Sales of new U.S. single-family homes surged to a seven-month high in November, boosted an acute shortage of previously owned homes on the market, but soaring house prices are an obstacle for first-time buyers.

U.S. chip maker Intel apologised on Thursday to Chinese customers, partners and the public for telling its suppliers not to source products or labour from the region of Xinjiang, following a backlash in China.

BEIJING (Reuters) -China will roll out more policies to help exporters and importers as foreign trade faces growing uncertainties, the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday, citing a meeting of the state council, or cabinet, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.

Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has sold $15.4 billion worth of shares since early November when the world's richest person polled Twitter users about offloading 10% of his stake in the electric-car maker.

HONG KONG (Reuters) -U.S. chip maker Intel apologised on Thursday to Chinese customers, partners and the public after a letter telling its suppliers not to source products or labour from the western region of Xinjiang caused a backlash.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has declined an effort by Apple Inc to skip a shareholder proposal asking the iPhone maker to provide greater transparency in its efforts to keep forced labour out of its supply chain.