Updated

By Lidia Kelly (Reuters) -Russia is boosting its ballistic arsenal with new strategic missile systems, plans maximum-range launches and may increase testing in response to growing external threats, a senior Russian military commander said on Monday. In a clear warning that Russia will respond if it deems its security is threatened, Sergei Karakayev, the commander …

Russia to boost its ballistic arsenal with new missiles and testing, commander says Read More »

By Jamie McGeever (Reuters) – A look at the day ahead in Asian markets.  Asian market sentiment is likely to remain subdued on Tuesday following the release of mixed Chinese economic data the day before, as investors digest unnerving political events in key developed economies ahead of several G10 central bank interest rate decisions later …

Morning Bid: Political jitters ripple ahead of cenbank fest Read More »

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian consumer sentiment took a step back in December as concerns about the economic outlook outweighed an improvement in people’s own finances, a survey showed on Tuesday. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment fell 2.0% in December, unwinding a little of the sharp gains seen over the previous two months. The …

Australian consumers fret over the economy in December, survey shows Read More »

DUBLIN (Reuters) – The threat to Ireland’s foreign multinational-focused economy and public finances from the incoming U.S. administration has pushed the risks to the country’s favourable economic picture firmly to the downside, the Irish central bank said on Tuesday. Ireland is especially exposed to President-elect Donald Trump’s pledges to slash corporate tax, incentivise industries to …

Trump threat pushes risks to Irish economy firmly to downside – central bank Read More »

By Chuck Mikolajczak NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Nasdaq closed at a record high on Monday and the S&P 500 also rose as investors gauged the latest economic data while looking toward the Federal Reserve’s final policy announcement of the year later in the week to gauge the path of interest rates. Markets have almost completely …

Nasdaq closes at record as investors prepare for Fed rate decision Read More »

(This Dec. 13 story has been corrected to say that Tice was taken captive in Daraya, not Aleppo, in paragraph 17) By Erin Banco and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In the early days of 2013, an American man, dressed in ragged clothing, dodged between houses in the streets of Damascus’ upscale Mazzeh neighborhood looking …

In search for US journalist Austin Tice, a clue from 11 years ago Read More »

By Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department on Monday said there is no U.S. government organization currently on the ground in Syria for the search of Austin Tice, an American journalist taken captive during a reporting trip in August 2012, but did not rule out the possibility. State Department …

No US government group in Syria for search of Austin Tice, State Department says Read More »