Bloomberg The Defense Department’s inspector general is investigating whether former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn “failed to obtain required approval” for a speech to a Russia-backed media network, according to an April 11 letter released on Thursday by the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. The Democrat, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, also released an October 2014 letter from …

  DUBAI / Reuters Shares in two Saudi banks that are in early merger talks moved in opposite directions on Thursday while other regional markets ended the week down as investors had little fresh company earnings and news to reallocate their funds or build positions. Alawwal Bank extended the previous session’s 8.6 percent gains, adding 2.2 percent. Shares in Saudi …

  Bloomberg US stocks fluctuated with the dollar as the Trump administration signaled its commitment to Nafta, while the euro edged lower after the European Central Bank boosted its assessment of the region’s economy without discussing tapering asset purchases. Crude sank below $49 a barrel. The S&P 500 Index’s move toward an all-time high faltered anew and Treasuries slipped after …