() -Automotive companies across Europe have announced plant closures and big layoffs as they struggle with weak demand, high costs, competition from China and a slower-than-expected transition to electric vehicles. Below are layoffs and site closures announced in recent months, beginning with the latest: VOLKSWAGEN Europe's top carmaker Volkswagen (ETR:) agreed a deal with unions

PARIS () - France's new government will not be announced before Monday evening to take into account a day of mourning for cyclone-hit Mayotte, the presidency said in a statement, prolonging the political uncertainty in a major European power. Incoming centrist prime minister Francois Bayrou has struggled for almost 10 days to put together a

By David Lawder WASHINGTON () - The Biden administration on Monday announced a last-minute trade investigation into Chinese-made "legacy" semiconductors that could heap more U.S. tariffs on chips from China that power everyday goods from autos to washing machines to telecoms gear. The "Section 301" probe, launched just four weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes

By Simon Robinson () - Inflation dropped in most economies around the world in 2024, but voters didn’t care. Angered by the hefty ramp-up in prices for everything from eggs to energy over the past few years, they punished incumbent parties at almost every opportunity. The pain of inflation lingers, and ruling parties took the

TAIPEI () - Taiwan's cabinet warned on Monday the island's security might be at risk after opposition parties passed laws that will require cuts in government spending, including defence, at a time when China has ramped up military activity nearby. Taiwan's opposition parties, which hold a majority in parliament, last week passed legislation to shift

The UK economy showed no growth in the last quarter, according to the revised figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The previous estimate for July and September said the economy grew by 0.1%. Early estimates show that real GDP per head fell by 0.2% in the third quarter of 2024, and is 0.2%

By Ankur Banerjee SINGAPORE () -The dollar was steady on Monday after U.S. inflation data showed only a modest rise last month, easing some concerns about the pace of U.S. rate cuts next year, while the yen loitered near 156 per dollar, raising the possibility of intervention. Investor sentiment was lifted when a U.S. government

() - European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde said the euro zone was getting "very close" to reaching the central bank's medium-term inflation goal, according to an interview published by the Financial Times on Monday. Earlier in December, Lagarde had said the central bank would cut interest rates further if inflation continued to ease

SYDNEY () -Asian shares rallied on Monday after a benign reading on U.S. inflation restored some hope for further policy easing next year, while there was relief that Washington had averted a government shutdown. After the bonanza of recent central bank decisions, this week is much quieter with only the minutes of a few of

SYDNEY () - Asian shares rallied on Monday after a benign reading on U.S. inflation restored some hope for further policy easing next year, while there was relief that Washington had averted a government shutdown. After the bonanza of recent central bank decisions, this week is much quieter with only the minutes of a few