Russia's largest lender Sberbank on Thursday announced it almost tripled its profits in the second quarter and predicted further stabilisation of the economy this year despite credit growth slowing.

Oil prices turned higher in Asian trade Thursday, a day after suffering hefty losses in response to data showing a surprise jump in U.S. stockpiles, while hopes for a deal to limit output were dealt a blow.

The U.S. energy department said Wednesday that inventories soared 2.5 million barrels last week, confounding forecasts for a fall and fanning worries about a global supply glut.

Qatar's sovereign wealth fund has bought an almost 10 percent stake in the company that owns New York's iconic Empire State Building, the official QNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

Mergers provided the major action on global equities markets on Monday as major indices showed little movement.

Medivation, which makes the hit prostate cancer drug Xtandi, soared 20 percent in New York on the announcement it would be bought by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer for $14 billion.

The dollar remained at the low end of its recent range Monday as foreign exchange traders remained cautious despite somewhat hawkish weekend remarks by Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer.

At 2100 GMT, the dollar was virtually unchanged from late Friday at $1.1322 per euro and 100.32 yen, despite a surge during the day.

Taiwan is investigating a bank linked to the so-called Panama Papers scandal, in the wake of a $180 million fine levied by U.S. authorities for "flagrant disregard" of anti-money laundering laws.

Twice a year, a normally deserted border checkpoint high on the Tibetan plateau throngs with activity as traders from Nepal flock to do business with their giant northern neighbor China.

The value of the Syrian pound fell sharply by six percent over the weekend, losing ground to the dollar, the central bank in Damascus said Sunday.

Pokemon Go has sent millions of people onto the streets in a worldwide hunt for virtual monsters -- and from neighborhood restaurants to multi-national corporations, businesses smell a profit.

A Nigerian militant group has announced a ceasefire and pledged to support talks with the government, after months of attacks on the country's oil and gas infrastructure that have crippled the economy.