1.The Russian rouble is taking a punch:
The Russian ruble dropped 1.3% on Wednesday to 73.2 rubles per dollar, its weakest level in about 12 months. The national currency lost 40% of its value last year.
2.Saudi Arabian Stock Market Plans Initial Public Offering in 2018:
Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange, the Arab world’s largest, aims to sell shares in an initial public offering in 2018.
3.Palm Oil Set for Best Year Since 2010 as El Nino Threatens Crops:
Palm oil headed for the biggest annual gain in five years as the strongest El Nino in almost two decades parches crops in Southeast Asia and trims record stockpiles of the commodity used in food and biofuel.
4.Apple will pay over $300 million to settle tax fraud investigation in Italy:
Italian prosecutors have been investigating allegations that Apple failed to pay corporate taxes.
5.1MDB Sells Majority Stake in Real-Estate Project for $1.7 Billion:
Malaysian state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd. Thursday said it had agreed to sell a majority stake in a Kuala Lumpur real-estate project to a consortium that includes a state-owned Chinese company for $1.72 billion.
6.European stocks is poised for worst December in more than a decade:
European stocks fell for a second day, trimming their annual advance as they’re poised to post their worst December since 2002.The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.3 percent at 8:12 a.m. in London.