Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani announced details of a new online shopping platform Friday that will see his oil-to-telecoms conglomerate take on Amazon and Walmart in India's burgeoning e-commerce market.

Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn received nearly eight million euros in "improper payments" from a Netherlands-based joint venture, the Japanese car giant alleged Friday, threatening to sue to recover the funds.

Asian markets rallied Friday as another broadly positive week drew to a close, with investors cheered by a report that the US was considering lifting tariffs on China as officials look to hammer out a trade deal.

The French government has called for former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, who has spent the last two months in Japanese custody, to be replaced as chief executive of carmaker Renault.

The British pound firmed against the dollar and euro Wednesday, and London stocks dropped, as traders awaited a confidence vote on British Prime Minister Theresa May's government after parliament voted massively against its Brexit deal.

Turkey Wednesday kept its main interest rate unchanged for a third time since a dramatic hike in September, in line with market expectations and helping the lira rally against the dollar.

The central bank said in a statement on its website that the one-week repo rate would remain at 24 percent. Inflation in Turkey remains in double-digits.

Ford said Wednesday it expects to post a $112 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2018 as it restructures in the U.S. and Europe.

The second biggest U.S. automaker said it will still post a profit, after charges stemming from the drive to cut $11 billion in costs.

The pound edged down Wednesday after the record defeat of British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan but mostly held its ground as investors consider the next likely developments in the long-running saga.

Sterling steadied Tuesday as British Prime Minister Theresa May faced the prospect of a humiliating parliamentary defeat of her hard-fought Brexit deal, dealers said.

The pound trod higher against the European single currency but drooped versus the dollar, with investors on tenterhooks before the vital vote.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Tuesday he was "very optimistic" about the outlook for the oil market after producers cut output to support flagging prices.