BAGHDAD / AP Iraqi troops encountered the “heaviest” clashes yet with IS group fighters Sunday in western Mosul since the start of the new push more than two weeks ago, according to a senior commander. Maj. Gen. Haider al-Maturi of the Federal Police Commandos Division told The Associated Press that IS militants dispatched at least six suicide car bombs, …

  DUBAI / Reuters Most Gulf bourses fell in light trade on Sunday, with Dubai’s index dropping below technical support while Egypt continued to firm on the news that authorities would tax stock market transactions only gradually. Saudi Arabia’s index lost 0.7 percent, with about 70 percent of stocks dropping. Most petrochemicals shares fell, including a 1.8 percent decline for …

  Bloomberg China’s top underwriter of convertible bonds said there is “substantial” scope for sales to grow this year as regulators curb secondary share offerings, providing investors with more options for betting on the nation’s rising equity market. China International Capital Corp., which has arranged $7.7 billion of convertible notes onshore and offshore in the past seven years, said issuance …