(Reuters) - The S&P 500 ended nearly flat on Friday despite coming close again to its record closing high, as data on the U.S. economy added to uncertainty over the recovery.

Aggressive stimulus measures have helped the three main U.S. stock indexes

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Friday took the first step to impose new sanctions on Belarus over a disputed election last Sunday and a crackdown on protests that followed, instructing its foreign policy arm to prepare a blacklist of responsible individuals.

President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters Breakingviews) - The presumptive Democratic candidate to challenge Donald Trump for the presidency chose California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Gina Chon and Rob Cox discuss the parallels with corporate succession planning and what the choice says about economic policy.

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump took a hard line on immigration in the 2016 election, making it his signature campaign issue. Now, as he runs for re-election, he is highlighting the promises he says he kept and warning that his Democratic challenger Joe Biden will roll them back.

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese bulk carrier struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius on July 25, spilling about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil and triggering a state of “environmental emergency”.

1/WALL STREET WATCHES WASHINGTON

U.S. lawmakers negotiating a fresh dose of stimulus have reached an impasse.

Trillions of dollars injected by the Federal Reserve and huge government spending increases have stemmed coronavirus-linked economic damage

LONDON (Reuters) - The pound rose on Friday as the dollar fell amid thin August trading, keeping most investors on the sidelines from making directional decisions on the British currency.

Sterling inched up 0.3% at $1.3111 and up 0.2% at 90.27 pence against the euro. It has risen nearly 7

MOSCOW, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The Moscow Exchange, Russia’s largest bourse, said on Friday it will start trading foreign currency and derivatives three hours earlier in the first quarter of 2021 and extend its hours of operation.

The Moscow Exchange has long considered extending trading hours to attract more clients and this year prolonged the evening session on its stock market that draws in retail investors.

The bourse said its decision to move the start of FX and derivatives trade to 0400 GMT,

MOSCOW, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Russian state-controlled diamond producer Alrosa said on Friday that its second-quarter net profit fell by 98% year on year to 300 million roubles ($4 million) as the novel coronavirus outbreak hit demand for precious stones.

The global diamond supply chain has been convulsed by the pandemic, prompting Alrosa and its peers to carry on with critically low sales for months. Alrosa’s second-quarter sales in carats shrunk by 92%.

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