Worldwide foreign direct investment fell for a second consecutive year in 2023 amid a global economic slowdown, coupled with swelling trade and geopolitical tensions, the United Nations said Thursday.

Brent oil futures were steady on Thursday, hovering slightly below seven-week highs as the market awaited US inventory data.

The EU’s threat to hit Chinese electric cars with additional tariffs following an anti-subsidy probe risks a “trade war”, Germany said Wednesday, as the country’s auto giants warned the move would backfire.

The European Commission notified car makers on Wednesday that it would apply additional duties of up to 38.1 percent on imported Chinese electric vehicles from next month, a move likely to draw possible retaliation from China.

When a $500 Electrolux oven briefly went on sale for 1 percent of its list price in Hungary last week, within hours shoppers flooded the online store with thousands of orders.

Global gold demand excluding over-the-counter (OTC) trading slipped 6 percent in the third quarter as central bank buying fell short of last year’s record levels and consumption by jewellers declined, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Tuesday.

Meta Platforms  said on Monday it will offer users in Europe a subscription plan to use Facebook and Instagram without advertisements to comply with the European Union regulations.

Global industry could save around $437 billion a year from 2030 via energy efficiency savings and could also achieve big reductions in carbon emissions, a study showed.

Bitcoin rose 6 percent on Tuesday to $35,198, its highest in nearly a year-and-a-half, on mounting speculation that an exchange-traded bitcoin fund is imminent.

Britain’s labour market lost a bit more of its inflationary heat in the three months to August, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed on Tuesday, potentially helping the Bank of England to keep interest rates on hold next week.

Oil prices were broadly stable on Tuesday following the previous session’s dip after a flurry of economic data from Germany, the wider euro zone and Britain sketched a bearish picture which could weigh on oil demand.

Oil prices slipped on Monday as investors continued to focus on the situation in the Middle East, where diplomatic efforts are intensifying in an attempt to contain the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Eurozone inflation fell to an almost two-year low in September, official data showed Friday, raising hopes that the European Central Bank will end its rate-hiking cycle.

German business sentiment fell less than expected in September but it was the fifth consecutive decline, a key survey showed Monday, as Europe’s biggest economy struggles to recover from a recession.

Russia has included Bangladesh on its list of friendly and neutral countries, a development that would allow its local banks and brokers to settle trade transactions in the rouble.

Oil prices held steady on Friday but closed the week lower on profit-taking and as markets weighed supply concerns stemming from Russia’s fuel export ban against demand woes from future rate hikes.

British consumers are their most optimistic since the start of 2022 as they turn more hopeful about the economy with inflation on the wane and wages growing, a survey showed on Friday.

Britain’s economy displayed clear recession signals on Friday, a day after the Bank of England called a halt to its long run of interest rate increases that have turned the tide on inflation but at the expense of a hit to businesses.

When the EU launched an investigation into Chinese electric car subsidies, Brussels wanted the world to know that it will protect the automotive sector that is the jewel in Europe’s industrial crown, even if it upsets Beijing.

Investors were hoping to hear central banks finally signal this week that they were close to being done raising interest rates in their battle against inflation.