Hollande's headache worsens as France slips into recession
President Francois Hollande's nagging headache to reboot the French economy has turned into a migraine as the economy slipped into its second recession in four years, fuelling speculation of an impending cabinet reshuffle.
16 May 2013
Japan economy grows again, points to recovery
Japan said Thursday that its economy grew again in the quarter to March, pointing to a recovery as Tokyo and its hand-picked central bank team set about stoking the world's third-largest economy.
16 May 2013
Upbeat New Zealand heading back to the black
New Zealand on Thursday bucked the international trend toward austerity budgets and lifted spending modestly, while still predicting its books will be back in the black within two years.
16 May 2013
Toyota becomes Asia's biggest firm by market value
Toyota has accelerated past South Korea's Samsung Electronics to become Asia's biggest company by market value, after the Japanese automaker's shares doubled in the past year.
16 May 2013
BHP to scale back capital spending by a fifth
Global mining giant BHP Billiton has outlined plans to slash capital spending by almost a fifth, with new chief executive Andrew Mackenzie warning the brakes could be applied even further.
Romania, Kazakh oil firm settle debt dispute
Romania and the Kazakh oil company KazMunayGaz have settled their dispute over a 500-million-euro ($658-million) debt and pledged to invest together in energy projects.
G7 talks growth, austerity amid yen concerns
The G7 top economies are set for a second day of talks aimed at spurring growth amid US-Europe divisions over the scale of austerity and renewed market focus on "currency wars".
12 May 2013
Icahn revamps Dell offer, calls buyout 'giveaway'
A battle for US computer giant Dell heated up Friday as corporate raider Carl Icahn and other investors made a new offer and called a planned buyout led by company founder Michael Dell a "giveaway."
11 May 2013
New Zealand's Mighty River in strong stock market debut
Shares in hydro-electric generator Mighty River Power debuted on the New Zealand stock exchange at NZ$2.73 ($2.29) Friday, a 9.2 percent premium on the NZ$2.50 initial public offer (IPO) price.
11 May 2013
Turkish Airlines reverses lipstick ban for stewardesses
Turkish Airlines has reversed a ban on air hostesses wearing brightly-coloured lipstick following accusations it was trying to Islamise the company under government influence.
10 May 2013
G7 nations meet as US pressures Europe over austerity
Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of Seven leading economies will meet in the English countryside on Friday for talks on spurring growth, amid US-Europe divisions over the scale of austerity.
10 May 2013
Sri Lanka cuts lending rates hoping for growth
Sri Lanka's central bank Friday cut benchmark lending rates by 50 basis points, saying the move was to designed to encourage growth amid sluggish economic activity this year.
Branson open to total sale of Virgin Australia
Virgin Group chief Richard Branson has aired the possibility of selling his entire stake in budget carrier Virgin Australia, saying the airline's branding is more important to him than ownership.
