U.S. semi-conductor maker Intel said Friday it will invest $1.5 billion in two Chinese cell phone part companies.

The California firm said it would acquire a 20 percent stake in a holding company that owns Spreadtrum Communications and RDA Microelectronics, according to an Intel statement.

The longest ever strike by Air France pilots dragged into its 12th day on Friday after marathon talks again failed to break a deadlock over the airline's low-cost subsidiary.

"The situation is blocked right now," said Julien Duboz, a spokesman for one of the pilot's unions SPAF said after talks ended on Thursday.

Consumer confidence in Germany is fading, weighed down by concerns about the economic fallout from geopolitical crises, a new poll found on Friday.

"In the eyes of consumers, ongoing geopolitical tensions are now also threatening to affect the economy in Germany. And it has led to a drop in optimism," market research company GfK said in a statement.

Oil prices were mixed in Asia Friday as dealers focused on conflict-wracked Ukraine and U.S.-led airstrikes against jihadists in the Middle East, analysts said.

U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate for November delivery rose two cents to $92.55 while Brent crude for November eased three cents to $96.97 in afternoon trade.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Thursday he is not particularly happy about the European Central Bank's plans to buy up asset-backed securities on a large scale.

Speaking to the lower house of German parliament or Bundestag at the start of a debate on Europe's new banking union laws, Schaeuble expressed reservations about the ECB's asset purchase plans.

Royal Bank of Scotland chairman Philip Hampton is stepping down to take up the same position at British pharmaceutical group GlaxoSmithKline, the companies announced on Thursday.

Hampton, who during his more than five years as chairman has helped to guide the bailed-out bank through its recovery following a government rescue, will join GSK in the wake of a Chinese corruption scandal at the drugs firm.

Loans to the private sector in the euro area, a gauge of economic health, fell year-on-year in August, but by slightly less than in July, the European Central Bank said on Thursday.

The volume of loans to private businesses and households declined by 1.5 percent in August compared with the same month in 2013, a slightly lower rate than the minus 1.6 percent recorded in July, the ECB said in a statement.

Argentina exited recession with 0.9-percent economic growth in the second quarter, national statistics institute INDEC said Wednesday, a rare bit of good news amid the country's new debt default.

But with inflation estimated at more than 30 percent and the value of the peso tumbling, Latin America's third-largest economy is still mired in a slowdown after averaging 7.8-percent annual growth from 2003 to 2011.

Germany's Ifo business confidence indicator fell to its lowest level in 17 months in September, data showed on Wednesday, as Europe's biggest economy continues to run out of steam.

The Ifo economic institute's closely watched business climate index fell to 104.7 points in September, from 106.3 points in August, the think-tank said in a statement.

Confusion reigned Wednesday over Air France's plan for its budget subsidiary that has been at the heart of a bitter and costly strike, as the government and management contradicted each other.

Transport secretary Alain Vidalies told French radio that the airline had scrapped plans to expand its Transavia subsidiary, but Air France management denied that within minutes.