Shares in China’s largest lithium producers rallied on Thursday on hopes that prices for the battery raw material have hit a bottom after a dramatic two-year decline.

The European Central Bank’s latest auction of cheap money for banks has turned out to be a damp squib after the region’s lenders took up only €3.4bn of the loans - a fraction of the demand seen in previous auctions.

EU ambassadors have backed Romania’s Laura Kovesi to head a new pan-bloc prosecutor’s office, in what supporters see as a big step in the fight against authoritarian creep in several central and eastern European states.

The Bank of England struck a dovish tone on interest rates on Thursday, raising the prospect for the first time it might seek to cut them if Brexit uncertainty persisted in a weak global economy.

The chief executive of Eni called for world leaders to defuse rising tensions in the Gulf as Italy’s largest oil and gas company embarks on a big expansion in the Middle East.

Regulators have fined the production arm of Energias de Portugal, the country’s leading power utility, €48m for abuse of market dominance over a five-year period, saying it was responsible for “a serious restriction of competition”.

UK retail sales fell in August as online shopping contracted, reversing the boost from major sales promotions in July and raising concerns about the resilience of consumer spending.

Ryanair investors have registered a big protest vote against pay after long-serving chief executive Michael O’Leary was granted a bonus that could be worth as much as €99m.

Norway’s central bank lifted interest rates again, continuing to swim against the tide in monetary policy.

Investors have taken out a record number of options contracts to bet on or hedge against moves in UK interest rates, amid rising concerns that Britain may depart the EU at the end of October without an agreement on its future relationship with the bloc.

The Swiss National Bank has held interest rates steady even as it slashed its growth forecast for the year amid rising global headwinds.

The UK competition regulator has said the takeover of sportswear chain Footasylum by rival JD Sports could result in higher prices, less choice and poorer service and demanded JD Sports address its concerns or face an in-depth probe of the deal.

Kier reported a full-year loss of £245m and has begun the search for a new chairman, as the struggling government contractor pushes ahead with an expensive restructuring amid lingering questions over its financial health.

Profits at Saga halved in the first six months of the year as the company revamped its insurance business and struggled with tough conditions in the travel market.

Three former top executives at the Tokyo Electric Power Co have been found not guilty of professional negligence resulting in injury or death in a trial relating to the 2011 disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station.

Australia’s currency fell to a two-week low on Thursday after the country’s unemployment rate rose in August, which could increase the likelihood of the central bank further cutting interest rates.

New Zealand’s economy grew at its slowest rate in five-and-a-half years in the second quarter of 2019, as the country faces sluggish growth conditions amid trade tensions and a global economic slowdown. 

Microsoft said its board has approved new share buybacks and an 11 per cent increase to the tech group’s quarterly dividend, sending shares higher late Wednesday.

Berkshire Hathaway executive Tracy Britt Cool, who was hired by Warren Buffett as his financial assistant a decade ago, is leaving to form her own investment group.

Brazil’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate for a second straight meeting, as key reforms continue to move forward and spur hopes of a recovery in the country’s sluggish economy.

US stocks fought their way back into positive territory following the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates, as investors digested remarks from Jay Powell and a more hawkish outlook than anticipated.

Jean-Claude Juncker has thrown doubt on the possibility of the EU striking a Brexit deal with the UK, warning that time is tight for an agreement as Boris Johnson has yet to spell out his demands on the Irish backstop.

A group of lobby organisations for American business is mounting a new effort to rein in Donald Trump’s powers to unilaterally impose tariffs, amid growing concern about the economic and financial impact of his trade policies.

Pilots at British Airways have cancelled next week’s planned strike action as they called on the airline to restart talks and end one of the most serious industrial disputes in its history.