Under-pressure Qatar vowed a major boost to gas production Tuesday as a deadline approached for Doha to meet the demands of Arab countries engaged in a blockade against it.

When Iran signed its landmark deal with world powers in 2015, curbing its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, many expected an investment gold rush. 

French energy giant Total was set to defy US pressure on Monday, signing a multi-billion-dollar gas deal with Iran, the first by a European firm in more than a decade.

The euro and pound held their gains against the dollar on Monday after signals from global central banks that they were prepared to tighten monetary policy, while equity markets mostly eked out small gains after last week's losses.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday announced a 50 percent increase in the monthly minimum wage to 97 bolivars, or about 37 dollars at the official exchange rate. 

A new 2,000 Syrian Lira ($3.9) bank note with the face of President Bashar Assad will go into circulation Sunday, the Syrian Central Bank announced.

The notes are the first time Syria will depict President Bashar Assad on its currency since he took office 17 years ago.

After buying big American brands like Apple, Pepsi and Yahoo!, activist shareholders -- investors in search of big dividends -- now are setting their sights on European companies like Nestle.

Hisham Gaber had been preparing his wedding for months, but started to have second thoughts as inflation in Egypt rocketed due to government austerity measures, including sharp increases in fuel prices.

China will allow foreign investors direct access to its massive bond market from Monday, the Chinese central bank said.

French energy giant Total will finally sign its multi-billion-dollar agreement to develop an Iranian offshore gas field on Monday, the oil ministry said, in the biggest foreign deal since sanctions were eased last year.