China's consumer inflation rate crept higher in December, official data showed Saturday, as the world's second-largest economy struggles with slower growth.

The consumer price index (CPI) -- a main gauge of inflation -- rose 1.6 percent last month from a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement, in line with the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

State-owned Saudi Aramco, the world's largest crude oil producer and exporter, said Friday it is considering a public share offer.

The company "has been studying various options to allow broad public participation in its equity", a statement said.

Samsung Electronics on Friday flagged a 15 percent increase in 2015 Q4 operating profit, rounding off a year in which the world's largest smartphone producer struggled with fierce competition from arch-rival Apple and cut-price Chinese competitors. 

In an earnings estimate, the South Korean tech giant predicted an operating profit of 6.1 trillion won ($5.1 billion) for the October-December period, up from 5.4 trillion won a year earlier.

A recent rally in the yen fizzled on Friday after Chinese authorities moved to stop wild market volatility stoked by concerns about the world's number two economy, a major driver of global growth.

The hair-raising losses on mainland Chinese markets this week had prompted a flight to Japan's currency -- seen as a safe bet in times of turmoil and uncertainty.

American financier George Soros warned Thursday that weaker world markets, triggered by a slowdown in China, were showing signs of a financial crisis reminiscent of the 2008 crash. 

Speaking at an investment forum in Sri Lanka, the magnate and philanthropist said China's flagging economy and subsequent devaluation of its currency were undermining global financial stability.

Eurozone unemployment dropped to its lowest level in four years in November, official data showed on Thursday, beating analyst expectations despite lingering doubts about the strength of the economy in Europe.

The European Union's Eurostat agency said unemployment in the 19-country single currency bloc fell to 10.5 percent in November from a revised 10.6 percent in October, reaching the lowest level since October 2011.

Oil prices plunged close to $33 a barrel on Thursday as crude extended losses on rising U.S. energy stockpiles and China's weakening currency.

At 0615 GMT, U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February delivery was down 88 cents, or 2.59 percent, at $33.09, the lowest since touching $32.40 in December 2008 during the global financial crisis.

U.S. auto sales touched a new high in 2015 as easy credit, hot new vehicles and strong consumer confidence pushed sales slightly above the record set in 2000, industry data showed Tuesday. 

Some 17.47 million vehicles were sold in the United States last year, nearly 70,000 more than the record set 15 years earlier, according to Autodata. 

Brent oil prices tumbled Wednesday below $35 for the first time in 11.5 years, plagued by abundant oversupply and the ongoing row between key producers Iran and Saudi Arabia dimming prospects for production cuts.

The market also tanked on expectations that the U.S. government will later report that rising stockpiles added to the global supply glut last week.

New car registrations in Germany, a key measure of demand in one of the most important sectors of Europe's top economy, rose sharply in December, marking a strong year as a whole for the industry, data showed on Wednesday.

A total of 247,300 new cars were registered last month, an increase of eight percent compared with the figure for the same month in 2014, according to data compiled by the automakers' federation VDA.