The United States said on Friday it had signed a major new loan guarantee with Ukraine aimed at helping the war-scarred former Soviet republic stabilize its floundering economy.

Germany will grow at a slightly slower pace than previously expected, its powerful central bank predicted Friday as it cut its forecasts for Europe's top economy.

The central bank of neighbouring France also turned more pessimistic on the growth outlook for the eurozone's second-biggest economy.

The dollar edged lower Friday as traders focus on US jobs data later in the day that will help the Federal Reserve decide on when to lift interest rates.

The OPEC oil cartel said Thursday that it has appointed Nigeria's Mohammed Barkindo as its new secretary general.

Oil prices were flat in early Asian trading Thursday as investors awaited the outcome of an OPEC meeting later in the day in Vienna.

Traditionally the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which pumps around a third of the world's oil, has cut production to boost prices.

The yen rallied Thursday on worries about the Japanese economy and uncertainty over Britain's future in the European Union, while investors awaited the release of US jobs data.

The Mediterranean holiday island of Cyprus recorded a 24-percent hike in key tourism revenues in March, its highest monthly percentage rise this year, official data showed Wednesday.

The world's longest tunnel officially opened on Wednesday, with the trailblazing rail passage under the Swiss Alps aiming to ease transit through the heart of Europe.

World oil markets have seen no negative impact from a doubling of Iranian exports following the lifting of international sanctions, the country's oil minister said Wednesday.

The market is returning to a "balanced state", Bijan Zanganeh said Wednesday before leaving for an OPEC oil cartel meeting in Vienna.

The head of the world's biggest bank by assets, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), is retiring, according to a statement, amid flat profit growth for the massive lender.