Asian stocks firmer on Greece hopes, Apple earnings
HONG KONG – Asian markets rose Wednesday after a strong earnings report from Apple and on hopes Greece will agree on a debt-reduction deal with creditors, although worries persisted over Europe's ongoing fiscal woes.
British economy shrinks 0.2% in Q4
LONDON: Britain's economy contracted by a worse-than-expected 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, the Office for National Statistics announced on Wednesday.
ConocoPhillips to pay US$158m for oil spill
BEIJING: China's agriculture ministry said Wednesday ConocoPhillips had agreed to pay one billion yuan (US$158 million) in compensation for damage caused by a huge oil spill in the nation's northeast.
Flat Australian inflation stokes rate-cut hopes
SYDNEY: Australian inflation held steady in the fourth quarter, data showed Wednesday, a lower-than-expected result that stoked hopes for an interest rate cut to boost a "quite sluggish" economy.
Roche launches takeover bid for US firm Illumina
PARIS: Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche announced Wednesday it had launched a takeover bid for Illumina, a US company that specialises in life sciences.
Toyota confirms loss of No. 1 carmaker spot
TOKYO: Toyota Motor confirmed Wednesday that its world group sales fell below the eight million mark in 2011, losing the firm its number one spot in the global carmakers' league.
Asian shares rise on Greece hopes, Apple earnings
HONG KONG: Asian markets rose Wednesday after a strong earnings report from Apple and on hopes Greece will agree on a debt-reduction deal with creditors, although worries persisted over Europe's ongoing fiscal woes.
Japan PM struggles to conquer Japan's debt mountain
TOKYO: Global markets may be fixated on Europe's debt crisis, but half a world away Japan has been dealing with an even bigger borrowing problem — one that threatens to burden its people for generations.
US to step up trade pressure on China
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Tuesday he would step up pressure on China and other countries that unfairly subsidize exports and ship pirated goods to the United States.
Oil prices higher in Asian trade
SINGAPORE: Oil prices were higher in Asian trade Wednesday, on expectations of firm US economic growth and rising tensions between the West and Iran, analysts said.
Japan sees first annual trade deficit in 31 years
TOKYO: Japan announced its first annual trade deficit for more than 30 years on Wednesday after the March quake-tsunami and strong yen hit exports in 2011, and high fuel costs pushed up import bills.
Dollar-euro rate flat ahead of Fed report
NEW YORK: The euro ended flat against the dollar Tuesday as markets looked for direction in talks over Greece's debt and awaited the Federal Reserve's policy report.
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