Norwegian Air has asked an Irish court to oversee a restructuring of its massive debt as it seeks to stave off collapse amid the coronavirus pandemic, the budget airline said on Wednesday.

* Zambia defaulted Friday after failing to pay Eurobond coupon

British midcaps jumped on Wednesday as hopes of a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union and further positive vaccine data from drugmaker Pfizer offset concerns about economic damage from surging coronavirus cases.

International investors will steer clear of Italian impaired bank loans until prices fall to reflect the higher risks associated with the COVID-19 crisis, the head of the Italian arm of Norway's Axactor said.

Norwegian Air's application for bankruptcy protection will be heard in an Irish court on Dec. 7, a spokesman for the Irish courts service said on Wednesday.

* Govt decides against new emergency credit scheme - for now (Rewrites, adding quotes, background, detail)

South Africa's annual investment conference attracted roughly 110 billion rand ($7.1 billion) in new investment pledges by companies and financial institutions, a boost for the government as it tries to chart a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. homebuilding increased more than expected in October as the housing market continues to be driven by record low mortgage rates, but momentum could slow amid a resurgence in new COVID-19 infections that is putting strain on the economic recovery.

A U.S. subsidiary of state-owned Thai oil and gas company PTT PCL said it is working to "move forward" a proposed petrochemical plant in Ohio that will turn ethane into plastics and provide a regional economic boost.

A gauge of global shares gained and was just shy of a record while the dollar moved off earlier lows on Wednesday as further positive COVID-19 vaccine news helped temper concerns about rising infection rates and related economic damage.

Norwegian Air has asked an Irish court to oversee a restructuring of its massive debt as it seeks to stave off collapse amid the coronavirus pandemic, the carrier said on Wednesday.

Norwegian Air has asked an Irish court to oversee a restructuring of its massive debt as it seeks to stave off collapse amid the coronavirus pandemic, the carrier said on Wednesday.

(This Nov. 16 story corrects spelling and location of 6 Meridian)

* Canadian dollar rises 0.1% against the greenback * Canada's annual inflation rate rises to 0.7% in October * Price of U.S. oil increases 1.2% * Canadian bond yields trade mixed across a flatter curve By Fergal Smith TORONTO, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar rose...

Global debt is expected to soar to a record $277 trillion by the end of the year as governments and companies continue to spend in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute of International Finance said in a report on Wednesday.

* Chile's peso set for third straight day of gains * MSCI Latam stock index hits highest since March 9 * Peru's sol extends gains after appointment of interim leader By Shriya Ramakrishnan Nov 18 (Reuters) - Latin American stocks jumped to the highest in more than eight...

Zambia finance minister Bwalya Ng'andu said on Wednesday that the country's default on $3 billion in Eurobonds had increased the risk of bondholders taking legal action.

U.S. Treasury yields fell on Wednesday as investors balanced positive vaccine news against the prospect that the economy will need more time to return to normal as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday that final results from the late-stage trial...

Ghana's graded and sealed (G&S) cocoa arrivals stood at 116,141 tonnes as of Oct. 29 since the start of this year's harvest on Oct. 1, down from 128,514 tonnes the previous season, figures from marketing board Cocobod showed on Wednesday.

The government has provided state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) with at least $7 billion in direct payments and other financial support in 2019 and 2020, company documents show, as the carrier struggles with losses and the coronavirus pandemic.