

Read more

The Dow posts another record high on strength in healthcare

The Dow rally continued but the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell on Monday after six sessions of gains, weighed by tech sector stocks, while a rally in energy shares petered out as crude oil gains withered. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Jonathan Corpina on why the Fed meeting could disrupt the rally

Meridian Equity Partners Jonathan Corpina talks with Bobbi Rebell about what will drive stocks this week- and what the Fed could say that could derail the march upwards, and lead to a tough start to 2017.

Read more

The Fed explained

How the Fed decides to raise or cut interest rates.

Read more

Lockheed joins list of Trump Twitter take-downs

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump took aim at another major defense contractor on Monday, saying the cost of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet program was too high. Conway Gittens reports.

Read more

IMF's Lagarde vows to fight negligence charge

The International Monetary Fund chief pledged to fight "allegation by allegation" charges of negligence when she went on trial in Paris over her role in a huge payout by the French state to businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008. AsSonia Legg reports, Christine Lagarde was France's finance minister when she approved an out-of-court settlement with Bernard Tapie to end a long-running dispute between the magnate and the French state.

Read more

Rate hike nearly in the bag

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to increase interest rates after its two-day policy meeting that ends on Wednesday. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Redstones' new M&A dance

Media mogul Sumner and daughter Shari have given up on a CBS-Viacom merger. Antony Currie and Jennifer Saba explain that other industry deals have raised hopes of finding better partners.

Read more

Trial of IMF's Lagarde begins in Paris

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde goes to trial over her role in a €400 million ($424 million) payout to businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008, when she was France's finance minister.

Read more

Fox's bid for Sky hits a snare

A major shareholder in British pay-TV company Sky tells Reuters it will vote against Twenty-First Century Fox's $14 billion takeover bid in its current form. Jo Webster reports.

Read more

Viacom, CBS merger called off

National Amusements, the majority stakeholder in both, CBS and Viacom, is pulling its support for the merger between the media giants that was outlined in September. Jeanne Yurman reports.

Read more

Monte dei Paschi's last ditch capital plan

Italy is reportedly ready to pump capital into Monte dei Paschi di Siena if the ailing bank fails to get the money it needs to remain in business from investors. As Sara Hemrajani reports, the bank is still hoping to find private investors now a new government is being put together, offering some political stability.

Read more

Iran seals $17 bln Boeing deal, close to Airbus order

Iran has signed a $16.6 billion deal for 80 Boeing passenger jets and was said to be close to another for dozens of Airbus planes to complete what would be the biggest package of firm contracts with Western companies since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. Sonia Legg reports

Read more

'Moana' tops box office for third straight week

Disney's animated film 'Moana' holds on to the the top spot at the box office, with Paramount's holiday film 'Office Christmas Party' debuting in second place. Diane Hodges reports.

Read more

Weekahead: markets on Fed alert

Just how fast the Federal Reserve hikes rates next year will be the all-important question global investors will be hoping to get answered when the U.S. central bank meets next week. But, as Ciara Lee reports, IMF chief Christine Lagarde may also come under close scrutiny as she goes on trial.

Read more

Tiny Pacific island soaks up Chinese gambling cash

The sleepy Pacific island of Saipan is the latest hotspot for floods of Chinese cash after a casino set up by a former Macau junket operator started operations last year. Paul Chapman reports.

Read more

Fatal accident theme park reopens

The Dreamworld theme park in Australia has reopened for business after October's deadly ride accident which killed four people. Paul Chapman reports.

Read more

S&P ends week up three percent

Major U.S. stock indices powered to another day of fresh record highs on Friday, with the S&P 500 ending the week up three percent. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

U.S. to send most oil to China since lifted ban

Two major Chinese state-owned oil companies have chartered ships to load more than 2 million barrels of U.S. crude oil in December, three sources told Reuters on Friday, the biggest sale to China since the U.S. lifted a ban on oil exports one year ago.

Read more

Kevin Kelly on where the risk could be in this market

Recon Capital Chief Investment Officer Kevin Kelly still recommends equities over fixed income but, as he tells Bobbi Rebell, there are risks investors need to watch out for in the Trump rally.

Read more

S&P ends week up three percent

Major U.S. stock indices powered to another day of fresh record highs on Friday, with the S&P 500 ending the week up three percent. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Goldman's Trumpster?

Breakingviews editors discuss the latest report that Gary Cohn, No. 2 at Goldman Sachs, might join Donald Trump's administration - and what his departure would mean for the investment bank and CEO Lloyd Blankfein.

Read more

Monte, UniCredit: pressures mount on Italy's banks

The European Central Bank has rejected a request by Italy's Monte dei Paschi di Siena for more time to raise capital, a source said on Friday. As David Pollard reports, sources have also told Reuters that the country's largest lender, UniCredit, is set to announce a massive cash call, as pressure on the banking sector mounts.

Read more

Coca-Cola's CEO stepping down

Coca-Cola's CEO Muhtar Kent, at the helm for nearly a decade, is stepping down next year. The company's COO, James Quincey, will assume the top spot. Jeanne Yurman reports.

Read more

UniCredit: new test for Italy's fragile banks?

Italy's largest lender, UniCredit, is set to announce the country's biggest bank share issue, worth up to 13 billion euros ($13.8 billion). As Ciara Lee reports, it could be a major test of confidence for a banking sector already under pressure over the failing Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

Read more

Oil rises on hopes of non-OPEC output cuts

Oil prices extend gains for a second session running on optimism that non-OPEC producers will agree to cut output following a cartel agreement to limit production. Is a deal really a realistic prospect? Hayley Platt reports.

Read more

Further arrest over Colombia plane crash

Another man has been arrested over the LaMia airline plane crash in Colombia which killed nearly all the members of a Brazilian soccer team. Paul Chapman reports.

Read more

German trade disappoints, but ECB cheers markets

German exports are struggling to rebound in an uncertain global market, according to new data. But the euro steadies after seeing the biggest fall since the UK's Brexit vote on the ECB's decision to extend its money-printing programme, while stocks make strong gains on the decision. David Pollard reports.

Read more

Trump celebrates longtime friend of Beijing as U.S. ambassador to China

President elect Donald Trump outlined a series of challenges as he introduced his choice to serve as the next U.S.. Ambassador to China, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Read more

Wall Street again marks new highs in post-election run

Major U.S. stock indexes climbed again on Thursday and set fresh record highs, as a month-long rally, following the presidential election of Donald Trump, rolled on. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

S&P Global's Erin Gibbs on why the market rally will continue

Erin Gibbs of S&P Global talks with Bobbi Rebell about why she expects to see a Santa Claus rally this December, and why she is paying particular attention to the retail sector for 2017.

Read more

Starbucks' premium coffee drive

Starbucks plans to build 30 tasting rooms worldwide and place coffee bars in 20 percent of today's cafes. Lily Jamali reports.

Read more

WWE eyes tough-to-crack Chinese market

WWE, the $1.4 billion company known for its big personalities and their story lines, wants its Chinese athletes to be the next TV sensation in China, a market where other U.S. media companies have faltered.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Merger remorse

Jeffrey Goldfarb and Richard Beales discuss Abbott Labs' court maneuver to escape buying Alere, and what it says about the challenges of consummating ambitious, late-cycle M&A deals.

Read more

Pfizer gets record UK fine for drug price hike

Britain's competition watchdog fines Pfizer 84.2 million pounds ($107 million) for its role in ramping up the cost of an epilepsy drug by as much as 2,600 percent. Mia Womersley reports.

Read more

Sears loss widens

The retailer said it couldn't guarantee when it would return to profitability. As Fred Katayama reports, it plans to further cut costs and explore alternatives for its real estate portfolio.

Read more

ECB's Draghi delivers double-edged QE tweak

The European Central Bank catches financial markets off-guard by announcing it will extend its QE programme until the end of 2017 but also trim its asset buys from 80 billion to 60 billion euros a month. David Pollard reports.

Read more

China trade picks up, but Trump could be a downer

China's imports grew at the fastest pace in more than two years in November, fueled by its strong thirst for commodities from coal to iron ore, while exports also rose unexpectedly. But as David Pollard reports, the 2017 outlook has been clouded by Donald Trump's protectionist rhetoric.

Read more

ECB to scale back asset buys but extend

The European Central Bank has caught financial markets off-guard by announcing it would trim asset buys from April next year, even as it reserved the right to increase purchases again if the euro zone's recovery faltered. (Rough Cut - no reporter narration)

Read more

Wall Street surges to new highs, transports set record

Wall Street surged on Wednesday, with the Dow Industrials and S&P 500 hitting fresh records, as equities continued their march upward after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, and a new high for transportation stocks added to the bullish tone. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

S.Korea eyes economic risks as impeachment looms

South Korea's finance ministry has expressed concern about further risks to the economy from "domestic issues", as parliament prepares to hold an impeachment vote on South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Ryan Brooks reports.

Read more

Senate antitrust subcommittee probes AT&T-Time Warner merger

Senate's antitrust subcommittee probes AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner in a hearing attended by chief executives of both companies. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Russia's oldest glass factory braces for Christmas

Russia's oldest glass-blowing factory in the small town of Klin is set to produce over a million Christmas decorations for the upcoming holiday season.

Read more

Goldbean's Jane Barratt on the Trump Twitter stock impact

Goldbean founder and CEO Jane Barratt talks with Bobbi Rebell about how President-elect Donald Trump's comments, on twitter and in the media, are already impacting stocks, and how investors can manage the risks.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Bankers emboldened

Donald Trump’s election has boosted lenders' stocks and raised hopes of regulatory reform. Tom Buerkle and Antony Currie discuss bankers’ wish lists for the new administration.

Read more

Foxxconn to expand U.S. investment

The Taiwanese Apple supplier said Wednesday it would boost its investment in the U.S. one day after its Japanese partner Softbank pledged to invest $50 billion in the U.S. Fred Katayama reports.

Read more

EU fines CA, JPMorgan and HSBC over Euribor

The European Commission has fined Credit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan Chase a total of 485 million euros ($520 million) for their part in a cartel to fix the price of financial benchmarks linked to the euro. As Hayley Platt reports, the fines for historic offences come at a difficult time for lenders.

Read more

HSBC lions spark divisive LGBT debate in Hong Kong

Colorful "pride" statues outside HSBC's Hong Kong headquarters have sparked a big debate over LGBT rights. As Tara Joseph reports, surveys show nearly half of Hong Kongers feel unsure about LGBT people.

Read more

Japan's SoftBank pledges $50 bln to Trump's economic plan

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced Japanese telecoms and internet firm SoftBank plans to invest $50 billion in the United States in businesses and create 50,000 new U.S. jobs.

Read more

Banks, telecoms lead Wall St up; another Dow record

Wall Street climbed as telecom stalwarts AT&T and Verizon gained and bank shares added to their torrid post-election rally, helping the Dow set another record closing high. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Jeff Tomasulo on the best stock values in the Trump administration

Vespula Capital CEO Jeff Tomasulo talks with Bobbi Rebell about the best strategies for investors in the New Year, and whether sectors like energy and financials are over valued.

Read more

Trump asks to cancel order on Air Force One

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump urges the government to cancel Boeing's new Air Force One plane in a Twitter post, saying it was too expensive. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Advertisers flock to Instagram

Instagram will overtake Twitter next year in attracting U.S. advertisers, according to research firm eMarketer. Conway Gittens reports.

Read more

EU negotiator eyes October 2018 for Brexit deal

The European Union's chief negotiator has set a target of agreeing a Brexit deal with Britain by October 2018. As David Pollard reports, his comments came on a day when pressure mounted on the UK to clarify what sort of deal it should pursue.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Mexican flex

After months of being treated like a piñata by Donald Trump, Mexico held a successful auction of oil-drilling rights. Martin Langfield and Jeffrey Goldfarb discuss the implications.

Read more

Apple Watch sales hit record

Apple CEO Tim Cook says the holiday quarter is on track to be the best ever for the Apple Watch. As Fred Katayama reports, this comes just as iPhone sales are beginning to level off.

Read more

Lego gets first foreign boss

Danish toymaker Lego is to appoint its first foreign CEO and give its family owners a bigger role in developing the Lego brand. As Sonia Legg reports, it's all part of an organisational shake-up that will see incumbent Jorgen Vig Knudstorp step down by the end of the year.

Read more

Trump upsets the apple cart for US firms in China

Trump's hard line on China has American companies which have invested billions there sweating. As Eve Johnson reports, life could get very uncomfortable for them if Trump angers the Chinese people and this may be precisely the president-elect's strategy.

Read more

State aid for Monte dei Paschi 'ready' - sources

Measures to allow state aid for Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena are ready, with the Italian lender's hopes of pulling off a privately-backed fundraising fading, three sources familiar with the matter say. David Pollard reports.

Read more

Brexit vote leaves food industry with nasty taste

Britain's decision to leave the European Union is leaving a nasty taste in the mouth of London's food and wine industry. As Hayley Platt reports, importers are hard-hit by the pound's dramatic decline and the vibrant food sector worries Brexit will make it tough to recruit enough staff.

Read more

Dow hits new record high

Wall Street rose on Monday, with the Dow Jones industrials setting fresh record highs, as services sector data gave further evidence of strength in the domestic economy. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Smartwatch sales struggle

New data from research firm IDC shows people are opting for simple, cheap wearable devices and shunning smartwatches...for now. Jeanne Yurman reports.

Read more

British services PMI hits 10-month high

Businesses in Britain's services sector grew at their fastest pace since January last month, a survey showed, and the broader economy kept up its momentum in late 2016. But there are still plenty of Brexit uncertainties ahead. Sonia Legg reports

Read more

Nicholas Colas on why U.S. stocks will keep powering higher

Convergex Chief Market Strategist Nicholas Colas talks with Bobbi Rebell about the strong fund flows into U.S. equities and why he believes there is a lot more room for the Trump rally to continue through the end of the year.

Read more

Monte Paschi rescue at risk after Renzi referendum

A 5 billion euro rescue plan for Italian bank Monte dei Paschi is hanging by a thread after Renzi's heavy referendum defeat tipped the country into political turmoil. Ciara Lee reports.

Read more

Pipeline denial murky for industry

The U.S. Army's denial of an easement to complete construction of a pipeline runnning from the Dakotas to Illinois tempers optimism about future pipelines. Jeanne Yurman reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: No extra pay for M&A

Gaming firm Activision Blizzard will give its CEO a bonus for dealmaking. Antony Currie and Robert Cyran explain that creates skewed incentives for executives already well paid to consider mergers.

Read more

Shock resignation by New Zealand's Prime Minister

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has unexpectedly announced his resignation, saying it was the "right time" to leave politics after more than eight years in power. Graham Mackay reports

Read more

Trump's Twitter outburst makes investors nervous

China's state media may have brushed off the Taiwan phone call debate, by saying it just shows that Donald Trump and his team have 'zero' diplomatic experience. But, as Eve Johnson reports, investors are worried it could be bad news for Asian stocks.

Read more

Hong Kong connects to China's booming tech sector

A long waited stock trading link between Hong Kong and China's tech dominated Shenzhen exchange went live on Monday. As Tara Joseph reports, the connection gives international investors access to hundreds of tech stocks listed in the booming southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

Read more

Opponents celebrate Renzi defeat

Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is poised to hand in his formal resignation after losing a referendum on constitutional reform. Paul Chapman reports.

Read more

Italy PM Renzi heading for heavy referendum defeat - exit polls

Exit polls following the Italian referendum on constitutional reform appear to show Prime Minister Matteo Renzi heading for a heavy defeat. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Read more

NZ prime minister to quit

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says he's stepping down in a surprise move.

Read more

Jobs report won't derail December rate hike

Shannon Sacoccia of Boston Private says even though the November jobs report was a 'mixed print' the Fed will still hike interest rates this month.

Read more

Stocks headed for 'another leg up' in 2017

Peter Kenny of Global Markets Advisory Group says next year will be a 'very constructive year' for equities thanks to more infrastructure spending and tax reform.

Read more

Jobs report won't derail Decmber rate hike

Shannon Sacoccia of Boston Private says even though the November jobs report was a 'mixed print' the Fed will still hike interest rates this month.

Read more

Businesses boom at South Korea protest venue

Seoul's weekend protests give a welcome boost in business for restaurants around the protest venue. Yiming Woo reports.

Read more

Author David Bach on how Trump presidency impacts financial planning

David Bach, author of the newly updated Automatic Millionaire, talks with Bobbi Rebell about what changes to expect in the new administration including tax planning and investment strategy.

Read more

Starbucks' CEO transition unlikely to disrupt growth

Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz's decision to step down is unlikely to disrupt growth at the world's biggest coffee chain. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Wall St little changed as bank rally pauses

U.S. stocks ended little changed on Friday after a payrolls report did little to recast expectations for an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve this month and bank stocks cooled to round out their fourth straight week of gains. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: One-knight stand

Chess officials were hoping this year's world championship would kick off a lucrative new effort to commercialize the sport. Kate Duguid and Jeffrey Goldfarb explain why chess just doesn't scale.

Read more

Jobless rate hits nine-year low

November payroll numbers reflect continued strength in the U.S. labor market. Jobless rate drops to a surprise nine-year low. Jeanne Yurman reports.

Read more

U.S. unemployment plunges to a 9-year low

The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to a more than nine-year low of 4.6 percent in November and and employers boosted hiring, making it almost certain that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates later this month.

Read more

China hikes 'super car' tax in luxury crackdown

China imposes an extra 10 percent tax on super-luxury cars in a bid to rein in lavish spending and reduce emissions. David Pollard reports.

Read more

Italy referendum: Renzi, banks at risk

Italy's battered banks could be a casualty alongside prime minister Matteo Renzi if this Sunday's constitutional referendum triggers a government crisis. Laura Frykberg reports.

Read more

Reuters poll: ECB to extend QE at December meeting

The ECB looks likely to extend QE at its meeting next week - but could reportedly signal an end to the programme even as Europe's political risk eclipses the economy as the main focus for markets. David Pollard reports.

Read more

S&P, Nasdaq dragged lower by tech, but Dow hits record close

A sharp decline in technology stocks pulled both, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 indices, into the red on Thursday, while the Dow managed to notch a record closing high with a lift from bank and energy shares. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Breitbart takes aim at Kellogg's for pulling ads

Breitbart News calls for a boycott of Kellogg's products after the cereal company withdraws ads from Breitbart News website. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Read more

Trump visits Indiana to tout Carrier deal

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump visits a factory in Indiana to celebrate his deal with air conditioner maker Carrier Corp to keep 1,000 jobs from moving to Mexico. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Read more

McDonald's near deal to sell China stores

A deal to sell McDonald's roughly 2,400 restaurants in China and Hong Kong will be worth up to $3 billion, a source says. Fred Katayama reports.

Read more

Kevin Mahn on where to invest in 2017

Hennion & Walsh President Kevin Mahn talks with Bobbi Rebell about why he believes stocks will have a Santa Claus rally in the final month of the year, and the best way for investors to position their assets as they get ready for the new year.

Read more

Breakingviews TV: Aircraft M&A takes flak

Antony Currie and Kevin Allison explain why Starboard wants to shoot down Rockwell's $6.4 bln offer for seatmaker B/E – and why such tactics have a mixed track record.

Read more

Private equity can grow McDonald's in China

U.S.-China Partners' Savio Chan tells Reuters' Fred Katayama that Carlyle can provide consumer retail and logistics know-how while Citic provides capital to grow McDonald's.

Read more

Banco Popular ousts chairman, BBVA merger in view?

Banco Popular, regarded as the weak link in Spain's banking sector, is to replace Chairman Angel Ron after shareholders rebelled over his lacklustre progress in cleaning up 30 billion euros in toxic assets. As David Pollard reports, Popular's shares rose following the announcement and after a report that the bank was in talks over a possible merger with BBVA.

Read more

New British bank notes anger vegetarians

Thousands of people have signed a petition objecting against the use of animal fats in the manufacture of Britain's new plastic five-pound notes.

Read more

Dollar General's sales drop

Fewer customers visited the dollar store chain. As Fred Katayama reports, reductions in food stamp coverage hurt sales at existing stores.

Read more

New British bank notes falls foul of vegetarians

Britain's new plastic five-pound notes have fallen foul of thousands of people who object to the use of animal fats in their manufacture. As Hayley Platt reports, an online petition against the notes has received support from more than 116,000 so far.

Read more

Surging wealth gap haunts Hong Kong

More than a million people live in poverty in Hong Kong, a city best known for its big banks and glitzy shops. As Tara Joseph reports, high costs and low wages are denting the spirit of Asia's world City, where experts say the wealth gap is the highest in the developed world.

Read more

Giant statues on North Korea's new sanctions list

The UN security council has backed a plan to squeeze Pyongyang's access to hard currency cutting off hundreds of millions of dollars that could be funneled into its nuclear war chest every year. Graham Mackay reports.

Read more