1.Europe Stocks Rise First Time in Three Days Amid Holiday Season:
European stocks climbed in a holiday-shortened week, trimming their worst December drop since 2002.
2.Spain is battling wildfires:
The Spanish government sent firefighting aircraft on Monday to help douse dozens of wildfires in northern Spain that erupted over the past week after an unusual dry spell.
3.Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit increased as oil prices fell:
Saudi Arabia said that this year’s budget deficit amounted to $98 billion (367 billion riyals) as lower oil prices cut into the government’s main source of revenue, prompting the kingdom to scale back spending for the coming year.
4.Emerging-Market Stocks Extend Losses on Persistent Oil Weakness:
Emerging-market equities fell, extending the biggest annual decline in four years, as persistent weakness in commodities weighs on the global growth outlook.
5.Australia Shares Rise to One-Month High
Shares in Australia rose to fresh one-month high and led most Asian markets higher Tuesday.
6.J.P. Morgan to Increase Deposit Rates for Some Big Clients in January:
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. will raise deposit rates for some of its biggest clients in January, according to a person familiar with the matter, following the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates this month.
7.Zimbabwe delays paying some salaries as cash crunch bites,Reuters:
Zimbabwe has delayed paying December salaries for most of its public sector workers to early next month and has not paid annual bonuses, in a sign of a cash crunch that brought threats of strikes from doctors and teachers on Monday.
8.Bankers move to reduce non-performing loans:
Bankers in the country and West Africa have been urged to reduce the amount of non-performing loans in the Deposit Money Banks’ books by coming up with policies that will minimise credit risks.
