Britain's key services sector shrank in March for the first time since July 2016, with activity slammed by Brexit turmoil and flat economic growth, a leading survey showed on Wednesday.

London's stock market steadied at the start of trading on Wednesday, after British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would seek another Brexit delay to avoid crashing out.

Tokyo prosecutors are considering pressing a fresh charge against Carlos Ghosn, local media said Wednesday, as the former Nissan boss announced on Twitter he would be giving his side of the story.

Sales for Germany's vital car sector fell in March, data from the VDA industry federation showed Tuesday, but a look across the whole first quarter showed steady performance.

The EU's powerful anti-trust authority on Tuesday said a tax break from Britain for unnamed multinationals was illegal under state aid rules, firing a shot at London amid Brexit chaos.

The pound dropped versus the dollar and euro on Tuesday after British MPs once again rejected a series of alternative options to Prime Minister Theresa May's EU divorce deal.

Global trade growth is expected to be lower in 2019 than it was last year, the World Trade Organization forecast on Tuesday, citing widespread "tensions" and economic uncertainty. 

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil on Monday referred to the Council of Ministers' general secretariat a draft law on the abolition of all tax exemptions stipulated by the customs law and other laws except for those mentioned by international treaties and conventions.

The move is part of the Finance Ministry's measures that are linked to the approval of a reformed state budget.

British no-frills airline EasyJet on Monday said that uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the economic outlook is hitting demand for air travel.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday played up her country's "critically important" ties with China while President Xi Jinping called for "mutual trust" amid tensions stemming from security concerns over Chinese telecom giant Huawei.