
President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on Wednesday barring US companies from using foreign telecoms equipment deemed a security risk - a move that appeared aimed at Chinese giant Huawei.

Oil prices edged up on Thursday to extend gains into a third straight session, as tensions in the Middle East stoked fears of potential disruptions to supply. Brent crude futures were at US$72.04 a barrel at 0110 GMT, up 27 cents, or 0.4per cent, from their last close. Brent closed up 0.7per cent on Wednesday.

US media have panned him as a potential presidential hopeful and polls suggest an uphill battle, but New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was nonetheless expected Thursday to jump into the crowded 2020 race.

The US Department of Transportation on Wednesday ordered the suspension of all commercial passenger and cargo flights between the United States and Venezuela, citing reports of unrest and violence around airports in the South American country.

US farmers, who are major exporters of pork and soy, are caught in the middle of President Donald Trump's trade wars. And farmers along with the industries that support them, are also key voters.

China on Wednesday reported surprisingly weaker growth in industrial output and retail sales for April, reinforcing expectations that Beijing needs to roll out more stimulus measures as the trade war with the United States escalates.

United States President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would meet Chinese president Xi Jinping next month as the trade war between the world's two largest economies intensified, sending shivers through global markets.

A jury in California on Monday ordered Bayer-owned Monsanto to pay more than US$2 billion damages to a couple who sued on grounds the weed killer Roundup caused their cancer, lawyers said.

Brazil’s Real weakened past 4.00 per dollar for the first time in three weeks on Monday as an escalation in the U.S.-China trade war sent emerging markets reeling and a weekly snapshot of domestic growth forecasts fell to a new 2019 low.

Brazil plans to reduce import tariffs by 10 percentage points during the new government’s four-year term, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said, a move away from the direction currently being taken by countries such as the United States.