Wall Street stocks dipped early Friday ahead of a Group of Seven summit expected to highlight the growing gulf between the United States and other major powers on trade.

The Turkish central bank on Thursday hiked interest rates for the second time in two weeks, prompting the lira to rally strongly with elections on the horizon.

Prime Minister Theresa May revealed plans Thursday for Britain to temporarily align with EU customs rules after Brexit as a fall-back option to resolve the Irish border problem, while also in a compromise with euroskeptic ministers setting a limit to 2021.

Washington and Beijing have reached a deal to ease sanctions that brought Chinese smartphone maker ZTE to the brink of collapse, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Thursday.

The other leaders of G7 nations must not be afraid to reach agreements without U.S. President Donald Trump at their upcoming summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, as a trade war between Washington and its allies looms.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed has announced a 50-billion dirham ($13.6 billion, 11.6 billion euro) stimulus package over the next three years, as the emirate seeks to boost its flagging economy. 

He also announced a series of economic initiatives to create 10,000 jobs for nationals over the next five years and to make doing business easier.

While Egypt's economy is displaying the green shoots of recovery, citizens are enduring relentless price rises covering everything from water to metro tickets.

Australia's economy recorded a strong start to the year as exports and business inventories rose, official data showed Wednesday, but analysts warned soft consumer spending would keep a rise in interest rates at bay.

Most Asian markets rose on Tuesday, extending recent gains as analysts said optimism over the improving US economy was helping overcome worries about a possible trade war and geopolitical uncertainty.

Australia's central bank kept interest rates at a record low Tuesday for a 20th consecutive meeting as it waits for signs of wage and price inflation as well as a drop in unemployment.