The vast majority of business economists expect the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates before the end of the year, according to a survey released Monday.

Minutes from the Fed's meeting in late July showed that officials could raise rates as early as September. Seventy-seven percent of survey respondents believe the Fed will raise rates from their current near-zero levels, but only 37 percent of respondents believe it will happen as soon as next month.

Asian stocks nosedived on Monday, led by sharp falls in Shanghai as concerns mount over the health of China's economy -- the world's second largest.

Russia's battered ruble dropped Monday to its lowest point this year as Asian and European stock markets nose-dived over concerns about the Chinese economy.  

Russia's dollar-denominated RTS index fell 4.21 percent at opening as the ruble tumbled to 70.92 against the dollar, its weakest against the greenback since December 2014. 

Chinese authorities are pursuing separate corruption cases against two top officials including the brother of a former top aide to ex-president Hu Jintao, state media reported Friday, as a crackdown on graft continues.

The Communist Party's corruption watchdog said that Ling Zhengce, former vice chairman of an advisory body to the local legislature in the northern province of Shanxi, had been expelled from the party for abusing his position and taking bribes, the official Xinhua news agency reported, a move which signals future criminal prosecution.

Rebels from Greece's Syriza party on Friday formed a breakaway parliamentary group after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned, paving the way for the crisis-hit country's fourth election in three years.

The fresh political uncertainty shook the markets, with stocks in Athens shedding 2.5 percent, while Greece's European creditors urged it to implement the terms of the massive new bailout whoever wins the poll likely to be held on September 20.

The former head of MtGox reportedly faced fresh criminal charges Friday over allegations he stole $2.6 million from clients, as police questioned him about hundreds of millions of dollars worth of missing Bitcoins.

Japanese authorities issued a fresh arrest warrant for France-born Mark Karpeles, over claims he stole millions from clients before the Bitcoin exchange collapsed, local media reported, including about $48,000 he allegedly spent on a luxury canopy bed.

All Lebanese banks give customers the option of opening a current account, which is also known as a demand deposit account. These accounts form the bulk of daily transactions: Deposits, withdrawals, and transfers. Such current accounts also target all types of customers: Businessmen, students, workers, etc.

Current accounts allow the account holder to deposits and withdraw money anytime. However, holders of these accounts do not get interest on their available balance which could be to your disadvantage if your account holds a reasonable amount which you do not use regularly.

Consumer confidence in Germany is being dampened slightly by the enduring wrangle over Greece's debt crisis, a poll found on Friday.

"The hitherto marked optimism among consumers has received a slight knock," market research company GfK said in a statement. 

Australia's competition watchdog on Friday reversed a draft decision against a joint venture between Qantas and China Eastern, giving the carriers the green light to coordinate pricing and scheduling.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said in March the original proposal between the airlines would harm competition.

Oil headed for its eighth straight weekly decline in Asia Friday, as sharp falls in equities added to worries lacklustre global economic growth will hurt energy demand in an oversupplied market.

U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October delivery, a new contract, lost 54 cents to $40.78 a barrel in afternoon trade, while Brent crude for October tumbled 62 cents to $46.00 a barrel.