With Russia's economy battered by economic sanctions and plunging oil prices, President Vladimir Putin has allowed the central bank to administer strong medicine, sharply raising interest rates even as it freed the rouble to float.

A bid by China to rein in its "shadow banking" activity is producing results, thanks to slowing economic growth and tighter regulation.

Aviva's potential 5.6 billion pound ($8.8 billion) purchase of Friends Life reflects a need to consolidate and cut costs in Britain's insurance industry, fund managers said.

China's leadership and central bank are ready to cut interest rates again and also loosen lending restrictions, concerned that falling prices could trigger a surge in debt defaults, business failures and job losses, said sources involved in policy-making.

Asian share markets were broadly higher on Monday as the prospect of further policy stimulus in China and Europe whetted risk appetites while sending the euro skidding.

A U.S. judge on Friday gave final approval to Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) agreement to pay $450 million to resolve claims it harmed consumers by conspiring with five publishers to raise e-book prices.

A planned merger by Switzerland's Holcim Ltd and France's Lafarge to create the world's biggest cement maker might hurt competition in India, the country's antitrust regulator said on Saturday, asking the firms for more details.

Swiss authorities have given Darwin Airline until the end of January to answer more questions about Etihad Airways' plans to buy a third of the Swiss airline before it gives the deal the green light.

SGL Group, the materials supplier for carbon fiber reinforced parts in BMW's electric cars, is in talks with several other carmakers to supply carbon fiber for a wider range of automotive components, its chief executive said.

ThyssenKrupp would consider a sale of the group's military submarine business under certain conditions, the German steel maker's chief executive told daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.