Reuters

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's central bank kept its key policy interest rate on hold at 4.50% on Friday, as unanimously expected by analysts, and said a tight monetary policy stance may be needed for somewhat longer than planned in order to curb inflation.

"The data so far could suggest that a tight monetary policy stance may be needed for somewhat longer than previously envisaged," Norges Bank said in a statement.

The Norwegian crown... (continue reading...)

BERLIN (Reuters) -German consumer goods company Henkel slightly raised its guidance for 2024 on Friday, saying strong performance in the first quarter had boosted its sales and earnings outlook.

The group raised its guidance for full-year organic sales growth, now expecting an increase of 2.5% to 4.5% compared with a previous target of 2.0% to 4.0%.

It now sees an adjusted return on sales (EBIT margin) in a range of 13.0% to 14.0%, having... (continue reading...)

By Mushtaq Ali

PESHAWAR (Reuters) - A bus veered into a ravine in Pakistan's far north early on Friday, a local government spokesman said, killing 20 passengers, while 21 injured were rescued and taken to hospital.

The bus was headed to the mountainous northern area of Gilgit-Baltistan from the garrison city of Rawalpindi in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab, when the accident happened in the early hours.

"The bus was... (continue reading...)

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's trade halt with Israel will continue until a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is secured as well as unhindered humanitarian aid flow to the region, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said on Friday.

Turkey stopped all exports and imports to and from Israel on Thursday, citing the "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in the Palestinian territories.

Israel's uncompromising attitude and worsening situation in Gaza prompted... (continue reading...)

BERLIN (Reuters) - German manufacturers deepened a decline in their order books in March, but economists pointed to a high comparative base of the previous year's period and hinted at potential signs of easing, the VDMA association reported on Friday.

Orders fell by 17% in real terms year-on-year in March, but March last year saw the biggest number of orders of the entire year.

"It therefore comes as no surprise that the decline in... (continue reading...)