A slowdown in China and weakness at home dented Japanese firms' confidence last quarter, a central bank report showed Thursday, as tepid data suggest the world's third-largest economy has slipped into recession.

The disappointing Tankan survey supplied the latest evidence that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's growth blitz, dubbed Abenomics, was faltering, as speculation grows that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) would have to expand its massive asset-buying plan as early as this month.

Eurozone inflation fell unexpectedly to a negative 0.1 percent in September, data showed Wednesday, suggesting a dangerous spell of falling prices could be returning to Europe.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had expected a zero rate after a gain of 0.1 percent in August.

Volkswagen on Tuesday revealed a plan to refit millions of vehicles affected by a worldwide pollution-cheating scam, as its new chief vowed to act ruthlessly to overcome the "severest test" in the car giant's history.

The German government has given VW until October 7 to explain how it will resolve the scandal, which has wiped 29 billion euros ($33 billion), or 38 percent, off VW's market value in 10 days.

Oil prices retreated in Asia Wednesday as traders focus on U.S. crude stockpile report, a day after growing concerns over China's economy sparked a massive sell-off in shares of commodity firms.

As Asian stocks recovered from Tuesday's rout, oil prices remain under pressure because demand growth continues to fall behind crude supply, analysts said.

The chairman and chief executive of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Australia resigned Wednesday, following allegations that franchises systematically underpaid workers.

Media reports earlier this year uncovered evidence that many of the nation's 620 stores were exploiting staff, while a subsequent Senate inquiry heard some franchisees doctored payslips to cover up underpayments.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday urged Sweden to tackle hurdles to immigrants accessing jobs, saying people fleeing conflict and hardship to the Scandinavian state offered it a chance to secure its welfare model.

In a preliminary version of its annual report on the Swedish economy, the Washington-based institution highlighted the difficulties immigrants encounter in finding work.

India's central bank aggressively cut interest rates on Tuesday in a bid to kickstart economic growth, following a sharp drop in inflation. 

Such a move is designed to lower the barriers to borrowing and investing, providing a boost to consumers and the economy.  

Shares in mining giant Glencore crashed 27.5 percent in Hong Kong Tuesday, hammered by weak commodity prices as Chinese demand stumbled while a brokerage warned about the group's future.

The slump follows a near 30 percent dive in its London-listed arm and comes as an economic crisis in China convulses global markets, with stocks, commodities and emerging market currencies tumbling.

Volkswagen's top-of-the-range automaker Audi said Monday that 2.1 million of its diesel cars worldwide are fitted with the sophisticated software enabling them to cheat emission tests.

In Germany alone, 577,000 vehicles were affected and 13,000 in the United States, an Audi spokesman said. 

The OPEC oil cartel has no plan to participate in an oil producers' summit proposed by Venezuela to support prices, Kuwait's oil minister said Monday.

The next meeting on OPEC's calendar is a twice-yearly ministerial gathering in December, Ali al-Omair told reporters when asked about the Venezuelan proposal.