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HONG KONG (AP) — International stock markets mostly slumped today after a North Korean nuclear test unnerved investors and a report showing weakness in China's service industries renewed worries about growth in the world's No. 2 economy. Futures point to a lower opening on Wall Street. Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell below $35.50 a barrel. The dollar slipped against the yen and strengthened against the euro.
WASHINGTON — A flurry of economic reports is due out today. This morning, the Commerce Department releases international trade data and factory orders for November. The Institute for Supply Management releases its service sector index for December. The Federal Reserve releases minutes from its December interest-rate meeting. And Monsanto reports quarterly financial results before the market opens.
LONDON (AP) — A closely watched survey suggests that economic growth across the 19-country eurozone hit a 4-1/2 year high in the fourth quarter of 2015 giving it a solid footing for robust growth this year. Financial information company Markit says its purchasing managers' index — a broad gauge of economic activity — rose to a four-month high of 54.3 points in December from 54.2 the previous month. That monthly growth rounded off the best quarterly performance since the middle of 2011.
BEIJING (AP) — China plans to restrict stock sales by large shareholders once a ban imposed in July to stop a slide in prices is lifted this week. The China Securities Regulatory Commission says stockholders who own more than 5 percent of a company will be required to sell shares through private transactions to "avoid shocks to the market." Regulators are winding down emergency measures imposed after China's main market index plunged more than 30 percent in June.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A top Volkswagen executive says constructive discussions are happening with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board about those diesel engines that cheat on emissions tests. Speaking at the CES electronics show, Brand CEO Herbert Diess says he's optimistic that U.S. environmental regulators will approve fixes within the coming weeks. Diess spoke as the company unveiled a concept of an electric-powered Microbus.
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