CHINA

China told other world powers on Thursday that discussing sanctions against Iran was counterproductive, striking a blow to a Western push to rein in Tehran's nuclear program.

Stock futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 fall 0.5 to 0.6 percent, pointing to a weaker start on Wall Street on Thursday.

Lingering concerns about the global economy and a host of negative local factors pushed Asian stocks lower on Thursday, with Toyota hitting a 10-month low on investor concerns over its massive vehicle recall.

Investors should consider stepping into equities linked to countries that are the first to raise interest rates, Bank of America Merrill Lynch's chief global equity strategist said on Wednesday.

China announced on Wednesday that the government had approved a plan to recruit 5,000 elite police in Xinjiang to prevent future unrest, according to the official Xinhua news Agency.

Oil slipped toward $77 a barrel on Wednesday after U.S. data showed crude inventories in the world's largest energy consumer rose more than expected while refinery utilization rates fell again.

Oil rose above $77 a barrel on Wednesday ahead of key inventory data out of the world's largest energy consumer, the United States.

China warned President Barack Obama on Wednesday that a meeting between him and the Dalai Lama would further erode ties between the two powers, already troubled by Washington's arms sales to Taiwan.

Oil dipped below $77 a barrel on Wednesday, retracing gains made earlier in the week ahead of key inventory data out of the world's largest energy consumer, the United States.

Oil touched a two-week high above $78 a barrel on Wednesday, rising ahead of key inventory data out of the world's largest energy consumer, the United States, later in the session.

The global economy may be climbing out of recession but the air transport industry does not expect any significant pick up in orders this year, executives said on Wednesday.

China will never have its voice heard on the international stage unless the government loosens its tight grip over the media and film industry, the CEO of the country's No. 2 Internet portal said Wednesday.

Oil bounced back above $77 on Wednesday, reaching its highest level in almost two weeks, as recovery optimism drove Asian stock markets higher, led by China.

Asian shares powered ahead on Wednesday with energy and resources stocks leading the way, as demand for riskier assets increased after Wall Street rallied on upbeat U.S. earnings and economic data.

President Barack Obama still plans to meet the Dalai Lama, the White House said on Tuesday, despite China's warning that such a meeting would hurt ties already strained by U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan.

A Democratic senator said on Tuesday he has asked 30 U.S. companies, including Apple, Facebook and Skype, for information on their human rights practices in China in the aftermath of Google's decision to no longer cooperate with Chinese Internet censorship efforts.

President Barack Obama would meet the Tibet's exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama, the White House said on Tuesday.

Recent cyber attacks on Google are a wake-up call and neither the U.S. government nor the private sector can fully protect the American cyber infrastructure, the director of U.S. national intelligence said on Tuesday.

A top Democratic senator said on Tuesday he has asked 30 U.S. companies, including Apple, Facebook and Skype, for information on their human rights practices in China in the aftermath of Google's decision to no longer cooperate with Chinese Internet censorship efforts.

Dow Chemical Co posted a higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, but said demand in the United States and Europe remained slack, sending its shares down more than 2 percent.

Oil rose above $75, gaining for the second day on Tuesday, on prospects that demand will increase due to strong economic data from China and the United States, the world's top two energy consumers.