Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel stated on Thursday that she considered there was a great chance to start the next phase of the Brexit talks.
On Thursday, the European Central Bank surged its GDP and inflation estimates, seeing inflation at 1.7% in 2020 and the GDP at 2.3% versus the previous forecast of 1.8%.
Import prices in the United States surged 0.7% in November, following the prior month's downwardly revised 0.1% gain, driven by the increased costs of the imported petroleum products.
China's President Xi Jinping stated that war must be avoided on the Korean Peninsula, adding that the issue should be resolved through the peace talks.
Delta Air Lines announced it would place a firm order for about 100 Airbus A321neo planes and optional order for 100 more jets.
The leader of the Austrian Conservatives Sebastian Kurz stated on Thursday that he expected to reach a deal on a new government formation with the far-right Freedom Party by the next week.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Teva Pharmaceuticals on Thursday to minimise its layoffs and maintain Teva's identity as the Israeli firm.
Saudi Arabia and Russia signed a roadmap deal to cooperate in the atomic energy sector, the Russian nuclear company Rosatom reported on Thursday.
The new President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa called for the Western sanctions removal, saying that the 2018 elections were closer than "you expected".
The Saudi Arabia King Salman approved $19.2B of measures to help stimulate private sector's growth, as the authorities aim to pull the country's economy out of slump driven by low oil costs.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin made an official statement that he would run for the new Kremlin term as an independent candidate in the March 2018 election.
Sweden is set to raise the minimum retirement age at which working people can take the state pension over the following years, amid an increase in people's average life spans.
On Thursday, Atos shares plunged as much as 2.8%, following Gemalto chipmaker's rejection of its takeover bid worth $5B.
On Thursday, China angered as the United States were interfering in the country's internal affairs by considering the navy visits to the self-ruled country Taiwan.
Walt Disney agreed to buy Rupert Murdoch's film, TV and international businesses 21st Century Fox for more than $75B or $40 per share.
On Thursday, the ruling bloc led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved the corporate income tax cut to 20% from 30%. However, the bill is supposed to be applied only for those companies that increase wages aggressively and boost local capital spending.
According to the Lotte group spokesman, South Korean prosecutors are asking a four-year prison term for their chief Shin Dong-bin. In addition to that, they demand a 25-year jail time for South Korean ex-president's friend Choi Soon-sil.
Japan's Rakuten is set to apply for a 4G license, in a bid to become the fourth largest wireless carrier in Japan, while analysts warned over an uphill battle to get consumers.
The People's Bank of China hiked interest rate just after the Fed increased its benchmark, as China sought to avoid capital outflows instability without hurting economic expansion.
Airbus CEO said that the company was considering cuts of A380 superjumbo jets production up to seven planes per year, but no final decision was made.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May urged leaders of the EU to accept an agreement to enter the second phase of Brexit negotiations on Thursday.
The World Bank raised 2017 growth projection for the Malaysian economy to 5.8%, the strongest yearly expansion in four years, buoyed by improved job market and soaring domestic demand.
The Markit/Nikkei Manufacturing PMI for Japan increased to 54.2 in December, indicating the strongest activity growth in nearly four years, supported by a rise in new orders.
Real estate investment in China increased 7.5% in January-November from the similar period a year ago, slowing from a 7.8% rise in the first ten months of the year, official report stated.