COMPANIES

Nissan Motor, expected to return to profitability in the current financial year, hopes to maintain the improved earnings momentum into 2010, its chief executive said on Thursday, driven largely by growth in emerging markets such as China.

European shares edged up to a three-week closing high on Thursday with telecom shares leading the advance after soothing earnings results and airlines gaining ground on merger news.

The following are planned mergers under review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU merger process:

U.S. mall owner Developers Diversified Realty Corp (DDR.N) may sell most of its planned $400 million commercial mortgage bond at yields well below existing issues, according to Thomson IFR on Thursday.

President Dmitry Medvedev pledged on Thursday to disband Russia's inefficient state corporations, created by his predecessor Vladimir Putin, and called for a probe in to their use of state money.

Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's top carmaker, said on Thursday it expects car sales in China this year to jump 83 percent from 2008, led by new models and as economic stimulus measures spur demand in the country.

Europe's second-biggest carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen on Thursday raised its full-year outlook and unveiled a plan to lift earnings via productivity improvemenmts, costs cuts and more sales in emerging markets.

BMW and its partner, the state parent of Brilliance China Automotive, will invest $735 million to expand their capacity in the world's largest vehicle market.

The Obama administration's pay czar said on Thursday his compensation rulings will allow General Motors Co and Chrysler Group to retain talent but is willing to consider lateral offers to hire new executives.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, but forecast earnings during the key holiday quarter that could miss Wall Street estimates as its customers face rising unemployment.

Publisher Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA said on Thursday it saw no quick end to a slump in advertising which more than halved nine-month net profit and announced plans to cut its Italian staff by a fifth.

The Interac Association has hired a Wall Street investment bank to help it restructure into a for-profit company, should regulators allow, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported on Thursday.

Chinese property developer Longfor Properties Co raised $912 million, pricing its Hong Kong initial public offering at the top end of an indicated range on Thursday, according to two sources close to the deal.

Strong demand for a piece of a China property company and a brokerage show that selected IPOs are still being coveted despite investor fatigue with the surge of new listings.

Chinese property developer Longfor Properties Co raised $912 million on Thursday, pricing its Hong Kong initial public offering at the top end of an indicated range, according to two sources close to the deal.

General Motors Co said on Wednesday it will hire 600 workers for three Brazilian plants in the state of Sao Paulo to boost output as demand for automobiles grows in Latin America's largest economy.

British cattle genetics company Genus warned on Thursday that first half profit would be below last year, sending shares to a two-month low.

Canada's Toromont Industries Ltd said on Thursday it intends to proceed with a formal bid to acquire Enerflex Systems Income Fund, after talks for a deal with the supplier of equipment for the oil and gas industry failed.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer United Technologies Corp said it will buy General Electric's security business for $1.82 billion in a move to expand the presence of the world's top maker of elevators and air conditioners in a fast-growing North American sector.

Babcock & Brown Infrastructure shareholders have voted so far are strongly in favor of a $1.6 billion recapitalization plan backed by Canada's Brookfield group, BBI's chief financial officer said on Thursday.

Western Australia state has raised the stakes in its demand for higher royalties from iron ore miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, telling them that it would not rubber-stamp their planned iron ore merger.

A merger between British Airways and Spain's Iberia looked imminent on Thursday as their boards held separate meetings to discuss a deal to create the world's third-largest airline by revenue.

The boards of British Airways and Spain's Iberia are holding separate board meetings to consider a merger to create the world's third largest airline by revenue, they said on Thursday.

U.S. home foreclosure filings slowed in October for a third straight month, but rising unemployment will spur another record year of failing mortgages in 2010, real estate data company RealtyTrac said on Thursday.

Refinancing drove total U.S. mortgage applications higher last week as fixed borrowing costs fell further below 5 percent, but home purchase demand sank to a nine-year low, an industry group said on Thursday.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc reported a higher quarterly profit as the world's biggest retailer clamped down on inventory and controlled expenses, but forecast earnings for the current period that could miss current Wall Street estimates.

Department store operator Kohl's Corp reported a larger-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by inventory controls and sales of brands it offers exclusively.

The boards of British Airways and Spain's Iberia are holding separate board meetings to consider a merger to create the world's third largest airline by revenue, they said on Thursday.

Asia-Pacific finance ministers endorsed market-oriented exchange rates on Thursday and said they would stick with economic stimulus plans until a sustained economic recovery was under way.