Consumer prices in the United States picked up last month, a sign that inflation remains a persistent challenge for the Federal Reserve and for President Joe Biden's re-election campaign, both of which are counting on a steady easing of price pressures this year.

Prices rose 0.4% from January to February, a pickup from the previous month's figure of 0.3%. Compared with 12 months earlier, consumer prices rose 3.2% last month, faster than January's 3.1% annual pace.

China's leaders on Monday wrapped up a week-long key conclave at which they admitted more was needed to revive a sluggish economy battered by an ailing housing market, poor domestic demand and record-high youth unemployment.

Top officials have been upfront about the myriad challenges China is facing, admitting that a modest five percent growth goal will not be easy and that "hidden risks" are dragging the economy down. But they have supplied few details about how they plan to tackle the problems.

Bitcoin struck a fresh record high Monday and stock markets diverged as traders assessed the outlook for cuts to U.S. interest rates.

Saudi oil giant Aramco اشس reported it made $121 billion in profit last year, down from its 2022 record due to lower energy prices.

The results still marked the company's second highest ever result, Aramco said, as members of the OPEC+ alliance continue to cut their production to try to boost global energy prices. However, lower results also squeeze the kingdom as it embarks on a massive development project under its assertive crown prince to wean itself off oil revenues.

India signed a trade agreement with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland on Sunday that includes a commitment of $100 billion in investments and creating 1 million direct jobs in India in the next 15 years.

India committed to reducing import tariffs on industrial products from the four European countries that comprise the European Free Trade Association, or EFTA.

Against the backdrop of the country's ongoing political instability and the conflict in southern Lebanon, a remarkable educational event unfolded, bringing a ray of hope to educational suppliers and institutions.

The past week saw the conclusion of the second edition of the SchoolTec Exhibition and Conference, specializing in the educational and technological supplies sector. This annual event in Lebanon underscores the critical role of the education sector as a foundational pillar of the nation's cultural identity and its regional educational prominence.

A top U.S. Treasury official visiting Beirut this week pressed Lebanese authorities to prevent funds from being funneled to Hamas by way of Lebanon, officials said.

Jesse Baker, deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury for Asia and the Middle East in the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, met with Lebanese politicians and officials from the financial sector Thursday and Friday.

America's employers delivered another healthy month of hiring in February, adding a surprising 275,000 jobs and again showcasing the U.S. economy's resilience in the face of high interest rates.

Last month's job growth was up from a revised gain of 229,000 jobs in January. The unemployment rate ticked up two-tenths of a point to 3.9% but was still the 25th straight month in which it has remained below 4%.

European shares mostly declined early Friday, but Asian benchmarks rose after U.S. stocks climbed to records.

France's CAC 40 edged up less than 0.1% in early trading to 8,019.83, while Germany's DAX dipped 0.1% to 17,823.36. Britain's FTSE 100 shed nearly 0.2% to 7,680.05. U.S. shares were set to trade mixed in a narrow range, with Dow futures down less than 0.1% at 38,813.00. S&P 500 futures added less than 0.1% to 5,166.25.

Saudi Arabia's crown prince transferred another 8% of shares in the kingdom's oil giant Saudi Aramco to the country's prominent sovereign wealth fund on Thursday. The shares are worth some $160 billion.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's decision comes as the kingdom is trying to build a series of megaprojects and invest in sports and other fields aggressively abroad to wean the country off of relying solely on oil.