Germany's Ifo business confidence indicator fell to its lowest level in 17 months in September, data showed on Wednesday, as Europe's biggest economy continues to run out of steam.

The Ifo economic institute's closely watched business climate index fell to 104.7 points in September, from 106.3 points in August, the think-tank said in a statement.

Confusion reigned Wednesday over Air France's plan for its budget subsidiary that has been at the heart of a bitter and costly strike, as the government and management contradicted each other.

Transport secretary Alain Vidalies told French radio that the airline had scrapped plans to expand its Transavia subsidiary, but Air France management denied that within minutes.

The International Monetary Fund has scotched suggestions that cash-strapped Zimbabwe could get fresh financial aid, saying it must first service old debts.

Domenico Fanizza, a senior official from the IMF's Africa department, said the Washington-based lender "by its law" could not give more support until Robert Mugabe's government makes up missed repayments.

Starbucks will take full ownership of its Japanese operations for more than $900 million, a move it said was aimed at further tapping its second-largest market.

The Seattle-based company said it would buy a 60.5 percent stake that it does not already own as part of a two-step tender process expected to be completed by the first half of 2015.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned of a "real danger" for Air France as a pilot strike that has grounded more than half its fleet deepened Tuesday after talks hit an impasse.

The strike over plans to expand the company's budget airline Transavia in Europe entered its ninth day at a cost of 20 million euros ($25.7 million) daily.

Argentina told Citibank and Bank of New York Mellon on Monday to either execute its debt payments or give it back money frozen in its dispute with two creditors.

A U.S. federal judge has ordered the banks not to transfer payments on the debt Argentina restructured after its 2001 economic crisis until the country settles a $1.3-billion dispute with the two "holdout" creditors, hedge funds NML Capital and Aurelius Capital Management.

Sri Lanka on Tuesday unveiled tough new restrictions on deposits as it looks to encourage commercial banks to boost lending and help sustain the country's healthy economic growth.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka's monetary board said after its monthly review it would keep its key repurchase rate at 6.5 percent to lenders, but slashed it to 5.0 percent for any more than three deposits a month.

China's manufacturing sector saw a surprise pick-up in September, a closely watched survey showed Tuesday, but economists warned a slowdown in the key property sector was an ongoing risk to growth.

HSBC said its preliminary purchasing managers index (PMI) advanced to a two-month high of 50.5, higher than a final reading of 50.2 in August and providing some respite after a string of weak data pointing to a slowdown in world's second-largest economy.

Oil prices rose in Asia Tuesday in response to better-than-expected Chinese manufacturing data and after the United States said it had led bombing raids against jihadists in crude producer Syria, analysts said.

U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate for November delivery rose 40 cents to $91.27 while Brent crude for November also gained 30 cents to $97.27 in afternoon trade.

Global oil prices fell Monday on the back of the strong dollar and plentiful supplies, on the eve of key manufacturing data from China, the world's top energy consumer.

Brent North Sea crude for delivery in November slid 72 cents to stand at $97.67 a barrel in London deals.