Turkey dodged a recession as the economy returned to growth in the last three months of the year, data showed Friday, but its annual growth rate slowed sharply.

The Turkish economy rebounded with 3.8 percent growth in the final quarter of the year compared with the previous three month period, when it shrank by 2.7 percent on a seasonally and calendar adjusted basis, according to the Turkish Statistics Office (TUIK).

Nigeria's central bank has made moves to strengthen the naira currency to boost domestic manufacturing and lift the economy out of recession caused by the slump in global oil prices.

But analysts said the measures do not go far enough and foreign investment would only return to Africa's most populous nation once the market determines the currency's true value.

Unemployment in Germany hit a new record low in March, official data showed Friday, as Europe's largest economy continues to defy economic uncertainty with a strong performance.

The International Monetary Fund said Thursday it will discuss on April 3 whether to approve the next $1 billion loan payment for cash-strapped Ukraine after earlier postponing the decision.

"Consideration ... is being scheduled for April 3, 2017," Jerome Vacher, the IMF's representative in Ukraine, said in a statement. 

Swedish clothing giant Hennes and Mauritz (H&M) Thursday announced the launch of its eighth fashion brand as tough market conditions in the US and Central Europe hurt profits.

Asian markets turned negative Thursday following two days of gains, but energy firms were lifted by an oil rally while the pound held up after Britain formally triggered talks to leave the European Union.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is credited with pulling the economy back from the brink, but less than two months before his re-election bid, has he done enough to convince voters?

European and Asian stock markets mostly rose Wednesday but gains were tempered by caution as Britain readies to trigger Brexit, dealers said.

German automakers Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen will recall nearly one million vehicles in China, according to the country's quality regulator.

A senior official at a state-owned Turkish bank has been detained in the United States on charges of helping Iran violate US sanctions against the country, the bank said Wednesday.