Bloomberg Avon Products Inc spiked after rival Natura & Co confirmed that it has engaged in talks with Avon about a “potential transaction,” without giving further details. The confirmation, made in a regulatory filing, comes hours after the Wall Street Journal reported Avon and Natura were in early discussions about a potential sale that could put the cosmetics maker and …

Bloomberg Oil fell the most in three weeks as disappointing economic data sowed new fears of slowing global growth. West Texas Intermediate futures in New York dropped 1.6 percent, paring the week’s gain to less than 1 percent. Weaker than expected manufacturing data from Germany and France cast fresh doubts on Europe’s economic outlook, dragging equities down. The US treasury …

Bloomberg Sales of previously owned US homes rebounded in February to fastest pace in almost a year, topping estimates and snapping a three-month streak of declines to offer a robust indication that the housing market is stabilising after last year’s slump. Contract closings increased 11.8 percent, the most since 2015, from January’s pace to a 5.51 million annual rate, the …