French junior economy minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Tuesday that she was "very surprised" by news that Carlos Ghosn had left Japan and flown to Lebanon, adding she had heard of it via the media.
Asian shares were mostly lower on Tuesday, in their last trading day of the decade as investors locked in profits after a buoyant year of gains, driven in recent weeks by hopes of an imminent U.S.-China trade deal.
Ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn confirmed he fled to Lebanon, saying he wouldn't be "held hostage" by a "rigged" system, raising questions about how one of the world's most-recognized executives slipped out of Japan months before his trial.
The dollar dipped to a near three-week low against the yen in thin year-end volume on Tuesday as investors favored riskier assets, led by renewed optimism about global growth.
Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn entered Lebanon using a French passport, the Lebanese broadcaster MTV reported on Tuesday, citing an official source.
Oil prices steadied on the last trading day of the decade on Tuesday and were on track for a monthly and annual gains, supported by a thaw in the prolonged U.S.-China trade dispute and Middle East unrest.
Global equities drifted on Tuesday while the dollar ended 2019 on a subdued note following a buoyant year of stock market gains, driven in recent weeks by hopes of an imminent U.S.-China trade deal.
U.S. stock index futures dipped on Tuesday after retreating from record highs in the previous session, as a Wall Street rally, fueled by optimism around U.S.-China trade progress, fizzled out in the final days of the decade.
A Tencent-led consortium is taking a 10% stake in Vivendi's Universal Music Group, valuing the music label that houses Lady Gaga and The Beatles at 30 billion euros ($34 billion) and giving the Chinese firm a global backstage pass.
Singapore's state investor GIC is part of the consortium led by China's Tencent that's buying up to 20% of Vivendi's Universal Music Group (UMG), according to a source familiar with the deal.
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is another member of the Tencent-led consortium buying a 10% stake in Vivendi's Universal Music Group, a source familiar with the deal said on Tuesday.
The euro, the pound and a clutch of trade-sensitive currencies rallied as the dollar slid to a six-month low on Tuesday, with investors confident that global growth prospects are improving and U.S.-China trade relations significantly better.
Apple and Microsoft together accounted for nearly 15% of the S&P 500's advance in 2019, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Turkish Airlines has agreed a compensation deal with planemaker Boeing Co over the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX following two fatal crashes, the carrier said on Tuesday.
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