Réunion island issued its highest level of threat warning as the French Indian Ocean territory braced for a direct hit by a cyclone packing gusts likely to exceed 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour).

French police said at least three people were killed when a tropical storm packing fierce winds and torrential rains thumped the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion on Friday.

Rolls-Royce on Thursday posted stronger-than-expected full-year earnings after making what it described as "significant" transformation progress.

Shares surged to an all-time high after the company resumed shareholder payouts, raised midterm guidance and launched a buyback.

Britain's Rolls-Royce lifted its mid-term targets to reflect its confidence in future profit growth after a plan to improve engines and cut costs helped its results beat expectations, pushing its shares up 15% on Thursday.