Finance news you need to know today

UNITED States airlines are operating flights to Paris, but the terror attacks have left travellers wondering whether to cancel upcoming trips.

Finance news you need to know

HERE are seven things making news in business and finance around the world today.

1. NEW YORK — United States airlines have continued to operate flights to Paris, but the terror attacks in the French capital have left tourists and business travellers wondering whether to go ahead with upcoming trips. Travel agents told Associated Press some clients had called to cancel their flights, and an advocacy group for business travellers predicted further cancellations.

2. NEW YORK — Wall Street has fallen sharply, capping off its worst week since the dark days of August, hurt by a sell-off in technology companies, while department stores dropped on concerns about the upcoming holiday shopping season.

3. LONDON — European stock markets closed down as traders reacted to weak eurozone data and lingering concerns over China.

Equities were weighed down by a slump in commodity prices caused largely by weaker Chinese demand and additional downward pressure came from increased expectations of a long-awaited US rate hike in December.

4. HONG KONG — Energy companies from Australia to China have tumbled as falling commodities prices stoked fears over the global outlook, with Asian stock markets tracking hefty losses in Europe and New York.

Prices have halved since peaking above $US100 in June last year, hit by tepid demand in a weak global economy, and a supply glut in the face of near-record output levels.

Sydney-listed miner BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto gave up almost two per cent while Origin was seven per cent lower.

5. SYDNEY — The Australian market has opened lower after US and European stocks fell, pulled down by concern over US retail figures, weak eurozone data and lingering concerns over China. At 1015 AEDT on Monday, the December share price index futures contract was down 54 points at 4,980 points, with 10,858 contracts traded.

6. ANTALYA — Negotiations on a European Union free trade agreement are expected to start in 2017.

7. BRUSSELS — Greece and its creditors have agreed on “many” of the issues that had to be resolved for Athens to receive more bailout funds but will hold more talks in the coming days, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem says.