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• GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares surge as US-China trade thaw seen, sterling wobbles

  Asian equity markets surged on Thursday on signs of easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions and expectations that China will step up efforts soon to support its cooling economy.

• Second Canadian missing in China after detention of former diplomat

  Canadian businessman Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, is missing in China, a Canadian official said, days after Chinese authorities detained a former Canadian diplomat amid an escalating diplomatic row.

• UPDATE 1-Chinese state media urges Canada to defy U.S., free Huawei exec

  * Canada should distance itself from U.S. hegemonism -state media

• Alibaba-backed Lazada appoints new CEO; second change in 2018

  Lazada Group, a Southeast-Asian e-commerce company backed by Alibaba Group Holding, appointed Pierre Poignant as its new chief executive officer (CEO) on Thursday as part of its succession planning.

• INSIGHT-In fear of the state: Bangladeshi journalists self-censor as election approaches

  With less than a month to go to a general election, many journalists in Bangladesh say they are living in fear of ever-tightening media laws and engaging in self-censorship as a result.

• Trump intervention comment may be gift to Huawei CFO

  Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, released on bail on Tuesday to await a ruling on U.S. extradition at one of her luxury Vancouver homes, may have received welcome ammunition in court from an unlikely source - President Donald Trump.

• UPDATE 1-Insurance claims for latest California wildfires top $9 billion

  Insurance claims from the recent spate of California wildfires, including one ranked as the most deadly and destructive in state history, have topped $9 billion and are expected to grow, the state insurance commissioner reported on Wednesday.

• Japanese shares gain on trade hopes; tech firms rally

  Japanese shares advanced on Thursday as investors cheered Wall Street's overnight gains, thanks to signs of easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions, with technology firms getting a boost from a rally in their U.S. peers.

• METALS-London copper edges up on signs of trade row easing

  London copper prices moved higher in early Asian trade on Thursday amid signs China is making good on pledges made to the United States as part of a deal to resolve a trade row between the world's top two economies. Chinese companies have made their first major purchases of U.S. soybeans, a commodity at the heart of the trade spat, in more than six months, Reuters reported on Wednesday, while Beijing also looked to have toned down a high-tech industrial push

• PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - Dec 13

  The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

• PRECIOUS-Gold edges lower, palladium hits record high

  Gold prices dipped early on Thursday as the dollar steadied after declining from a near one-month high in the previous session, while palladium rose to a record high, trading at a premium to the bullion.

• PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Dec 13

  The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

• UPDATE 1-Exxon, BHP to develop Australian natural gas project

  Exxon Mobil Corp and the world's top miner BHP Billiton said on Thursday they approved development of the West Barracouta gas field in the Gippsland Basin in Australia, to bring fresh gas to Australian domestic markets.

• U.S. oil prices inch up amid stockpile drop, signs of easing trade tensions

  U.S. oil prices edged up on Thursday, buoyed by a drawdown in inventories and by signs of easing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

• GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares, sterling up on pause in Brexit, trade fears

  Asian shares and the pound moved higher on Thursday as investors breathed a sigh of relief after British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a no-confidence vote, and as China appeared to be taking more steps to meet U.S. demands to open its markets.

• Exxon Mobil makes final investment decision to develop Australian natural gas project

  Exxon Mobil Corp has made a final investment decision to develop the West Barracouta gas field in the Bass Strait to bring new gas supplies to the Australian market, it said in a statement on Thursday.

• U.S. tribunal to review ruling on Qualcomm request for iPhone ban

  The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) said on Wednesday it would review a ruling that a ban on imports of some iPhones into the United States was not in the public interest, even if Apple Inc infringed a Qualcomm patent.

• UPDATE 3-Canada warns U.S. not to politicize extradition cases

  Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday warned the United States not to politicize extradition cases, a day after President Donald Trump said he could intervene in the affair of a Chinese executive detained in Canada at Washington's request.

• UPDATE 1-After Trump comment on Huawei, official says Justice Dept sticks to law enforcement

  A top U.S. Justice Department official pushed back on Wednesday against President Donald Trump's comment that he might intervene in a legal case involving an executive from the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei Technologies Co if it would help secure a trade deal.

• U.S. lawmaker worried over Trump Huawei comments

  A Democratic U.S. senator said on Wednesday he found "very disturbing" a comment by President Donald Trump that he might get involved in the case of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei Technologies Co.