KB Home saw a 13 per cent increase in the value of its order book amid a stronger than expected quarter in the crucial spring season, raising hopes for a resurgent US housing market.

US stocks notched up their longest losing streak since early May as investors remained cautious about the prospect of a breakthrough in the trade dispute between the US and China against the latest rhetoric from Washington.

Labour is embroiled in a fresh anti-Semitism row after giving Chris Williamson a formal warning and allowing him back into the party.

Ministers have vowed to arrange back-up ferry capacity to maintain the flow of medicines and other vital goods after a no-deal Brexit without spending any more taxpayers’ money in the wake of the Seabourne Freight fiasco.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin is expected to meet UK prime minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka on Friday, the Kremlin said.

General Mills tumbled more than 9 per cent in morning trade, dragging share prices of its peers along for the ride, after declining snack sales in its main North American market and poor performances from its international divisions saw the food manufacturer fall short of Wall Street’s revenue expectations.

Hong Kong’s anti-corruption commission has arrested a former senior executive at the Chinese territory’s stock exchange for suspected corruption and misconduct related to two initial public offerings.

Oil prices added to recent gains after US data showed domestic stockpiles last week shrank more than expected while exports of American crude hit a record high.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said funds that invest in illiquid assets but allow investors instant access to their money are “built on a lie” and called for changes to regulations.

US lawmakers have hit out at new plans from Brussels to toughen supervision of the global derivatives markets in the wake of Brexit, labelling the EU’s proposals as “retribution”.

Canada’s Barrick Gold has defended its buyout offer for Acacia Mining, saying its proposed bid was “fair” and reflected realistic assumptions about the company’s mines.

Saudi Arabia has introduced new regulations allowing for broader foreign ownership of publicly traded firms.

President Donald Trump on Thursday escalated his attack on the US Federal Reserve, calling its monetary policy “insane” and saying Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, should take the helm instead.

A closely watched gauge of US manufacturing activity fell for a second straight month in May, in the latest sign the economy may be losing momentum and as traders ramp up bets the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates this year in response.

A former UBS compliance officer and her day-trader friend who were both convicted of insider trading on Tuesday have been found guilty of one more count each in a rare UK jury trial of the crime.

EU antitrust officials have alleged that US chipmaker Broadcom has imposed illegal restrictions on seven major makers of TV set-top boxes and modems, and are seeking the unusual step of ordering the company to remove the restrictions while the enforcers complete their investigation, which can take years to complete.

The Central Bank of Ireland has imposed a €1.6m fine on JPMorgan for “serious” regulatory failings in its Dublin fund administration arm.

Fund industry dealmaker Jon Little has resigned as managing partner of Northill Capital, signalling a change in direction for the acquisitive UK investment business he founded nine years ago.

The six funds at the heart of H2O Asset Management’s illiquid bond crisis have now lost more than €5bn in assets, as investors pull their money on concerns about an outsized bet on debt linked to a controversial German financier.

The US and North Korea have held discussions about a third summit between President Donald Trump and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, according to South Korean president Moon Jae-in.

Shares in environmental consultancy RPS tumbled more than 40 per cent on Wednesday after the company issued a profit warning, saying stagnation in its Australia-Pacific business was set to drag down results.

Abu Dhabi Financial Group has agreed terms for the takeover of Dubai-listed investment bank Shuaa Capital.

Ryanair has ramped up efforts to keep the airline under majority EU ownership in a no-deal Brexit by triggering block purchases of shares from investors under a month-old €700m buyback scheme.

China has now found the crop-destroying fall armyworm in over half of its provinces, further threatening the country's food security amid an outbreak of African swine fever that has led to the culling of at least 1m pigs.