European and Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday ahead of a big week of key events including the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting, Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and earnings from tech titans.

Mike Bowsher shakes his head in wonder when he hears yet another customer at one of his Buick-GMC dealerships near Atlanta has agreed to pay full sticker price of more than $71,000 for a top-of-the-line GMC Yukon XL Denali SUV that is still being assembled at a General Motors factory.

The German government has raised its growth forecast for this year to 3.5 per cent, compared with the 3 per cent growth it was expecting back in January, a source said, adding that the upward revision was justified by a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter.

In China’s commercial hub Shanghai, six big state banks are quietly promoting digital yuan ahead of a May 5 shopping festival, carrying out a political mandate to provide consumers with a payment alternative to Alipay and WeChat Pay.

What was initially downplayed as a brief hiccup in the supply of semiconductors looks more and more like a shortage that may last throughout the year in what would be a big blow to automakers.

An update to the software powering some billion iPhones around the world kicks in Monday with an enhanced privacy feature critics fear will roil the internet advertising world.

Reports that the Biden administration will seek to nearly double the capital gains tax hit market sentiment on Friday, distracting investors from positive economic news.

India, the world’s third-largest crude consumer and importer, has approached Guyana’s government about a possible long-term deal to buy the South American country’s oil, a Guyanese official said.

Qatar Petroleum (QP) is planning its first ever US dollar-denominated public international bond sale, two sources said, the latest Gulf energy giant to tap debt markets in an age of lower energy prices.

Qatar Petroleum (QP) is planning its first ever US dollar-denominated public international bond sale, two sources said, the latest Gulf energy giant to tap debt markets in an age of lower energy prices.

In Spain where bank tellers were once legion, the sector is again reeling from thousands more job cuts as a 10-year trend gathers pace due to the ongoing pandemic.

Saudi Arabia could save over $200b over the next decade by replacing liquid fuel used for domestic consumption with gas and renewable energy sources, the finance minister said, as the kingdom seeks to cut costs to fund investments.

Wall Street rebounded Friday from earlier losses on reports that US President Joe Biden will seek a huge tax hike, but Europe remained on the back foot despite bright economic data.

Saudi Arabia announced Friday the suspension of fruit and vegetable imports from Lebanon, saying shipments were being used for drug smuggling and accusing Beirut of inaction.

US factory activity powered ahead in early April, though manufacturers increasingly struggled to source raw materials and other inputs as a reopening economy leads to a boom in domestic demand, which could slow momentum in the months ahead.

The United States, Norway and Britain joined forces with companies including Amazon and Nestle on Thursday to launch a project aimed at protecting the world’s tropical forests.

British retail sales jumped last month before a partial lifting of coronavirus restrictions, suggesting an economic rebound is under way, but official data also showed record peacetime government borrowing.

The dollar fell against major currencies on Friday as US yields languished and the euro got an extra late-day lift following a earlier boost from an upbeat survey of purchasing managers.

Oil settled higher on Friday, supported by bullish economic data from US and Europe, though a rise in coronavirus cases in India was still pressuring prices.

The German government is set to upgrade its growth forecast for this year as industry holds up well to the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said Saturday.