PARIS - THE OECD, representing leading nations in a global drive against tax havens, hit back hard on Friday at Switzerland for accusing it of unfair treatment.

ANKARA - TURKEY is hoping to conclude in May a new stand-by deal with the International Monetary Fund that could be worth up to US$45 billion (S$68 billion), newspapers reported on Friday.

TOKYO - INVESTORS dumped shares in top Japanese banks on Friday as a severe profit warning from one of the country's big three sparked fresh concerns about the outlook for the troubled sector.