US oil prices end above $60 for first time since June 2015

NEW YORK, Dec 31 (AFP): US oil prices finished above $60 a barrel for the first time since June 2015 after new data suggested American producers were being cautious about ramping up output. The benchmark US contract, West Texas Intermediate for February delivery, climbed 58 cents to finish at $60.42...

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China Dec factory growth eases as tough pollution measures bite

BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters): Growth in China's manufacturing sector slowed slightly in December as a punishing crackdown on air pollution and a cooling property market start to weigh on the world's second-largest economy.The data support the view that the economy is beginning to gradually lose steam after growing by a...

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ROK central bank says monetary policy to remain accommodative

SEOUL, Dec 31 (Reuters): South Korea's central bank chief on Sunday said monetary policy should remain accommodative in 2018 because inflationary pressure is weak even as the economy is expected to post solid growth in the coming year. "Inflationary pressure from the demand side isn't forecast to be big and...

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