American company Starbucks announced on Monday its plans to lay off 1,100 employees as part of a strategy aimed at simplifying operations and reducing costs.

Chinese e-commerce and technology giant Alibaba Group intends to invest more than 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) in establishing infrastructure for artificial intelligence and cloud computing applications over the next three years.

Employees at Dusseldorf Airport in western Germany began a one-day warning strike on Monday, called by the Verdi Union, which represents workers in the service sector.

A survey conducted by management consulting firm Strategy& among 2,500 investors in the United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey showed that investment in cryptocurrencies is on the rise.

Beijing on Sunday said it will take retaliatory measures against Washington in response to US tightened policies regarding investment cooperation with China.

The results of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics' monitored trade survey, which were published today, Sunday, showed that the value of the deficit in the Palestinian trade balance, which represents the difference between exports and imports, amounted to 434.4 million US dollars, an increase of 33% during last December, compared to the same month in 2023.

Muscat Stock Exchange (MSM) recorded an increase in trading value last week to RO 20.6 million, compared to RO 16.3 million in the previous week, an increase of 26.3%, benefiting from strong trading on the eighth issue of sovereign sukuk, which amounted to RO 10.3 million, representing 50.2% of total trades.

Gold prices rose slightly on Thursday to hover near their highest levels ever, amid continuing concerns over US President Donald Trump's tariff strategies, which could exacerbate inflation and ignite a global trade war.

Kuwait Stock Exchange ended trading today, Thursday, with its general index rising by 39.71 points, or 0.49 percent, to reach 8142.94 points.

China on Thursday kept its one-year benchmark lending rate at 3.1 percent, unchanged from the previous month, a benchmark market-based lending rate.

The Muscat Stock Exchange 30 Index closed today, Wednesday, at 4452.67 points, down 15.9 points and 0.36 percent compared to the last trading session, which amounted to 4468.58 points.

The Ministers of Economy, Industry and Investment, Eng. Maeen Al-Mahaqri, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mohammed Qahim, and Governor of Hodeida, Abdullah Otifi, visited today the Holy Month Consumer Food Exhibition in the city of Hodeida.

The British government has announced multi-billion pound plans to support the country's steel industry and secure its future.

The Australian government announced a ban on the sale of residential real estate to foreign parties in the country for two years.

The Yemeni Organization for Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control continues to conduct field visits to industrial facilities in various governorates, to improve the quality of products and ensure their compliance with approved standard specifications. The current phase includes Hajjah Governorate, where the organization seeks to address the challenges facing factories in coordination with local authorities.

Vietnam in January reduced its coffee exports to Russia by almost half on an annual basis, Russian media said on Friday, as Brazil fully compensated for the lost volumes, becoming the main supplier of coffee beans to Russia.

The Office of Economy, Industry, and Investment in Al-Bayda Governorate launched a field campaign today to monitor markets, businesses, shops, bakeries, and ovens in the districts of the governorate.

Japan’s Nikkei index closed lower on Friday, ending a three-session winning streak, as investors engaged in profit-taking following significant gains in the previous session. A stronger yen also weighed on market sentiment.

The European Commission vowed on Friday to deliver a "firm and immediate response" to U.S. trade barriers after President Donald Trump announced potential tariffs that could impact both allies and competitors.

The annual inflation rate in the United States rose last month at a higher pace than expected, and the index reached 3% in January 2025.