CHINA

China vowed on Wednesday to appeal a recent World Trade Organization ruling against its raw materials export policy, a case that could threaten Beijing's stance on rare earths, which it contends is in line with the trade body's rules.

China COSCO Holdings <1919.HK> <601919.SS>, the country's top shipping company, sought to reassure investors on Wednesday that negotiations with shipowners over unpaid bills would be resolved and its business remained strong.

China's Commerce Ministry said it had not received an application for regulatory approval from Google Inc on its planned $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility Holdings.

Chinese social-networking site Renren said Wednesday it has signed an agreement with Microsoft's joint venture instant messaging firm, MSN, to cooperate in areas of instant messaging and social networking.

Chinese social-networking site Renren said on Wednesday it has signed an agreement with Microsoft's joint venture instant messaging firm, MSN, to cooperate in areas of instant messaging and social networking.

The U.S. ambassador made a surprise trip to a southern Syrian town Tuesday, his second visit to an area rocked by protests against President Bashar al-Assad and a move likely to antagonize the authorities in Damascus.

Gold rebounded more than 1 percent Wednesday after posting its biggest drop in 18 months, as risk appetite retreated after Moody's downgraded Japan's debt rating and strong buying interest in Asia's physical market lent support.

China urged a stable transition of power in Libya Wednesday and said it is in contact with the National Transitional Council, in the clearest sign yet that Beijing has effectively shifted recognition to rebel forces.

Edward Zwick has signed on to direct Legendary East's first project, The Great Wall, the company said Tuesday.

Several major banks cut sharply their oil price forecasts on Tuesday, with Citigroup saying that even if the United States printed more money, oil would stay depressed by weak economic growth and fresh supplies from Libya.

Apple is getting ready to launch two phones, according to people familiar with the matter, confirming rumors that have run rampant for months which suggested another phone would join the launch of the iPhone 5.

A tax rebate on natural gas imports may accelerate China's purchases of liquefied natural gas, but only marginally given high prices for spot supplies and the nation's policy of using long-term contracts.

China's factory sector is likely to slow slightly for a second consecutive month in August as sluggish overseas demand saps new orders, HSBC's China Flash PMI showed on Tuesday.

China on Tuesday urged Libya to protect its investments and said their oil trade benefited both countries, after a Libyan rebel warned that Chinese oil companies could lose out after the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.

China should diversify its huge foreign exchange reserves into non-financial assets to hedge against risks from a long-term decline in the U.S. dollar, Xia Bin, an academic adviser to the central bank said on Tuesday.

The eurozone could collapse if its member countries don't work together to solve its debt crisis, but China is pleased to see that Germany and France are cooperating to avert that risk, a Chinese vice foreign minister said in an interview.

Economic growth is stagnating in Europe and cooling slightly in China, according to surveys of business activity released on Tuesday, fuelling concern about the risk of a global slump as Western governments struggle to cope with their debt problems.

Chinese Internet video games maker Shanda Games posted a jump in quarterly sales helped by strong demand for its massively multi-player online role-playing games .

Asian suppliers to Apple Inc have begun manufacturing a lower-priced version of its hot-selling iPhone 4 with a smaller 8 gigabyte flash drive, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

Apple Inc will release a cheaper iPhone 4 within weeks, jeopardizing profit margins to win lower-end customers from rivals such as Nokia in China and other emerging markets.

Warren Buffett has a Chinese car problem, and he may be tempted to fix it himself -- at a cost of billions of dollars.