| * Beijing bans banks from Bitcoin deals * IFC to launch $5bn rupee bond scheme * Ukraine government prepared to discuss elections * Biden urges Xi to reduce regional tension * Renault secures foothold in China * China issues 4G mobile licences * Rupee hits month high on poll hopes * Gazprom pushes for peace with Europe * Markets: down Beijing bans banks from Bitcoin deals
Regulators ban financial institutions from doing business that involves the virtual currency, warning of danger that it could be used for criminal activity
http://on.ft.com/IQClOB IFC to launch $5bn rupee bond scheme
The World Bank arm is in negotiations with India's government to launch a domestic rupee-denominated bond programme to finance infrastructure work
http://on.ft.com/IQCiT2 Ukraine government prepared to discuss elections
First sign of potential compromise in the country's worst political crisis in nearly a decade
http://on.ft.com/1bJqHRB Biden urges Xi to reduce regional tension
US vice-president, visiting Beijing, calls on Chinese leaders to reduce tension with its neighbours but stops short of urging air zone be scrapped
http://on.ft.com/1bJqJsD Renault secures foothold in China
Joint venture with Dongfeng Motor took almost a decade to bring to fruition and comes after Chinese manufacturer struck deal with rival Peugeot
http://on.ft.com/IQCj9j China issues 4G mobile licences
China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom get formal approval to build rapid mobile internet networks in the world's biggest telecoms market
http://on.ft.com/1bJqHRF Rupee hits month high on poll hopes
India's stock market and currency both rose strongly on Thursday following exit polls suggesting a strong performance from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in five state elections, where results are due on Sunday.
http://on.ft.com/18nwQNk Gazprom pushes for peace with Europe
Gazprom is suing for peace with Brussels and embarking on talks to settle a sweeping antitrust investigation that threatened its business model in Europe.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/40ba595c-5d03-11e3-a558-00144feabdc0.html Emerging Markets
MSCI Emerging Market Index up +0.05% at 996.23 Europe
FTSE down -0.06% at 6,506
RTS up +0.93% at 1,377
Warsaw Wig down -0.18% at 52,771
FTSE 300 Eurotop down -0.05% at 1,273 Americas
DJIA down -0.16% at 15,890
S&P 500 down -0.13% at 1,793
Bovespa down -0.26% at 50,216 Asia
Nikkei 225 down -1.50% at 15,177
Topix down -0.91% at 1,230
Hang Seng down -0.07% at 23,713
Shanghai Composite down -0.21% at 2,247
MSCI Asia ex-Japan down -0.06% at 468.76
CNX Nifty up +1.30% at 6,241 Currencies
€/$ 1.36 (1.36)
$/¥ 101.96 (102.35) Commodities
Brent Crude (ICE) up +0.17 at 112.05
Light Crude (Nymex) up +0.39 at 97.59
100 Oz Gold (Comex) down -11.70 at 1,237 | 
