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TOKYO (AP) — International stock markets rose today, tracking the rally on Wall Street, as oil prices pushed higher amid hopes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will agree on production cuts. Futures point to Wall Street drifting higher at this morning's opening. Benchmark U.S. crude oil but remains under $48.50 a barrel. The dollar gained against the yen and edged down against the euro.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Association of Realtors will release existing home sales for October this morning. Demand for homes has been solid but supply has been weak as a solid job market and low mortgage rates bring buyers into the market. Still, despite the shortage of properties for sale, existing home sales increased in September.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The head of Volkswagen's core brand is sketching out a broad restructuring plan emphasizing electric cars and digital technology such as autonomous vehicles and car-sharing. Volkswagen division head Herbert Diess tells a news conference today that the goal is "to fundamentally change Volkswagen" as it bounces back from a scandal over cars rigged to cheat on diesel emissions tests. It seeks to raise sales profit margins to 6 percent by 2025, from just 2 percent in 2015. Profitability has lagged since the scandal.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's government and its bailout creditors remain apart in talks about new reforms, but Athens says a deal can still be achieved by early next month. That would unlock more bailout funds for Greece, and start the ball rolling for modest measures to relieve the country's crushing debt. The finance ministry says week-long talks in Athens made "significant progress." But the two sides remain apart on labor reforms.
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong officials say they have signed an agreement for a $1.4 billion expansion of the southern Chinese city's Disneyland theme park. The government says the plan calls for adding two new themed areas, based on the movie "Frozen" and Marvel superhero characters. The park's castle will also be renovated under the expansion scheduled to run from 2018 to 2023. The announcement follows the June launch of Shanghai Disneyland, a $5.5 billion resort that many had feared would siphon off mainland Chinese visitors to the Hong Kong park.
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