Apple lays groundwork for first debt sale ever

LONDON: Apple took initial steps Monday for what would be its first debt sale ever, as the US computer giant lays the groundwork for what would be one of the most anticipated bond sales of the year.

Volkswagen committed to European plants: CEO Martin Winterkorn

VIENNA: German carmaker Volkswagen will keep its plants in Europe despite weak markets in the region that will require flexible manufacturing and could entail cuts to temporary staff, Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn said.

Honda profits boosted by weaker yen and overseas sales

Honda has reported a 74% jump in annual profits, boosted by a recovery in overseas sales and a weak Japanese yen.

Samsung Electronics profits boosted by smartphone sales

Samsung Electronics has posted a record quarterly profit, boosted mainly by growing sales of its smartphones. It made a net profit of 7.15tn won ($6.4bn; £4.2bn) during the period, up from 5.05tn won a year ago.

International deliveries seen boosting UPS in near term

(Reuters) - United Parcel Service Inc , the world's No. 1 package delivery company, said its international package business will drive results in the near term and that it expects the small-package market to grow faster than the U.S. economy in 2013.

Google rivals criticise offer to end EU competition investigation

Google's rivals have begun to weigh in on the detail of concessions it has offered to European competition watchdogs, as the search engine aims to avoid costly litigation.

Dreamliner: Boeing 'may never find battery fault cause'

Boeing has admitted that it may never know what caused the battery malfunctions that resulted in all its 787 Dreamliner aircraft being grounded.

Blackstone founder's Rhodes-style China scholarship

Stephen Schwarzman, the billionaire founder of private equity giant Blackstone, is spearheading a drive to create an elite international education programme in China modelled on the 111-year-old Rhodes Scholarship.

General Electric profits lifted by NBC stake sale

General Electric has reported a 16% rise in first quarter profits, helped by a one-off gain from the sale of its stake in NBC Universal.

Bruising fall for Apple shares: Is the company no longer a market dictator?

Where's the old love, Apple? Wall Street has turned viciously on its one-time iDarling.

Coca-Cola profits lose fizz in Europe

Profits at soft drink giant Coca-Cola have fallen by 15% on the back of sagging sales in the US and recession-hit Europe.

Citigroup profit rises 31 pc as investment banking grows

Citigroup Inc reported a higher-than-expected 31 percent rise in first-quarter profit on Monday as revenue from its securities and investment banking business swelled.

Obama Budget Cuts Set to Squeeze Infosys’ Sales: Corporate India

nfosys Ltd. (INFO), the Indian software developer which plunged last week after forecasting sales that lagged estimates, may struggle to win clients as U.S. President Barack Obama’s $85 billion in spending cuts prompts companies to rein in spending.

Google launches tool to determine data use after death

Google will allow users to decide what happens to their data after they die or become inactive online, the first major company to deal with the sensitive issue.

JP Morgan makes record quarterly profit

JP Morgan has reported record first quarter profits of $6.5bn (£4.2bn) and says there are signs the US economy is "healthy and getting stronger".

Tesco expected to scrap struggling US grocery chain Fresh & Easy

More than five years ago, Tesco planted its flag firmly on US shores by launching the Fresh & Easy chain. Next week, Britain's largest supermarket owner is set to confirm that it is abandoning the venture, having sunk £1bn into its doomed transatlantic foray.

Nissan to make new van at Renault French site: Sources

PARIS: Nissan plans to move production of a mid-sized van from Spain to Renault's Sandouville plant in France, sources said, helping its French alliance partner keep a pledge to raise domestic output in return for union concessions.

Microsoft accuses Google of pushing services to Android

Microsoft has accused rival Google of pushing Android handset makers to use its applications such as YouTube and Maps.

Cloudy outlook makes Canadian companies shy of investment

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian businesses see a challenging year ahead after surviving the weakest two quarters of growth since the 2008-09 recession, and they expect only modest sales growth, cautious investment, and tame inflation, a Bank of Canada poll showed on Monday.

Avon Products Inc plans to cut over 400 jobs, exit Ireland

Avon Products Inc said on Monday it will slash more than 400 jobs as part of a turnaround plan aimed at restoring the cosmetics maker to profitability.

Canada provides £170m loan to Telefónica to help save BlackBerry

Canada has provided a £170m loan facility to European telecoms firm Telefónica to help it buy BlackBerry products and services, as the Ontario-based company tries to recover from a year in which it made a £425m loss and revenues fell 40%.

'Green' car maker Fisker fires 75 pct of workforce

DETROIT: Fisker Automotive, the struggling government-backed hybrid sports car maker, on Friday terminated most of its rank-and-file employees in what sources said was a last-ditch effort to conserve cash and stave off a potential bankruptcy filing.

Facebook releases 'home' software for Android phones

Facebook is releasing software that puts feeds from the social network on the home page of Android phones.

Mortgage rates set for fall, Bank of England survey shows

Mortgage rates are about to drop “significantly” over the next three months, a Bank of England survey discovered, offering an extra boost to the housing market in the wake of government measures unveiled in the Budget.

Verizon denies interest in buying Vodafone

US telecoms group Verizon Communications has denied that it wants to buy or merge with UK mobile phone operator Vodafone.

UK retailers boosted as investment pours into shopping centres

Britain’s retail industry has received a welcome vote of confidence after a spike in investment in shopping centres this year.

Panasonic investigated in US for alleged bribes: Report

WASHINGTON: The US government is investigating whether a unit of Japanese electronics giant Panasonic Corporation paid bribes abroad to facilitate business deals, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Apple denied iPad Mini US trademark

Apple has been denied a trademark for the popular iPad Mini by the US Patent and Trademark Office.