Bloomberg Exxon Mobil Corp will sell its controlling stake in Esso (Thailand) Pcl, which runs a local refinery and retailing business, to rival Bangchak Corp. as the largest US oil company focuses on its home market and the production of lower-emission fuels. Bangchak will acquire 66%, or 2.28 billion shares, of Esso at a price to be determined later, …

Bloomberg The UK economy may avoid tumbling into recession until later this year as consumers kept spending through the worst cost-of-living squeeze in memory. Gross domestic product unexpectedly rose 0.1% in November, the Office for National Statistics said Friday. Economists had expected a small decline after growth in October. November’s figures mean the UK economy probably avoided a recession in …

  Bloomberg Britain’s trade deficit narrowed sharply after a slump in natural gas prices reduced import costs and a flurry of exports of aircraft and cars. The deficit in goods and services trade fell by £6.5 billion to £20.2 billion in the three months to November. Exports to the European Union were hit again in the wake of Britain’s exit …