Negative rates for wealthy savers

Credit Suisse are charging clients to hold large deposits of money in Swiss francs. The lender is introducing a negative rate of -0.75 percent on cash balances above two million Swiss francs ($2.02m) from 1 January. A rate of -0.85 percent will be imposed on business customers with balances above 10 million Swiss francs ($10.1m).

Renault punished after warning

Renault shares fell after the company cut its revenue guidance for 2019 and lowered its profitability forecast. Renault shares were down 11 percent in early trading.

The car maker said sales were likely to drop between 3 percent and 4 percent this year. 

"Overall, there are too many uncertainties today," wrote Deutsche Bank analysts, as they cut their rating on Renault to  "hold" from "buy".

Vivendi sees interest in music group sale

French media group Vivendi's shares climbed after it revealed a rise in third-quarter revenue and said it had more than one expression of interest in buying Universal Music Group.

Vivendi shares climbed as much as 2.7 percent in early trading.

"Group trading continues to track well, but we view the major catalyst for share price upside in the short term to be further sell down of UMG," wrote brokerage Liberum, which kept a "buy" rating on Vivendi.

London Stock Exchange still central to euro swaps

As a Brexit deal looms over the UK parliament, London's position as a key financial hub within the European Union continues. The London Stock Exchange announced a better than expected increase in third quarter revenue just days after fending off a takeover bid from the Hong Kong Bourse. 

London Stock Exchange income jumped 12 percent to $754.9m in the third quarter figures announced on Friday and has now overtaken the United States as the largest trading center for interest rates swaps.

Ship owners delay emission refits to cash in on record supertanker rates

'Several shipping owners' have postponed dry docking their fleet to install emission-cutting equipment because the cost of hiring a supertanker is at a record high. Oil companies are willing to pay $22m to charter a supertanker from the US to China this week compared with $8m back in September as US sanctions have forced prices up. 

The International Maritime Organization has set a deadline of 1 January 2020 for shipping companies to fit exhaust cleaning systems, known as scrubbers, but with the latest spike in freight costs experts say that cashing in on the spike in freight rates will pay for the conversions.