Calls for the Muslim world to boycott French goods over arguments over Islam and freedom of speech appeared Tuesday to have had "limited" uptake in the Middle East and North Africa.

The prices of imported foodstuffs will be lowered this week, the head of the Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuff, Consumer Products & Drinks, Hani Bohsali, said on Tuesday.

“In cooperation with all importers, the syndicate is currently studying the fluctuation in the dollar exchange rate in the parallel market with the aim of re-pricing foodstuffs imported from abroad,” Bohsali said in a statement, following a recent drop in the dollar exchange rate on the black market.

Eurozone banks tightened their requirements for handing out loans in the third quarter, a European Central Bank survey showed Tuesday, indicating nervousness over the region's recovery as coronavirus infections spike. 

Spanish banking giant Banco Santander said Tuesday it had returned to profit in the third quarter after massive losses in the second of 11 billion euros due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus crisis is expected to drag foreign direct investment down by up to 40 percent this year, with a recovery not expected until 2022, UN economists said Tuesday.

President Donald Trump's administration on Monday slapped fresh sanctions on Iran's oil sector including over sales to Syria and Venezuela, reducing Joe Biden's room for maneuver if he wins next week's election.

Italian officials faced a backlash on Monday after imposing coronavirus restrictions aimed at "saving Christmas", as other hard-hit countries enforced curfews in a bid to avoid fresh national lockdowns.

U.S. policymakers continued to hold talks Monday on a new spending package to aid the virus-hit economy, but the negotiations have lost momentum, dimming hopes that an agreement can be reached before the November 3 election.

Washington has appealed against a World Trade Organization ruling that faulted U.S. duties imposed on hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese goods during the trade wars between the two giants.

A campaign by Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford to feed England's poorest children during school holidays has turned into a political football, throwing the spotlight on increased poverty during the coronavirus outbreak.