(Dec 26): Asian stocks looked set for another quiet year-end session on Thursday, sitting on an advance of almost 9% for the quarter thanks to ebbing concerns about U.S.-China trade tensions and expectations of a global economic pickup in 2020.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar edged up slightly against the yen on Thursday while risk-sensitive currencies held firm on hopes of easing trade tensions between the United States and China and a pick up in the global growth.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Thursday, buoyed by a potential breakthrough in the Sino-U.S. trade war and OPEC-led efforts to constrain supply, although trading was quiet as many markets were in holiday mode.

ABIDJAN: A decade after rubber was heavily promoted as a goldmine for Ivory Coast’s cocoa-dependent economy, planters are under pressure to address criticism that they are damaging the environment and weakening the country’s ability to feed itself.

This year, good agricultural practices (GAP) have become more accessible as a number of NGOs have created training, research, financing and even off-taking initiatives for cacao, coffee and rubber farmers.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday after Russia’s energy minister, Alexander Novak, said cooperation with OPEC on supporting the market would continue and as analysts forecast a second weekly decline in U.S. crude inventories.