Asian markets rallied Friday following a record-breaking finish on Wall Street as traders keenly await a key US jobs report that is expected to reaffirm the recovery in the world's top economy is blasting ahead.

The EU commission on Wednesday unveiled new powers to block state-backed companies making unfair inroads into Europe, as the bloc seeks new ways to respond to China's rise.

European and US stocks mostly rose Monday on optimism over increasing economic momentum, but fell in Asia as investors there weighed the risk of inflation with the global economy recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic provided a boost for e-commerce last year, but the digital windfall was not enjoyed equally across the board, a UN study found Monday.

Belen Garijo has taken over as CEO at German pharmaceuticals giant Merck -- the first woman to singlehandedly run a DAX 30-listed company -- as Europe's top economy debates quotas for greater boardroom equality.

European oil majors have posted strong quarterly profits as a recovery in crude prices fueled their rebound from the coronavirus crisis.

Russian energy giant Gazprom said Thursday its net profits slumped last year by a factor of nine compared to the previous year owing to the fallout from the global pandemic as demand and prices slumped.

Germany's Daimler and Volvo Group announced Thursday they are teaming up to build hydrogen fuel-cells for use in long-haul trucks by 2025.

Baptized Cellcentric, their joint venture aims to become a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen fuel-cells, a technology which also provides zero tailpipe emissions.

McDonald's reported higher first-quarter profits on Thursday, led by strength in the United States and some overseas venues that offset weakness in other markets due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

The United Nations on Wednesday clarified its recruitment procedures, after media reports said some individuals in Lebanon have impersonated U.N. staff members in order to scam citizens.