WhatsApp on Tuesday added virtual shopping carts people can load with purchases and then use to fire off orders to businesses as the Facebook-owned messaging service pushed deeper into e-commerce.

German investor confidence jumped in December, buoyed by hopes that vaccines -- which are expected to win approval for general use in the EU imminently -- could help end the coronavirus pandemic.

Stock markets slid Tuesday in cautious trade amid vaccine rollouts and U.S. stimulus hopes.

Chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Tuesday said the EU stood united and would refuse any undue sacrifices to secure a trade deal with Britain, as post-Brexit talks remained deadlocked.

European stock markets dropped slightly at the open Tuesday as traders continued to track Covid and Brexit developments.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet in Brussels to try to break the deadlock in Brexit trade talks, London said on Monday.

Hopes dimmed Monday for an imminent breakthrough in post-Brexit trade talks between the EU and UK, with diplomats warning that any deal must be found before this week's European summit.

The pound tumbled more than one percent against the dollar Monday, as Britain's Sun newspaper said Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to abandon post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union.

French bank Societe Generale said Monday it planned to close 600 branches in France in the next five years as it consolidates its network around the country.

Asian markets mostly fell Monday following last week's rally as investors prepare for a big week that could see the vaccine rollout begin in earnest and US lawmakers agree a new stimulus, while post-Brexit trade talks remain on a knife-edge.

But while the general consensus is for a strong recovery in 2021 as billions are inoculated, the surge in virus cases around the world and ongoing China-US tensions continue to keep a lid on sentiment.