Britain's economy gently picked up speed in the third quarter, official data showed on Wednesday, strengthening expectations of an interest rate hike next month, despite uncertainty over Brexit. 

Gross domestic product grew by 0.4 percent in the period from July to September, after expanding by 0.3 percent in the preceding three months, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

Coca-Cola reported a jump in third-quarter profits Wednesday due to lower expenses as it broadens offerings of non-cola drinks to offset sluggish demand for its namesake product in North America.

French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen said that revenues grew strongly in the third quarter, powered by the recent acquisition of Opel-Vauxhall, but car sales stalled in the key market of China. 

Saudi Arabia, smarting from a three-year oil slump, said Wednesday that it aims to nearly double the assets of its sovereign wealth fund by 2020 through a series of investment initiatives.

London "will continue to be the financial center of Europe" even after Brexit, U.S. billionaire Michael Bloomberg told AFP on Tuesday, as he unveiled his company's new European headquarters in the City.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Tuesday that Rome is prepared to negotiate with two of its wealthiest regions "within the limits of the law," after voters supported autonomy.

Over 95 percent of those who took part in referendums on  Sunday in the northern regions of Veneto and Lombardy, home to Venice and Milan respectively, supported more powers being devolved from the Italian capital.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the launch of an independent economic zone on the Red Sea, three times the size of Cyprus and with a half a trillion dollars in projected investments.

The head of oil giant Saudi Aramco said Tuesday that a lack of recent investments in the oil sector could lead to a shortage of supplies. 

The dollar extended last week's gains in Asian trade Monday on hopes for Donald Trump's tax-cut plans, while Tokyo chalked up a record winning streak on a weak yen and following a big election win for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Embattled commodities trader Noble Group announced Monday the sale of its American oil-liquids business to Vitol Group and warned of a third-quarter loss of up to $1.25 billion.