Some 20,000 people demonstrated in Greece on Thursday as a general strike against new budget cuts and labor reform paralyzed the civil service and disrupted transports.

Saudi King Salman on Thursday issued a decree allocating 72 billion riyals ($19.2 billion) of stimulus funds to support the Saudi private sector.

The package aims to boost the role of the private sector in light of economic reforms to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil following a slump in crude prices.

The dollar dropped Wednesday but U.S. stocks rose awaiting the outcome of a Federal Reserve policy meeting which analysts believe will result in higher rates.

Investor interest was strong Wednesday as Abu Dhabi's state energy company listed a stake in its retail distribution arm, the first time the emirate has sold shares in one of its oil firms.

The major European gas pipeline hub in Austria that suffered a deadly explosion on Tuesday has resumed pumping gas abroad, its operator said Wednesday.

The United States is seeking a $250 million cut to the core budget of the United Nations for 2018-2019, on top of $200 million in savings already proposed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, diplomats said Tuesday.

The World Bank will stop financing oil and gas exploration and extraction from 2019, it announced Tuesday at a climate summit seeking to boost the global economy's shift to cleaner energy.

Giant US cinema chain AMC Entertainment has signed a deal to build and operate movie theatres in Saudi Arabia after the conservative kingdom lifted a decades-old ban.

British inflation has hit its highest level in almost six years, official data showed Tuesday, forcing Bank of England governor Mark Carney to explain the rise in an exceptional letter. 

Asian markets mostly fell after a recent rally as investors cashed in while also looking ahead to key central bank meetings that could provide some idea about monetary policy in the new year.

Wall Street provided yet another record-breaking lead as the selling that hit equities at the start of the month abates, while energy firms were supported by stronger oil prices.