Apple fined by China court for copyright violation

A court in China has ordered Apple to pay compensation to eight Chinese writers and two companies for violating their copyrights.

Japan's Toshiba in talks to cut Westinghouse stake

TOKYO: Toshiba Corp is in talks to sell a 36 per cent stake in its US nuclear power unit Westinghouse, though the Japanese firm is in no rush to divest that portion of the company, Toshiba's top executive said.

Samsung seeks US sales ban on Ericsson products

Samsung Electronics has sought a ban on the import and sales of some Ericsson products in the US which it claims infringe its patents.

Toyota set to reclaim 'top car maker' spot from GM

Toyota Motor is set to overtake General Motors and reclaim "the world's biggest car maker" title for 2012, after a bumper year of sales at home and abroad.

Sony, Panasonic, Sharp among worst-performing firms in 2012

TOKYO: Even James Bond and Spider-Man can't rescue Sony Corp, the beleaguered Japanese electronics maker.

The Silk Railroad of China-Europe Trade

Multinationals operating in China have been setting up factories deep in the interior in search of affordable labor. The drawback: These plants can be more than a thousand kilometers (621 miles) from the coast.

Apple patent case: EU charges Samsung with abuse of sector-essential telecom patent

BRUSSELS: The European Commission charged Samsung Electronics on Friday with abusing its dominant position in seeking to bar rival Apple from using a patent deemed essential to mobile phone use.

ArcelorMittal cuts $4.3bn from value of Europe business

Steel giant ArcelorMittal is to write down the value of its European business by about $4.3bn (£2.6bn) because of the economic downturn on the continent.

Chinese Companies Head For the Exit

HONG KONG–Fed up with slumping share prices, prickly regulators and aggressive short sellers, an increasing number of Chinese companies listed on American stock exchanges are heading for the exits.

Google given EU anti-trust deadline

Google has been given a month to address complaints its search results favour its own services over those of its rivals.

Samsung Drops Action to Block Apple in Europe

PARIS — Samsung said Tuesday that it had dropped its request for a ban on sales of certain Apple phones and tablet computers in Europe, a sharp tactical turn in a patent war that the companies have been fighting on multiple fronts around the world.

RBS still negotiating with FSA over Libor fine

Royal Bank of Scotland is continuing to negotiate with the Financial Services Authority over the scale of its penalty for attempting to rig Libor, amid speculation that Swiss bank UBS is close to agreeing a £1bn fine with global regulators.

Barclays: US $470m energy fine 'unjustified'

Barclays has said US regulators' proposed fines of $470m (£291m) for the bank's alleged manipulation of energy markets are "unjustified" and the allegations will not stand up in court.

Best Buy stock gets slammed by buyout bid delay

Shares of the troubled electronics retailer Best Buy (BBY, Fortune 500) cratered Friday morning, after its board of directors gave founder Richard Schulze more time to shore up financing for his buyout bid.

HMV warns over its future as sales continue to fall

HMV has warned that it faces an uncertain future in the face of continuing falling sales, and says it is in talks with its banks.

HSBC blasted for 'stunning failures over oversight'

The US says "dangerous practices" at HSBC allowed the bank to pass money to "drug kingpins and rogue nations", fining it $1.9bn (£1.2bn). HSBC agreed the fine, the largest of its kind, earlier on Tuesday.

Volvo agrees technology transfer to Chinese parent Geely

BEIJING: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has signed a deal with Volvo Car, which Geely acquired in 2010, allowing the Chinese auto maker to tap some technologies Volvo plans to phase out over the next couple of years.

Chinese Firm Wins Bid for Auto Battery Maker

DETROIT — Wanxiang Group, a large Chinese auto parts maker, won a high-stakes auction on Sunday for assets of A123 Systems, the bankrupt American battery maker that was a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s loan program for electric vehicles.

Rolls-Royce accused over $20m payment in Indonesia

Rolls-Royce, the British engineering group, has been accused of paying $20m (£12.5m) and a blue Rolls-Royce car to the son of the former president of Indonesia to win a contract to supply engines.

Facebook: Italian police raid HQ in tax crackdown

Social media giant Facebook has seen its Italian headquarters raided by police as part of a growing international crackdown on tax avoidance.

Starbucks Offers to Pay More British Tax Than Required

PARIS — Starbucks offered on Wednesday to pay about £10 million a year in corporate taxes in Britain — or £10 million more than it paid last year — in an effort to defuse protests against its lack of contributions to public coffers at a time when ordinary taxpayers were feeling the effects of government spending cuts.

Analysis: China diners say more than economy hurting Yum's KFC

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A slowdown in China's economy is not the only strain on Kentucky Fried Chicken's business in the country, where competition is getting tougher and customers are getting pickier.

Europe takes on tech giants like Google, Amazon and their tax havens

PARIS: A storm is brewing in Europe as nations try to force Internet powerhouses like Google and Amazon to pay more in taxes.

Yahoo ordered to pay $2.7 billion in bizarre Mexico lawsuit

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- It's not often that Mexican yellow pages listings makes the headlines, but Yahoo has been ordered to fork over $2.7 billion in a legal dispute involving them.

Tax: Starbucks in talks with UK's Revenue and Customs

Global coffee chain Starbucks has said it is in talks with HM Revenue and Customs and the Treasury over how much UK tax it pays.

Peugeot and Renault factories in France hit by strikes

PARIS/LILLE: Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen were both hit by strikes on Thursday as both French car makers eye moves to cut costs and boost productivity amid slumping sales.

Companies squeezing in dividends to avoid ‘fiscal cliff’

For shareholders of companies trying to get ahead of tax hikes at the end of the year, this December will include an especially big Christmas gift.

Thomas Cook losses hit £485m during annus horribilis

A disastrous year for Thomas Cook has been laid bare as the travel company revealed that losses increased to £485m in a period in which the business nearly collapsed and its chief executive resigned.

Renault to set up in China: industry source

BEIJING: French car maker Renault is planning to build a 200,000-vehicle a year plant in China, but needs political support to go ahead, a source with knowledge of the scheme said Tuesday.

Samsung audit finds 'inadequate practices' at China suppliers

Samsung says an audit of 105 of its suppliers in China has identified "several instances of inadequate practices at the facilities".

UBS fined £30m over rogue trader

UBS has been fined £30m by the UK's Financial Services Authority – and could see its investment banking activities hampered by the Swiss regulator – after its former trader Kweku Adoboli was jailed for fraud.

Tata Steel job cuts hit Wales hardest

Around 900 UK staff have lost their jobs at Tata Steel, with nearly 600 leaving its Port Talbot operations in Wales, the company has said.

Kay Review: Government to be more active on takeovers

The government says it will take "a greater interest" in mergers and acquisitions involving UK companies as part of its response to the Kay Review. Its comments came in response to the Kay Review into how to discourage short-termism in markets.

Apple ordered to share HTC deal details with Samsung

A US judge has ordered Apple to disclose details of its patent-sharing deal with HTC to its rival, Samsung.

HP accuses UK unit Autonomy as takes $9 bn hit Story Comments Increase font size

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK: Hewlett-Packard Co has levelled a charge of dodgy accounting at Autonomy, the British software company it bought last year, and is taking an $8.8 billion charge in the latest of a string of setbacks.

France in talks with Google over tax audit: Minister

France is in talks with Google over an ongoing tax audit and payment of back taxes, the country's budget minister said on Tuesday, adding the administration had "convincing" proof to back up its claims.

One in four German firms 'to slash jobs' in 2013: Survey

BERLIN: Gloomy German companies are preparing to slash their workforces next year as the eurozone crisis bites, a survey showed on Monday, with more than one in four firms saying they would cut jobs in 2013.

Vince Cable attacks corporate 'tax abuse'

Business Secretary Vince Cable has condemned corporate tax avoidance as "completely unacceptable", saying there are "appalling stories of abuse".

MPs: Sale of RBS or Lloyds 'not for years'

There is a risk that the £66bn invested in RBS and Lloyds Banking Group by the government may never be recovered, a parliamentary committee has warned In a report into the sale of Northern Rock, the Public Accounts Committee said the sale of the bank in 2011 was "fortunate", and Lloyds and RBS may not be sold "for many years".

Hyundai Engineering Co implementing $534 mn Turkmen refinery revamp

ASHGABAT: South Korea's Hyundai Engineering Co is implementing a $534 million modernisation project at Turkmenistan's largest oil refinery in the west of the country, the head of the company's local unit said on Friday.

Wal-Mart sales slow as customers feel the pinch

Sales growth at Wal-Mart has fallen short of market expectations, with the world's biggest retailer saying customers are feeling the pinch.

Vince Cable convinced that Britain's car industry needs its foreign friends

Car manufacturers love a glitzy product launch, but the ceremony to welcome a new model at Toyota's Derby plant last week was modest by industry standards.

China derides US 'Cold War mentality' towards telecoms firm Huawei

BEIJING: The United States is exhibiting a "Cold War mentality" with its fears that Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei poses a security risk because of its ties to the Communist Party, China's commerce minister said on Saturday.

Toyota to Double Capacity, Build Engine Plant in Indonesia

Toyota Motor Corp. (7203), Asia’s biggest carmaker, will more than double vehicle production capacity and build a new engine factory in Indonesia to meet rising demand in the Southeast Asian country.

HSBC probing loss of client data in Jersey

HSBC has launched an internal inquiry into an alleged loss of client data in Jersey following damaging revelations that the bank is at the centre of an HMRC investigation into offshore accounts.

Burger King to open in South Africa

Burger King has added South Africa to its menu, with the fast food chain planning to open its first restaurant in the country early next year.

Jaguar Land Rover sees sales rise nearly 60% in China

Demand for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) cars in China remains strong after the UK manufacturer posted a 58% increase in second-quarter sales in the world's largest car market.

Suzuki to stop U.S. auto sales, exit market

HONG KONG (CNNMoney) -- Japan-based Suzuki said Tuesday that it was closing its American auto distributor and exiting the U.S. car market.

HSBC raises money laundering provisions by $800m

HSBC bank has put aside a further $800m (£500m) to cover potential money-laundering fines in the US and has announced a fall in quarterly profits.

GM badly lags Ford in Europe restructuring

PARIS/DETROIT: Ford Motor Co, which clung to the road with a timely swerve before the 2009 crisis that bankrupted General Motors Co, may now be pulling a similar stunt in Europe.

Foreign firms could owe UK £11bn in unpaid taxes

Foreign companies, including Starbucks and Google, could be responsible for as much as £11bn in unpaid British taxes, it has been disclosed.HM Revenue & Customs has identified £25bn of unpaid taxes that may have been wrongly withheld by corporations, of which almost 44pc are overseas companies, according to Pinsent Masons, the tax specialists.

RBS raises PPI claims bill by a further £400m

Royal Bank of Scotland has set aside a further £400m to cover the cost of claims for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI).

Starbucks raises full-year forecast, shares rise

(Reuters) - Starbucks Corp reported higher quarterly profit on Thursday, as overall sales at its established coffee shops topped analysts' estimates, and it raised its forecast for fiscal 2013.

GM sees European operations breaking even mid-decade

DETROIT: General Motors Co posted a surprisingly strong profit on Wednesday and said it was targeting a return to break-even levels in its European operations by mid-decade after a loss of as much as $1.8 billion in that region this year.

Fiat slashes targets for next two years due to languishing Europe sales

MILAN: Fiat sharply cut its group targets for the next two years on Tuesday, saying languishing sales in austerity-hit Europe may mean its trading profit in 2014 is a third lower than it targeted two years ago.

Medium-sized firms 'optimistic' about overseas expansion

Some 78% of the 100 UK firms surveyed expected revenue from foreign ventures to grow over the next three years.

Nintendo's Wii U games console will be sold at a loss

Nintendo has confirmed that it will lose money on every sale of its Wii U console at launch. The Japanese firm's president revealed the news after the firm cut its profit forecast.

Apple's investment manager wrestles with $120bn problem

It is one of the world's largest hedge funds, with $121bn under management, but its name is virtually unknown in financial circles.

Samsung posts $7.4 bn profit, handsets mask weak chips

SEOUL: South Korean technology powerhouse Samsung Electronics Co posted a fourth straight record quarterly profit - of $7.4 billion - with strong sales of its Galaxy range of phones masking sharply lower sales of memory chips.

Europe warns Microsoft on antitrust

LONDON (CNNMoney) -- European antitrust authorities moved a stepcloser Wednesday to issuing a hefty fine against Microsoft for failing to offer Windows users a choice of Internet browsers.

Yahoo sees modest rise in revenues under new boss

Yahoo has posted a 2% rise in revenues for the first three months under the leadership of its relatively new chief executive Marissa Mayer.

FedEx to add 20,000 seasonal workers, sees shipping up 13 pct

FedEx Corp said on Monday it plans to hire 20,000 seasonal workers, the same as last year, to handle holiday shipping volume that it expects will be up more than 13 percent.

Fast food sales slow in China

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- China took a bite out of junk food in the third quarter. Last week, Coca-Cola (KO, Fortune 500) said that sales in China grew an anemic 2% compared to 11% a year ago.

American Companies That Give Back The Most, 2012

Which of America’s big companies are the most philanthropic? Each year The Chronicle of Philanthropy does a major project on corporate giving, and compiles two lists, one that tallies philanthropy in terms of raw dollars and another that looks at giving as a share of pre-tax profits.

McDonald's sales growth cools, chilled by competition

(Reuters) - McDonald's Corp posted its worst quarterly restaurant sales growth performance in nine years on Friday, lifting the curtain on the fast-food industry's ruthless fight for customers in a weak economy.

Google shares suspended after profit results error

Trading in Google shares was suspended for two-and-a-half hours after the internet giant released its third-quarter results early by mistake.

RBS leaves government's toxic asset insurance scheme

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has moved a step closer to becoming a private company after withdrawing from a government scheme that insures the bank's riskiest assets.

Bank of England panel divided on future stimulus

LONDON (AP) — The likelihood that the Bank of England might approve more economic stimulus next month decreased on Wednesday as minutes from the latest policy meeting showed the rate-setters disagreed on the program's effectiveness and official figures showed the unemployment rate has dropped.

Coca-Cola third quarter profit rises

Coca-Cola Co reported quarterly revenue that came in short of Wall Street expectations on Tuesday, hurt by declines in Europe and Asia where it sold more lower-priced drinks.

Yahoo appoints Google's Henrique de Castro as COO

Yahoo has appointed Google executive Henrique de Castro as its next chief operating officer (COO), the second big name it has hired from its rival in recent months.

Toyota recalls 7.43m cars over power window defect

Toyota’s recovery has suffered a major setback, with the recall of more than 7m vehicles worldwide to fix faulty power window switches, after reclaiming the top spot as the world’s biggest car maker from General Motors and Volkswagen earlier in the year.

Tata Steel Europe to rationalise operation; cut output, jobs

New Delhi: Battling slowdown in demand for steel in Europe, Tata Steel plans to go for more layoffs and cut production in its European operations besides infusing funds to make it an "all-weather company".

US firms less optimistic, but will still invest in China: Survey

WASHINGTON: Many US companies are less optimistic about doing business in China even though sales there are still rising, and most of those firms are planning to increase investment, according to an annual survey of business executives released on Wednesday.

Japanese Car Sales Plummet in China

HONG KONG — Japanese automakers suffered plunging sales in China last month and have cut manufacturing by up to half in China this month after violent anti-Japanese protests in which Japanese-brand cars and even their owners were targeted.

Barclays to acquire ING Direct UK

Barclays Bank has agreed to buy ING Direct UK, taking on its £10.9bn deposits and £5.6bn mortgage book. The deal will involve the transfer of 750 ING Direct staff and 1.5 million customers to Barclays.

Russia's Rosneft to invest $18 billion in old refineries, says report

MOSCOW: Russia's state oil company Rosneft plans to spend $18 billion on its refinery infrastructure over the next three years, a report said Saturday after the company's chief met with investors.

Samsung sees record profits on smartphone sales

Samsung Electronics has estimated record profits in the three months to September, led by strong sales of its Galaxy smartphones.

Debt-laden companies cashing in on ECB pledge

(Reuters) - Heavily indebted euro zone firms are reaping the benefits of the European Central Bank's pledge to pull the region out of crisis, allowing them to borrow more cheaply and draw investors back into their shares.

Volkswagen eyes budget cars for emerging markets in 2 years

FRANKFURT: Europe's biggest car maker Volkswagen today said it is considering selling " budget cars" for as little as 5,000 euros (USD 6,500) in emerging markets "within two years".

Hewlett-Packard shares plunge 13% on turnaround fears

Hewlett-Packard shares plunged to a 10-year low after its boss said it will take time to turn around the company that built its success on printers and computers.

General Motors, Ford see slower truck sales as Toyota gains

DETROIT: General Motors Co, the largest US automaker, posted a small gain in September US sales as demand for passenger cars offset a drop in pickup trucks, while Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp reported a large sales increase.

EADS and BAE: Bosses urge political support for merger

The bosses of BAE Systems and EADS have issued a joint appeal for support for their proposed $45bn (£28bn) merger.

Samsung wins reconsideration of Galaxy Tab sales ban

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday that a lower court should reconsider a sales ban against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 won by Apple in a patent dispute with the South Korean electronics maker.

Heineken wins shareholder approval for Tiger beer takeover

Shareholders in Singapore-based conglomerate Fraser and Neave have voted to sell the company's beer business to Heineken.

Lufthansa: savings won't have desired effect in 2012

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Lufthansa's efforts to cut costs will be thwarted by higher fuel prices and a weak economy this year, the chief executive of Germany's leading airline said.

China's Baoshan suspends steel plant as demand slows

Baoshan Iron and Steel, the fourth biggest steel producer in the world, has suspended production at a plant in China as demand slows.

McDonald's to create promotional and sales opportunities with M Channel

LOS ANGELES: The question of the moment at 700 pioneering McDonald's restaurants: You want TV with those fries?

Hidden web code means hackers 'can wipe Samsung Galaxy S3'

Malicious hackers can hide a code in a web page that will trigger a full factory reset of Samsung’s best-selling Galaxy S3 smartphone, deleting contacts, photographs, music, apps and other valuable data, security researchers have discovered.

Fiat to make US cars in Italy as government mulls incentives

MILAN/TURIN: Italian carmaker Fiat plans to start making cars at its idled Italian factories to sell in the United States, a source close to the matter said on Monday, as the government mulls fiscal and other incentives to help the group's exports.

Volkswagen drops appeal in 'GTi' dispute with Suzuki

FRANKFURT: Volkswagen has dropped its appeal of a court ruling in a brand infringement case against estranged partner Suzuki, a spokesman for the German carmaker said on Saturday, confirming an earlier report.

EMI-Universal deal cleared by EU and US regulators

EU and US regulators have approved the takeover of UK music firm EMI by Universal Music, but it must sell some of the firm's most valuable labels.

Wal-Mart drops Amazon’s Kindle tablets and e-readers from stores

Wal-Mart Stores, the nation's largest retailer, said Thursday it was dropping Amazon's Kindle tablets and e-readers, a sign of how seriously it views Amazon as a competitor in the consumer goods market.

Apple stock tops $700

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Apple's stock hit a new high and closed above $700 for the first time Tuesday, marking yet another milestone for a company that has had plenty of them this year.

US Treasury resists GM plan on govt stake sale: Report

The US Treasury Department is unwilling to sell the government's stake in General Motors Co because a sale now would mean huge investment losses, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people close to the matter.

China protests: Panasonic suspends some operations

Japanese electronics maker Panasonic has suspended some of its operations in China after anti-Japan protesters attacked two of its factories.

Too soon to know whether Europe is stabilizing: GM CFO

It is not clear whether the weak European automotive market is stabilizing, but executives in the industry are talking more than ever about reducing capacity to match lower demand in the region, a top General Motors Co official said on Friday.

Apple wins second legal bout against Samsung in patent row

Apple has scored a second victory against Samsung after an American trade commission refused the South Korean manufacturer's request for a raft of products to be taken off sale.

McDonald's sales figure bounces back in August

NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald's said a key sales figure climbed 3.7 percent in August, as the fast-food chain emphasized the value of its menu offerings amid the challenging global economy.

Primark sees strong rise in annual sales

Annual sales have risen at clothing chain Primark, helped by "particularly strong" UK trading over the summer, and a "buoyant" performance in Europe.

Europe crisis: Spanish companies scramble to issue debt

MADRID: Spanish firms are dashing into the bond market, taking advantage of a fall in interest rates after the European Central Bank pledged action to reduce the country's financing costs, and eager to move quickly in case the situation deteriorates again.

VW cuts European sales target by 150,000 vehicles: Reports

FRANKFURT: German carmaker Volkswagen has cut its internal 2012 sales target for Western Europe by 150,000 vehicles, German weekly magazine Der Spiegel said, without citing sources.

Glencore’s Bid to Buy Xstrata Is Increased at the 11th Hour

LONDON — Glencore, the world’s largest commodities trader, saved its megamerger with Xstrata from collapse on Friday by sweetening its offer for the large multinational mining company.

General Motors adding 500 jobs at first in-house tech center

DETROIT: General Motors Co plans to add up to 500 jobs at a new information technology center in Austin, Texas, marking the first step in the automaker's goal to bring the bulk of its IT work in-house over the next three years.

ADP Says U.S. Companies Added 201,000 Workers in August

Companies added more workers than forecast in August, easing concern the U.S. job market may be stalling, a private report based on payrolls showed.

Nokia unveils two Windows Phone 8 handsets

Nokia has unveiled its first handsets powered by Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 operating system. The flagship device - the Lumia 920 - features wireless charging and a "PureView" camera which the mobile firm said offered better video and still images than rival smartphones.

McDonald's launches first vegetarian restaurants to target Indian pilgrims

McDonald's will open its first vegetarian-only restaurants in India next year to cater for pilgrims to sacred sites.Burgers and fries have proved a winning formula since the McDonald brothers created their eponymous fast food franchise in 1955.

Volkswagen hopes revamped Golf will help it catch Toyota

BERLIN (Reuters) - Volkswagen is hoping a sleek makeover will keep its Golf in the best-selling compact car spot, helping the German automaker overtake Toyota and GM as the world leaders.

Sharp Offers to Cut Price on Stake It Agreed to Sell to Foxconn

Sharp Corp. (6753), the Japanese television maker that agreed in March to sell a stake to Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group, offered to sell the holding for less, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

US wins dispute over China's discrimination against its companies

WASHINGTON: The US has won a case at World Trade Organisation (WTO) over Chinese effort to discrimination against its financial services companies.

Tokyo court gives win to Samsung after US loss

A court in Tokyo has ruled that Samsung Electronics did not infringe on patents held by Apple, a victory for the South Korean company.

JPMorgan seeks to reduce clearing and settlement risks: Report

JPMorgan Chase, a major player in providing clearing and settlement services to other financial firms, plans to reduce some services to clients and sever ties with others as it seeks to reduce risks involved in the business, the Wall Street Journal said.

Lufthansa staff to go on strike

Cabin staff at German airline Lufthansa are to go on strike, possibly as early as Thursday, after wage talks broke down this week.

Apple Case Muddies the Future of Innovations

Apple’s victory on Friday in a patent lawsuit against Samsung could, if upheld, give its rivals a kick in the pants to create more original products.

Hertz Global Holdings near $2.5 billion deal to buy Dollar Thrifty: Report

CHICAGO: Hertz Global Holdings is nearing an agreement to acquire Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group for around $2.5 billion and could announce a deal in coming days, a source familiar with the matter said on Saturday.

Shareholders to get $3.2 billion if Heineken offer is approved: Fraser and Neave

SINGAPORE: Singapore conglomerate Fraser and Neave (F&N) said on Friday it plans to distribute Sg$4.0 billion ($3.2 billion) to shareholders if an offer by Dutch firm Heineken to buy its stake in a brewery is approved.

Apple and Samsung get South Korea bans

A South Korean court has ruled that Apple and Samsung both infringed each other's patents on mobile devices.

Guinness maker Diageo sees profits jump

Diageo, the world's biggest producer of spirits, has reported a big jump in annual profits, thanks in part to strong sales and acquisitions in emerging markets.

BMW Revives Scooter Ambitions as Audi Revs Up Ducati

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) has long made powerful motorcycles such as the 193-horsepower S 1000 RR that can be seen screaming down the autobahn.

Siemens seeks thousands of job cuts: paper

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German engineering conglomerate Siemens is in early internal talks to cut thousands of jobs in response to a weakening economy, particularly in Europe, a German newspaper reported.

Apple becomes the most valuable company of all time

Apple - the world's most valuable firm - is now the most valuable company of all time, with a market value of approximately $623bn (£397bn).

Swap mis-selling victims to wait nine months for review

Small businesses that could have been mis-sold complex interest rate derivatives face a wait of up to nine months to find out whether they are entitled to any compensation.

Samsung reaches deal with German firm Osram on lawsuits

SEOUL: South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Friday it has reached a deal with German lighting group Osram to settle all their global patent lawsuits, as it continues a high-stakes US court battle with Apple.

Wal-Mart profit up despite slowing international growth

(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc's full-year profit may miss Wall Street expectations as growth slows in international markets, pressuring the world's largest retailer even as its U.S. discount stores continue to rebound.

Facebook stock hits all-time low as insiders get first chance to sell

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Facebook's life as a public company has been a nightmare from day one, and the pain continued on Thursday as some company insiders got their first chance to dump shares.

Virgin Trains loses West Coast Mainline franchise

Virgin Rail has lost its bid to continue running the West Coast Mainline and will be replaced by the UK's largest rail operator, FirstGroup.

Osborne to advertise for Bank of England governor

George Osborne is poised to advertise for a new Bank of England governor in the autumn to replace Sir Mervyn King.

Japan's Sharp eyes selling plants to Hon Hai: Reports

TOKYO: Japanese electronics giant Sharp is considering selling overseas factories to Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision in a bid to turn around its ailing finances, reports said Saturday.

Investing in the Emerging-Market Consumer

With much of the eurozone mired in a recession and the recovery in the United States progressing at an almost glacial pace, it's not surprising that investors are increasingly turning to emerging markets to augment portfolio returns.

Olympus posts $56 million quarterly loss

TOKYO: Japan's Olympus said Thursday it lost $57 million last quarter as the scandal-hit camera and medical equipment maker looks for outside investors after a loss cover-up scandal last year.

Standard Chartered rejects Iran allegations

The chief executive of scandal-hit Standard Chartered has said it "fundamentally rejects" accusations that it laundered as much as $250bn (£161bn) for Iran.

Wall Street bankers face severe pay cuts

Wall Street executives look set to confront severe pay cuts this year as banks come under pressure to axe costs, recruiters have warned.

General Motors says China sales hit record high in July

SHANGHAI: US auto giant General Motors said Monday that its sales in China surged to a record 199,503 vehicles in July, defying a market slowdown and moves by a major Chinese city to limit car numbers.

RBS to pay out £125m over computer glitch

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has put aside £125m to pay compensation to customers affected by the recent breakdown in its computer systems.

Petrobras posts first loss in 13 years; results shock

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil's state-led oil giant Petrobras on Friday posted its first quarterly loss in more than 13 years, fanning concerns that the company, hampered by government intervention and soaring costs, will fail to meet its goal of becoming one of the three biggest crude producers by the end of the decade.

Eurozone companies 'weak in July'

Europe's manufacturing and service provider sectors both shrank in July, the 11th consecutive month of contraction, according to an influential survey.

GM posts quarterly loss on weakening euro

US car giant General Motors (GM) has reported a fall in profits due to weak sales in Europe, where the debt crisis has weighed on the euro.

Companies add 163,000 jobs, but manufacturing falters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. companies hired more workers than expected in July, but continued weakness in the manufacturing sector pointed to sluggish economic growth.

Facebook stock slides to a record low, share-deluge looms

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook Inc's shares dived 6 percent to another record low on Tuesday, sliding for the third straight day since a lackluster quarterly report showed decelerating user growth.

Luxury goods buck economic slowdown

Fuelled by surging demand in China, luxury goods makers are bucking the global economic slowdown and reaping huge profits on sales of high-end handbags, expensive jewellery and posh perfumes.

Analysis: Apple sounds warning bell for smartphone industry

(Reuters) - If Apple Inc's weaker-than-expected quarterly result is anything to go by, the global smartphone industry is a lot more vulnerable to economic shocks these days than during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

Spanish firms cut prices, halt dividends to face downturn

Telefonica suspends dividend payments, Mango cuts prices and Santander boosts its debt provisions: Spanish companies are stepping up measures against an economic crisis that has no end in sight.

Peugeot to make deeper cuts after 819m euro loss

Struggling French car firm Peugeot has reported a loss of 819m euros (£638m) for the first half of the year and has detailed 1.5bn euros of cost savings.

Rosneft considers buying BP's stake in TNK-BP

Russian state oil company Rosneft has followed Russian consortium AAR saying it is considering buying BP's stake in Anglo-Russian oil firm TNK-BP.

China slowdown to hit German luxury car makers

FRANKFURT: Investors are bracing themselves for what could be the end of the Chinese boom for Europe's luxury car makers as double-digit profit margins are threatened by slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy.

McDonald's showing signs of tear from economy

NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald's Corp., which has thrived in recent years by emphasizing affordability and rolling out popular new menu items, is starting to show signs of tear from the volatile global economy.

Jobless Spaniards protest as crisis outlook darkens

Thousands of jobless Spaniards marched through Madrid Saturday in the latest angry demonstrations against economic crisis cuts, as fears rose for the country's financial stability.

Nokia losses deepen to 1.4bn euros in last quarter

Nokia made losses of 1.41bn euros (£1.1bn) in the last three months as the mobile phone maker lost more market share to Samsung and Apple.

Libor scandal: Bank of England refused to take responsbility for regulating Libor

The Bank of England has been accused of refusing to lead the reform of the discredited Libor system after failing to act on warnings more than four years ago over interest rates rigging by the banks.

South Korea banks in rate-rigging investigation

A South Korea financial regulator has started an investigation into alleged interest rate rigging by some of the country's banks.

Indian companies invest more overseas in June: RBI

MUMBAI: Led by Piramal Healthcare, foreign investments by Indian companies in June rose by 50.21 per cent from the previous month to $ 3.53 billion despite a slowdown in the global economy.

Sector Snap: Coal companies fall on weak demand

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of coal mining companies tumbled Monday as inventories continued to build with weaker demand in the slowing global economy.

Oil Companies Spring a Leak, Courtesy of Anonymous

Five top multinational oil companies have been targeted by members of Anonymous, who published about 1,000 email addresses for accounts belonging to the firms, as well as hashed and unencrypted passwords.

JPMorgan Chase raises its recent trading loss to $4.4bn

JPMorgan Chase has raised its estimate of the amount it lost in a recent trading error to $4.4bn (£2.8bn).

Peugeot Citroen plans 8,000 job cuts

French carmaker Peugeot Citroen has set out plans to cut 8,000 jobs and close an assembly plant outside Paris as losses mount.

Lloyds could face £1.5bn claim over Libor - analysts

Lloyds Banking Group could have to pay out more than £1bn over claims it was involved in the manipulation of Libor, according to City analysts.Lloyds Banking Group could have to pay out more than £1bn over claims it was involved in the manipulation of Libor, according to City analysts.

European fiscal crisis drags down business travel

NEW YORK: US companies are scaling back their travel plans in response to Europe's financial crisis and uncertainty about the economy at home.

Serious Fraud Office launches Libor investigation

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has confirmed that it has formally launched an investigation into the rigging of inter-bank lending rates.

Yahoo and Facebook settle patent brawl

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Facebook and Yahoo are officially friends again.The two companies said Friday that they have settled the patent lawsuit Yahoo filed against Facebook four months ago, in a "strategic" deal that includes no cash.

Job Growth Remains Tepid

The nation’s employers created almost enough jobs to keep up with population growth in June, but not nearly enough to reduce the backlog of nearly 13 million unemployed workers.

Samsung profits surge 79% boosted by smartphone sales

Samsung Electronics has said that it expects its profits to surge 79% in the second quarter as sales of its smartphones continue to grow.

Barclays credit rating outlook cut by Moody's and S&P

Rating agencies Moody's and Standard and Poor's have lowered their outlook on Barclays from stable to negative amid the bank rate-rigging scandal. Moody's said shareholder and political pressure was creating uncertainty about the bank's future.

India's carmakers including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors stop production but not launches

MUMBAI: Muted demand courtesy of escalating fuel and finance costs may have left India's carmakers with little choice but to cut production, but when it comes to new launches they aren't quite slamming the brakes.

Bank inquiry launched after Libor rate-rigging scandal

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a full parliamentary inquiry of the banking sector following the Barclays rate-rigging furore.

Chinese miner builds high-altitude experiment in Peru

MOROCOCHA, Peru (Reuters) - High in the Andes mountain range, a Chinese mining company is now in the housing construction and demolition business as it works to relocate a Peruvian town that sits in the way of its $2.2 billion Toromocho copper mine.

Toyota to recall Lexus SUVs to fix floor mat issue

DETROIT: Toyota's problems with runaway acceleration just won't go away.

David Cameron: We must clean up 'shoddy' banks

David Cameron has said that cleaning up Britain’s discredited and “shoddy” banks is a priority for the Government on a par with cutting the country’s debts.

Euro 'breakthrough' is tenuous

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Euro area leaders agreed early Friday on a number of steps designed to stabilize eurozone credit markets and strengthen the region's banking system.

Barclays: Cameron says bank faces 'serious questions'

Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Barclays Bank management has "serious questions" to answer over how it manipulated banking lending rates.

Sony, Panasonic tying up in advanced TV displays

TOKYO: Long-time Japanese rivals Sony Corp and Panasonic Corp are working together to develop next-generation TV panels called OLEDs in a reversal of decades of rivalry as they try to catch up with South Korea's Samsung Electronics.

Apple’s Retail Army, Long on Loyalty but Short on Pay

Last year, during his best three-month stretch, Jordan Golson sold about $750,000 worth of computers and gadgets at the Apple Store in Salem, N.H. It was a performance that might have called for a bottle of Champagne — if that were a luxury Mr. Golson could have afforded.

NatWest opens 1,200 branches on Sunday for first time to clear huge backlog

NatWest is to open 1,200 branches across the country today for the first time ever as the bank clears a massive backlog of payments caused by a computer glitch.

General Motors is recalling its Chevrolet Cruze sedans in US

American carmaker General Motors has recalled 4,13,418 Chevrolet Cruze sedans over concerns of possible fire through liquids trapped in the engine compartment.

Moody's downgrades 15 major banks

Credit ratings agency Moody's has downgraded 15 global banks and financial institutions.

Rain hurts Homebase as Argos sales pressure eases

Wet and windy weather buffeted trading at Homebase, with the DIY retailer suffering an 8pc fall in sales during a "particularly volatile" three months.

US retailer Walgreen buys 45% stake in Alliance Boots

US retailer Walgreen is to pay $6.7bn (£4.3bn) for a 45% stake in UK rival Alliance Boots.

Tesco pays £40m to exit Japan

Supermarket chain Tesco, struggling with falling sales in the UK, has announced it will pay £40m to exit its Japanese business.

Lloyds Banking hikes stake in Essar Energy to 7.14%

LONDON: British entity Lloyds Banking Group today said it has raised stake in Essar Energy to 7.14 per cent after purchasing additional shares.

Facebook technology chief Bret Taylor to step down

Facebook's chief technology officer Bret Taylor has announced he is leaving the social network site in the coming weeks to start up a new company.

Burger King eyes China expansion

(Reuters) - Burger King Worldwide Holdings Inc said on Friday it plans to open 1,000 of its namesake restaurants in China over the next five to seven years under a newly-formed joint venture.

Saab sold to Chinese-Swedish investment group

Bankrupt carmaker Saab has been sold to a Chinese-Swedish investment group which aims to turn the company into a maker of electric vehicles.

British companies' hiring set to slow: surveys

LONDON (Reuters) - British employers expect to take on fewer new staff in the months ahead, a report by recruitment firm Manpower Group showed on Tuesday, chiming with another survey indicating that growth in permanent job placements slowed in May.

Tesco's quarterly sales hit by 'challenging' trading

Tesco's UK sales have fallen over the past three months, in what the retailer said was "a challenging quarter for the industry as a whole". Its like-for-like UK sales, excluding both petrol and VAT, declined by 1.5% in the 13 weeks to 26 May.

Bank deals dry up after turmoil in the eurozone

The level of British banking deals - a bellweather for the UK economy - has plummeted by two thirds over the last year, knocked by turmoil in the eurozone.

American Greetings deal saves 4,500 Clinton Cards jobs

American Greetings, the US retailer, has bought the remains of high street chain Clinton Cards in a deal that saves 397 stores and 4,500 jobs.

Chinese and Japanese investors bid for Saab

STOCKHOLM: A group of Chinese and Japanese investors have submitted an offer to take over bankrupt Swedish carmaker Saab, a spokesman said on Thursday.

YPF to invest $7bn a year until 2017

The new head of Argentina's state-controlled energy company, YPF, has said the firm will need to spend $7bn (£4.5bn) a year for the next five years to boost oil and natural gas output.

Qantas forecasts profit to slide by up to 90%

Qantas said it expects its profits to fall by as much as 90% amid growing losses at its international operations and its "highest ever fuel bill".

'Zombie' companies holding back UK economy, says Ernst & Young

Britain's recovery is being held back by a wave of "zombie" companies that should be allowed to fail but are instead undermining capitalism, according to Ernst & Young.

Car Sales Keep Up Healthy Pace

DETROIT — The auto industry’s recovery maintained a steady pace in May as Chrysler reported a 30 percent gain in new-vehicle sales, Ford said its sales climbed 13 percent and General Motors reported an 11 percent increase.

NBNK gets approval to buy Lloyds branches

NBNK's bid to buy 632 branches from Lloyds Banking Group and create a major competitor to Britain's established high street lenders has got approval from the Financial Services Authority.

Canada's CGI to buy Logica to create global IT firm

LONDON/TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's top IT services firm, CGI Group Inc, agreed to buy larger Anglo-Dutch rival Logica Plc for $2.64 billion on Thursday, a move that more than doubles its size and helps serve multinational clients in Europe.

With Gavilon gone, Asia grain traders face tougher climb

(Reuters) - Earlier this month, executives at Hong Kong-based commodity trader Noble Group (NOBG.SI) talked with a Kansas agricultural economist about their ambitions to join the biggest wave of industry consolidation in more than a decade.

Apple boss Tim Cook cosies up to Facebook

Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, said that users should “stay tuned” to see if the two Silicon Valley giants start working more closely together, as he lavished praise on the company founded by 28-year-old Mark Zuckerberg.

Facebook shares dip below $29 to new low

Facebook shares have dipped below $29 for the first time since their flotation to a new low. The shares were launched at $38 less than two weeks ago during its high-profile flotation, which valued the firm at $104bn (£66bn).

China to encourage private capital in banking industry: Report

BEIJING: China will give private capital the same entry standards to the banking industry as other capital, state media said on Sunday, as the government makes its hardest push in a decade to court private investors by welcoming them into a handful of sectors.

Lehman Brothers to buy rest of Archstone for $1.58 billion

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said it would acquire the remaining 26.5 per cent of apartment company Archstone that it didn't already own from Barclays Capital and Bank of America Corp for $1.58 billion.

Bankia shares suspended amid bailout request reports

Trading in shares in Spain's Bankia has been suspended in Madrid. It asked for them to be suspended ahead of a board meeting this afternoon to reformulate its accounts for 2011 and submit a plan to shore up its finances.

What It Takes For Consumer Products Companies To Win In Emerging Markets

Companies racing to capture their share of emerging markets’ booming growth find something unexpected: Along with unprecedented expansion, these markets are undergoing rapid changes that make the opportunities trickier to pursue.

Google vanquishes Oracle in Android patent fight

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- In one of Silicon Valley's landmark court battles, Google appears to have won a big victory over Oracle. A jury on Wednesday cleared Google of violating any of Oracle's patents with its Android mobile software.

Facebook shares drop below flotation price

Shares in Facebook have fallen below the price at which they were floated amid scepticism that the newly-listed company will live up to expectations.

Looking beyond the Wal-Mart bribery case

In a case that continues to reverberate across borders, Wal-Mart Stores, the world’s largest retailer, announced recently it has started its own probe into allegations that executives at its Mexican operations made hundreds of illegal payments — worth more than $24 million — to help expedite the opening of new stores.

Google wins final approval for Motorola Mobility takeover

Google won approval from Chinese regulators for its $12.5bn (£7.9bn) purchase of Motorola Mobility, clearing a final hurdle for a deal that boosts its patents portfolio and steps up competition with Apple.

International hunger program relies on private sector

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama vowed Friday to accelerate efforts to relieve hunger and malnutrition in Africa and unveiled as part of his plan a $3 billion commitment from multinational companies to make it easier for small farmers to grow their own food.

Facebook shares spike on stock market debut

Shares in the social networking site rose to $42, having been initially priced at $38 each, before falling back to trade flat. Founder Mark Zuckerberg, 28, who started Facebook while at Harvard University, officially opened trading on the Nasdaq earlier.

Chinese companies operating with alarming levels of debt: Study

BEIJING: Chinese companies are operating with "alarming levels" of corporate debt, even though the country's gross debt remains relatively low, according to a study by an official Chinese think tank.

US companies are adding more slowly to stockpiles

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. companies restocked more slowly in March, a trend that has helped slow economic growth this year.

Spark in Sales of Cars and Trucks Drives U.S. Economy

Car sales that are running at the fastest pace in four years are poised to reverberate through the world’s largest economy as a spillover into production, profits and jobs for Americans may be starting.

Broken banking system is keeping growth at bay

Last weekend's election results in France and Greece, we're told, show that eurozone voters want "growth, not austerity".

JPMorgan shares dive after $2bn trading loss

Shares in JPMorgan Chase have dived 9% after the biggest US bank, revealed a trading loss of at least $2bn (£1.2bn).

Toyota's troubles in rear view mirror

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Toyota Motor took a step in putting recent problems behind it Wednesday, reporting a big jump in quarterly earnings and predicting a bigger profit for the fiscal year recently underway.

UK companies remain optimistic, surveys suggest

UK companies remain confident despite the UK economy entering a double-dip recession, two new surveys suggest.

Top five Indian IT services companies grew 23.8%, even as global IT market grew 7.7%: Gartner

NEW DELHI: Even as the global IT spending is in single digits, Indian IT players are clocking healthy double digit growth.

How National Oil Companies Can Fuel Economic Development

Once criticized for being overstaffed, underinvested and politically led, state-controlled national oil companies (NOCs) are transforming themselves into lean, professionally managed enterprises.

RBS confirms £163bn emergency loan repayment

Royal Bank of Scotland has confirmed it will repay next week the last of the £163bn in emergency loans it received from the US and UK governments.

Facebook Sets $28-$35 IPO Range

Facebook Inc. set the price range for its initial public offering at $28 to $35 a share, in a landmark deal that would raise as much as $13.6 billion for the social network and insiders.

BSkyB says it is a 'fit and proper' licence holder

BSkyB says it remains a "fit and proper" holder of a broadcasting licence. The satellite broadcaster said it was engaging with the regulator Ofcom in its assessment of BSkyB's suitability.

Olympics 'unlikely to boost' economy, says Moody's

The 2012 Olympics are unlikely to provide a substantial boost to the British economy, according to credit rating agency Moody’s.

Japanese firms in $2bn Liquefied Natural Gas deal

Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co have agreed to buy a 14.7% stake in Woodside Petroleum's Browse Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in Australia for $2bn (£1.2bn).

It's not a BlackBerry World anymore as RIM's dominance fades

ORLANDO: When Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie were running Research In Motion, BlackBerry World was a chest-thumping celebration of RIM's successes and a showcase for the innovations that would assure its continued dominance.

Barclays accused in mis-selling report

Barclays has been accused of acting with "reckless disregard" when it sold a set of complex derivatives to a care home operator that is suing the bank for £36m.

Indian companies help drive innovation, education and employment in the US

NEW DELHI: Indian companies have often been accused of taking benefits form the US, while not creating either jobs there.

Hyundai Motor drives sharp Q1 net profit increase by 31%

SEOUL: South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor increased quarterly net profit by 31 per cent to $2.15 billion as it bucked a sluggish industry trend in Europe and China and boosted sales in a recovering US market.

Sony expects to earn 10 percent of global business from India

KOLKATA: Japanese electronic goods maker Sony is expecting to garner 10 percent of its total global business from India after five years.

Apple results to face intense scrutiny after 10pc drop

Apple's latest results will face intense scrutiny today because investors are this month digesting a rare fall in the shares of the iPad maker.Apple's status as the world's most valuable company makes any decline in its share price painful for the wider stock market.

Billions wiped off Europe's biggest companies as political rebellion rocks eurozone

More than £122.3bn was wiped off the value of Europe's biggest companies on Monday amid fears that the eurozone's commitment to austerity was being swept away by political rebellion - just as its debts hit record levels.

McDonald's profits boosted by store revamps

McDonald's profits rose 5% in the first quarter to $1.27bn, helped by a revamp of its restaurants. The company said profits had also been boosted by new menu items, including chicken McBites and McCafe drinks.

Microsoft reveals $5.1bn profits for Q1

Shares in Microsoft jumped in extended trading after the latest profits from the world's biggest software maker beat Wall Street's expectations.

Sony-led group wins EU approval to buy EMI publishing

USSELS (Reuters) - A Sony-led consortium won EU approval on Thursday to buy EMI's music publishing business for $2.2 billion, on the condition that it sell the worldwide publishing rights of artists including Robbie Williams and Lenny Krativz.

Nokia slumps to €1.3bn loss under competition from Apple and Samsung

Nokia has announced the departure of its head of sales as the struggling mobile phone maker, beset by competition from Apple and Samsung and an under-par new product launch, slumped to a loss of €1.3bn (£1.1bn).

Tesco unveils profits rise and £1bn investment in UK

Tesco will invest £1bn in its UK business this year in an attempt to revive its flagging domestic operation.

US judge sends Apple, Samsung to settlement talks

(Reuters) - Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd agreed that their chief executives would participate in settlement talks to try to resolve a patent lawsuit over smartphone and tablet technology, according to a court filing.

Sony turnaround plan 'no great shakes': Analysts

Sony has little chance of winning back its reputation as an innovator or vaulting ahead of stronger rivals with the "ordinary" turnaround plan its new chief unveiled last week, analysts said.

JP Morgan reports rebound in business

JP Morgan, the first major US bank to announce its results, has reported a rebound in revenues in the first three months of 2012.

Sony sheds 10,000 staff in major reorganisation

Electronics firm Sony is to shed 10,000 jobs as part of a major reorganisation, chief executive Kazuo Hirai has said.

Should US companies be allowed to export high-skilled services?

In the drive to double US exports, Washington has been focusing on manufacturers. But that may be the wrong target.

How to Compete in a Diverse World Market Environment

Of all debates in international business strategy, two stand out: The first debate revolves around the nature of world market environment, whether world markets are global, multinational or semiglobal.

Sony to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide

Tokyo, Japan - Sony Corporation has announced plans to cutting 10,000 jobs, about six per cent of its global workforce, according to media reports.

Apple's share price overtakes Google as it is forecast to be first $1tn company

The world's insatiable appetite for all things Apple appears to be reaching new levels. Silicon Valley's hottest company could soon become the world's first trillion-dollar company, according to Wall Street analysts.

Samsung Q1 profit to soar on Galaxy, Note sales

SEOUL: Samsung Electronics, the world's top technology firm by revenue, will report strong first-quarter profit of around $4.5 billion on Friday on soaring sales of its flagship Galaxy smartphones and the new Note, a mini-tablet and phone.

Opel’s Future Weighs Heavily on German Town

BOCHUM, GERMANY — Udo Möde steered his Opel compact car slowly over the cracked pavement of the half-empty parking lot at the company’s plant in Bochum, Germany, on a recent workday.

Global firms 'may rethink India' over tax proposal

Seven international trade associations have written to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh criticising a new tax proposal under which even 50-year-old corporate deals could be scrutinised.

OpCapita pays £50m for 333 Game stores

OpCapita bought the video game retailer out of administration on Sunday, rescuing the jobs of 3,200 staff not affected by last week’s closure of 276 Game stores.

Coca-Cola to invest $4 billion in China's market in next three years

BEIJING: World's leading soft drink producer Coca-Cola has said it will expand its production scale in China with $ four billion investment in next three years.

Lloyd's of London sees loss after natural catastrophes

The insurance market Lloyd's of London has announced a loss for 2011, saying it was its worst year for catastrophe claims.

Apple could up China investment as Tim Cook visits

Apple has indicated it will consider higher investments in China, as chief executive Tim Cook visited Beijing to meet Chinese officials.

Game appoints administrators but PwC pins hopes on sell-off

The video games specialist Game has officially entered administration, appointing PwC prior to a swift restructuring that is expected to result in heavy job losses and the closure of half the firm's 600 UK stores.

Honda's automobile unit resumes operations in Thailand

Honda Automobile Thailand (HATC) has resumed production at its plant in Ayutthaya after severe floods halted operations in early October.

FedEx says economy isn't as robust as it hoped

NEW YORK: FedEx says the global economy isn't growing as strongly as expected and customers are reacting by choosing cheaper means of shipping packages.

Game Group shares suspended

Fears for the future of retailer Game have intensified after its shares were suspended and it admitted the business has no value.

Nissan brings back Datsun budget brand

Nissan has announced a plan to revive Datsun as a low-cost marque, 31 years after removing it from its line-up.

Cisco Systems to secure employees' personal devices

Cisco Systems is expanding its services to enable companies to manage and secure private mobile devices used by employees at work, aiming to benefit from the trend widely known as BYOD or Bring Your Own Device.

Apple to pay dividend and buy back shares

Apple has said it will use its cash to start paying a dividend to shareholders and to buy back some of its shares.

Minimum alcohol price 'illegal', claims Scotch Whisky Association

In a letter to Downing Street, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), whose members include Diageo, the Edrington Group and Chivas Brothers, says the policy would act as an “illegal” barrier to free trade within Europe.

Unions ought to alter strategies

As multinational corporations like McDonalds and Microsoft continue their global economic dominance, labor unions have lost their relevance within American politics.

Sarkozy wants Internet giants like Google, Facebook, Twitter to pay tax in France

PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday he wants "Internet giants" to pay tax in France, shortly before he was due to meet the founder of the micro-blogging site Twitter.

French Connection reviews UK stores as profits fall

Fashion retailer French Connection has said it is reviewing its UK store operations after reporting a sharp fall in profits.

PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi focused on retention, not succession

NEW YORK: With the lackluster performance of PepsiCo under her leadership, chief executive officer Indra Nooyi clearly faces pressure to perform. So it's natural to smell a succession race brewing with the company's March 12 announcement of a new global structure and the hiring of Wal-Mart Stores executive Brian Cornell.

C$27 billion suit versus Big Tobacco starts in Montreal

Reuters) - Canada's three biggest tobacco companies, all with multinational parents, face C$27.25 billion ($27.43 billion) in damages and penalties as the largest civil lawsuit in the country's history to go to trial started on Monday.

Indian companies prefer face-to-face meetings over social networking

NEW DELHI: Social networking sites might be catching the public's imagination but Indian companies still feel face-to-face meeting will be the most effective way to lure customers in the next two to three years, says a survey.

EDF Energy agrees to pay a £4.5m 'fine'

Energy supplier EDF has agreed to pay a package worth £4.5m - including £3.5m to customers - after an Ofgem investigation into how it tried to make sales to customers.

Nokia maps fightback against cheap Android phones, plans cheaper Windows models

HELSINKI: Finnish group Nokia aims to revamp its feature phone offering this year and add more and cheaper Windows smartphones to fight back against the fast-rising popularity of Google's massmarket Android phones.

Tokyo prosecutors charge Olympus and former executives

Tokyo prosecutors have charged camera-maker Olympus and three of its former executives in connection with a $1.7bn (£1bn) accounting cover-up.

Nissan to build new car in Sunderland

Nissan is to build a new compact model, called the Invitation, at its Sunderland factory.

Gingerly, Foreign Investment in Europe Starts Anew

PARIS — Last summer, as the mounting European debt crisis was forcing many businesses in the region to scale back, the multinational Dow Chemical made a seemingly contrarian move: rather than hunker down, it doubled down.

G.M. Again Pauses Production of Chevy Volt

DETROIT — General Motors said on Friday that it planned to halt production of the Chevrolet Volt for five weeks beginning later this month because dealers had more than they needed.

Apple and Samsung patent cases dismissed

Apple and Samsung have both had patent lawsuits - taken out against each other - thrown out by a German court.

Companies Profiting The Most From War: 24/7 Wall St.

Global sales of arms and military services by the 100 largest defense contractors increased in 2010 to $411.1 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The increase reflects a decade-long trend of growing military spending. Since 2002, total arms sales among the 100 largest arms manufacturers have increased 60%.

Malaysia Airlines shares dip on 2011 loss

Shares in Malaysia Airlines have dipped after the carrier said it was in a "crisis" as it reported a loss for the last financial year.

Apple 'deception' alleged in Proview iPad trademark row

Asian electronics firm Proview has accused Apple of "deception" in the way it acquired rights to the iPad name.

Western Pennsylvania companies hit by Europe's debt crisis

As the European debt crisis that roiled the continent's economy last year threatens to drag Europe into recession, multinational businesses in Pittsburgh have had to adapt.

Google may pick Dennis Woodside to replace Sanjay Jha of Motorola Mobility

CALIFORNIA: Google, which won the US approval for its acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings, is close to naming Dennis Woodside to run the business when the deal closes, three people familiar with the matter said.

Gulf on Foreign Profits Tax Threatens Deal on Corporate Rate Cut

President Barack Obama’s belief that the U.S. tax system pushes jobs overseas and Republican assertions that multinational companies are disadvantaged will make compromise on a new corporate tax code difficult.

Online payments firm PayPal expanding in Ireland

DUBLIN: Online payments company PayPal announced on Tuesday it is expanding its operations in jobs-hungry Ireland in a government-sponsored deal praised by Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

Wal-Mart increases stake in Chinese e-commerce firm

SHANGHAI: Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Monday it has reached an agreement to raise its stake in a Chinese e-commerce firm, Yihaodian, to around 51 per cent as the world's largest retailer aims to boost its presence in China's fast growing consumer market.

Hilliard may land Columbus call center

A multinational company may move a major call center to Hilliard, bringing 500 full-time and 125 part-time jobs to the city next summer.

Baidu profit almost doubles as online advertising grows

Baidu, China's largest search engine, has reported a 77% surge in profits between October and December as its advertising revenue continues to grow.

Avon names John Lin new head of China unit

The head of Avon Products Inc's Canadian unit will become president of the cosmetics company's China business next month as the company contends with sliding sales there and a probe into alleged bribery of officials in that country.

Google Motorola bid approved in EU and US

US regulators have approved Google's $12.5bn (£7.9bn) bid for phone maker Motorola Mobility, hours after it won clearance from European authorities.

After "lemming" exodus, manufacturers look to U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Big U.S. manufacturers moved their production out of the country too quickly over the past decades and now see a competitive advantage in building up their footprints back home, top executives said on Monday.

Olympus reports a 33bn-yen loss

Olympus, the Japanese cameramaker, reported a loss for the nine months to the end of December 2011 as it battles an accounting scandal.

Apple emerges as top American brand, Wall Street firms the worst: Study

Apple Inc has the best image of any American company, scoring a record high in a new reputation study, while financial institutions filled the ranks of the worst.

Barclays Bank profits fall 3% to £5.9bn

Barclays has reported a 3% fall in profits to £5.9bn for last year, hit by a slowdown at its investment bank arm.

Google privacy policy does not violate settlement with US regulators

WASHINGTON: Internet search giant Google has claimed that the upcoming changes in its privacy policy do not violate a settlement it struck with US consumer protection agency last year.

Nokia ends phone assembly in Europe, cuts jobs

HELSINKI: Nokia Corp. plans to end the assembly of cellphones in Europe by year-end as it shifts production to Asia and cuts another 4,000 jobs, its latest attempt to cushion its finances from stiff competition in the smartphone sector.

China: Fast food nation. Too fast economy?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Is China's economy heading for a hard or soft landing? Well, it looks like Chinese consumers can't get enough of Diet Coke and the Colonel's famous secret recipe. That may be good news.

Brisk U.S. Sales Lift Toyota's Profit Forecast for the Year

TOKYO — Toyota Motor raised its annual profit forecast Tuesday despite a decline in its quarterly profit, as brisker sales in the United States gave the Japanese automaker a much-needed lift after a year overshadowed by natural disasters.

Network Rail chief executive to turn down bonus

Network Rail bosses, including chief executive Sir David Higgins, have said they will not accept bonuses this year.

Starbucks Sets Up Shop in India

A decade after it started sourcing coffee from India, Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, has decided to serve up its concoctions to an Indian audience.

Glencore and Xstrata in talks over $82bn 'merger of equals'

Commodities trader Glencore and mining giant Xstrata are in discussions on an $82bn (£50m) merger to create a company that would dominate the global mining industry.

Mazda in quarterly loss of nearly $1 billion

TOKYO: Japan's Mazda Motor on Thursday reported a third-quarter loss of almost $1 billion, as the strength of the yen dented its export-dependent production.

Sony replaces CEO Howard Stringer

Sony has announced that its chief executive Howard Stringer is to step down from the job on 1 April, to be replaced by vice president Kazuo Hirai.

Canon to build laser-printer factory in Philippines

Japanese high-tech giant Canon said on Tuesday it would build a laser-printer factory in the Philippines in anticipation of strong growth in global demand.

Honda sees sharp drop in profit

Japan's third biggest carmaker, Honda, has announced a 41% drop in quarterly profit, as it continues to feel the impact of Japan's March disasters, the floods in Thailand, and the high yen.

US sales and one-off payment lift Ford's profits

US carmaker Ford has reported a surge in profits in 2011, fuelled by a one-off payment and strong sales in its home country.

Analysts' take: Why you should buy Apple stocks

NEW YORK: Apple's first quarter in post-Steve Jobs era was a success. Apple reported that it sold more than 37 million iPhones and some 15.5 million iPads during its last quarter after the market closed Tuesday.

Toyota confirms loss of No. 1 carmaker spot

TOKYO: Toyota Motor confirmed on 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.

Google in privacy policy changes across its services

Google has changed its privacy policy, streamlining it across its multiple services including search, email, video and social networking sites.

HMV enjoys new year cheer as it strikes deal with suppliers

Crisis-stricken HMV has forged an alliance with Universial Music and other suppliers which the company believes will help it to return to financial health over the next three years.

Kodak bankruptcy: Workers, retirees, investors brace for pain

ROCHESTER: The ripple effect from Eastman Kodak Co.'s bankruptcy reorganization extends in many directions: Employees brace again for layoffs, retirees fret over health care coverage, and the photography icon's biggest debtors and stakeholders - from movie studios and big-box retailers to CEO Antonio Perez - are preparing for a sharp sting in their pocketbooks.

Vodafone not liable for up to $4.4bn of India penalties

India's highest court has ruled that Vodafone is not liable for taxes and penalties of up to $4.4bn (£2.8bn).

General Motors reclaims world's biggest carmaker title as Toyota skids

PARIS: General Motors reclaimed its title as the world's biggest automaker on Thursday, successfully emerging from its 2009 bankruptcy woes to overtake German giant Volkswagen and Japanese Toyota in the race to the top.

Kodak files for bankruptcy protection

Eastman Kodak, the company that invented the hand-held camera, has filed for bankruptcy protection with a US court.

Apple publishes supplier details for the first time

Apple has published a list of its suppliers for the first time as it looks to head off criticism over how workers are treated.

As Kodak declines, small tech firms rise in Rochester

The news of Kodak's declining fortunes is a sad one, to be sure. The Rochester, N.Y.-based company, whose name is synonymous with film, was a leader in that industry for years.

Honda Motors may spend $650 million to restore flood-hit Thai plant

TOKYO: Honda Motor Co will completely overhaul its flood-hit factory in Thailand in a project that could cost more than 50 billion yen ($650 million), the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.

JP Morgan reports lower fourth-quarter profit

JP Morgan has reported lower fourth-quarter profits, hit by weaker trading at its investment banking division, triggered by the eurozone debt crisis.

Apple Details Working Conditions at Factories

Apple Inc. disclosed a comprehensive list of its major suppliers for the first time, along with a detailed report on factory inspections, moving to combat an array of criticism about working conditions in its supply chain and the company's transparency about it.

Bleak day for high street as Tesco slump spooks retail sector

More than £4bn was wiped off the stock market value of Tesco on Thursday after Britain's biggest retailer delivered its worst Christmas sales performance in decades and warned it would see "minimal" profits growth this year.

Former Olympus boss calls for clearout of board

The former chief executive of Japanese camera firm Olympus has said the decision to sue current and former executives is "deeply inadequate".

HMV reports Christmas sales slump

Troubled retailer HMV has reported a sharp fall in sales for the Christmas period but noted a slowing in the decline of its music and film business.

French auto spares firms eye JVs in Gujarat

AHEMEDABAD: Some 60 French companies will explore joint ventures with Gujarat-based auto component makers at a business-to-business or B2B meet organised by the state government later this month in capital Gandhinagar.

Blacks Leisure: JD Sports set to buy retailer

JD Sports looks set to buy the assets of Blacks Leisure, the struggling outdoor clothing retailer which employs about 3,500 staff.

Google and Apple to go head to head over 'smart' TVs

Google and Apple are preparing a rematch of the battle they fought for dominance of the smartphone market, but this time the contest between them will be for control of our television sets.

John Lewis sees 'outstanding' Christmas sales

John Lewis has reported an "outstanding" rise in sales at its department stores during the Christmas period.

Luxury carmaker Bentley sees sales rise 37% in 2011

Luxury carmaker Bentley has reported a 37% rise in sales in 2011, saying demand has returned to pre-recession levels.

Hyundai and Kia predict slower sales growth in 2012

Hyundai and its affiliate Kia Motors have said they expect sales growth in 2012 to be sharply slower than 2011 due to the global economic downturn.

‘Serious lapses in Citibank led to fraud’

NEW DELHI: An internal investigation into the scam in Citibank's Gurgaon branch in May has shown that there were serious lapses within the bank that was responsible for one of the country's biggest fraud involving a multinational bank.

Samsung, Hyundai Tell Workers to Brace for Economic Uncertainty

Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Samsung Electronics Co. and Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest companies, told employees to brace for intense competition in a weak global economy as the government called for contingency planning.