Reuters

By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's foreign minister on Friday described the country's relationship with China as "complex," and called out the hardening rhetoric across the Taiwan Strait, human rights violations in Hong Kong and "increased engagement in Pacific security sectors."

Winston Peters said in the speech to the New Zealand China Council in Auckland that China was a vital economic partner to New Zealand, with... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - Pioneer Natural Resources on Thursday reported a lower first-quarter profit, weighed down by higher production costs and weak natural gas prices.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission gave the go-ahead to Exxon Mobil's $60 billion purchase of the company, but barred Pioneer's former CEO, Scott Sheffield, from joining Exxon's board on allegations he attempted to collude with OPEC to raise oil prices.

Sheffield... (continue reading...)

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army said Congress doubled to $6 billion its funding request for buying and building 155 millimeter artillery rounds to replace stocks depleted by shipments to Ukraine and now Israel, an Army official said on Thursday.

Demand for 155 mm artillery rounds has soared since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Allies' supplies for their own defense have been run down as they have rushed shells... (continue reading...)

By Jamie McGeever

(Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets.

The dovish waves from Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference on Wednesday continue to wash over world markets, putting Asian stocks on the cusp of a second straight weekly gain and highs not seen in well over a year.

Investor sentiment is positive and risk appetite looks strong going into the Asian open on Friday, after world stocks rose and U.S.... (continue reading...)

By Humeyra Pamuk, Alexander Cornwell and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) - The Biden administration and Saudi Arabia are finalizing an agreement for U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear assistance, even as an Israel-Saudi normalization deal envisioned as part of a Middle East “grand bargain” remains elusive, according to seven people familiar with the matter.

A working draft lays out principles and proposals aimed... (continue reading...)