Reuters

(Reuters) - Here are some key facts about Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, whose reappointment as prime minister President Vladimir Putin proposed on Friday:

- Mishustin, 58 (born March 3, 1966), was appointed by Putin as head of government in January 2020, replacing Dmitry Medvedev. Along with other members of the Russian elite, Mishustin has been targeted by Western sanctions in connection with the war in Ukraine.

- As chief... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - Mining giant Rio Tinto had considered an offer for British miner Anglo American, which is now BHP Group's $39 billion takeover target, the Australian Financial Review reported on Friday.

Rio "management had not ruled out making a play for part or all of the mining group and continued to study the day-to-day situation," the AFR reported, citing sources close to Rio.

The report did not say why Rio did not make a bid, but said... (continue reading...)

By Ashitha Shivaprasad

(Reuters) - Gold prices firmed on Friday, poised for their best week since April 5, following recent economic data that boosted bets of an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve.

Spot gold gained 0.2% at $2,350.87 per ounce by 0212 GMT after hitting a more than two-week high earlier. Prices have risen 2.2% so far this week.

U.S. gold futures rose 0.7% to $2,356.90.

Data on Thursday... (continue reading...)

By Ankur Banerjee

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian stocks rose on Friday, on course for a third week of gains, while the dollar was on the back foot as fresh signs of an easing U.S. labour market stoked optimism around interest rate cuts this year ahead of next week's crucial inflation data.

Sterling was steady at $1.2515, having touched over two-week low of $1.2446 on Thursday after Bank of England (BoE) paved the way for the start of rate... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed reappointing Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister, the speaker of the lower house of parliament said on Friday, keeping Putin's chief technocrat in charge of the government as Moscow presses its war in Ukraine.

The Duma's approval of Mishustin is nearly certain, as there is virtually no opposition in parliament, which has supported Putin in all his decisions, including the February 2022 invasion of... (continue reading...)