CHINA

Oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday as the market weighed a rebound in the dollar against data showing strong demand growth from No. 2 consumer China.

Oil prices steadied on Wednesday as the dollar rebounded from 15-month lows, countering data showing strong demand growth from No. 2 consumer China.

China sent its clearest signal yet that it was ready to allow yuan appreciation after an 18-month hiatus, saying on Wednesday it would consider major currencies, not just the dollar, in guiding the exchange rate.

In 2005, China administered a spelling test that asked respondents to spell Google for a search market report: only 60 percent took the test and more than 20 percent got it wrong.

China's top online game operator Tencent Holdings said on Wednesday that its quarterly net profit doubled to a record high thanks to surging popularity of its online games.

Tencent Holdings, China's most valuable Internet firm, faces challenges from regulation and competition to maintain its breakneck pace of growth after reporting a near doubling in third-quarter profits.

Japan's Daiwa Securities Group Inc plans to invest 100 billion yen ($1.11 billion) in its operations in Asia outside Japan through next spring, the Nikkei business daily said on Thursday.

German generic drugmaker Ratiopharm has attracted at least 10 first-round bids, several people familiar with the procedure told Reuters on Wednesday, indicating that a competitive auction was underway.

The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 index made new yearly highs on Wednesday after data showed China industrial output surged and Federal Reserve officials hinted money would remain cheap well into 2010.

The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 index made new yearly highs on Wednesday after data showed China industrial output surged and Federal Reserve officials hinted money would remain cheap well into 2010.

Chinese mobile telecoms services firm Umessage is eyeing a Hong Kong or U.S. listing in two years, a top executive at the firm said on Wednesday.

Initial public offerings in Europe are gaining momentum, with three major IPOs set to launch before year-end and about $10 billion that could be raised in the next six months as volatile equity markets calm down.

Japan's greenhouse gas emissions tumbled 6.2 percent last year in a new sign on Wednesday that recession is doing the job of cutting emissions while the world struggles toward a U.N. pact to combat climate change.

Somali pirates seized a Greek cargo ship and a Yemeni fishing boat in the latest attacks demonstrating their ability to evade international naval forces, gunmen and officials said Wednesday.

Oil rose toward $80 on Wednesday, responding to a 15 month low in the dollar and robust Chinese demand growth and factory output.

U.S. stocks climbed on Wednesday as optimism spread after a jump in Chinese factory growth and comments from Federal Reserve officials suggested interest rates would remain low well into 2010.

The world's largest mobile phone maker Nokia launched three new CDMA phones on Wednesday and said it remained committed to the standard, which has long been overshadowed by the more global GSM.

The United States and Japan will agree this week to review their decades-old security alliance to tighten ties long term, a Japanese newspaper said Wednesday, as the two countries struggled to keep a feud over a U.S. military base from spoiling their leaders' summit.

Honda Motor Co is not betting on an immediate recovery in traditional markets and will focus on bright spots China and India, although it will not build an ultra low-cost car to take on Tata Motor's Nano.

The dollar fell to a new 15-month low against major currencies on Wednesday, hurt by downbeat official views on the U.S. economy and bullish economic data from China that bolstered risk appetite.

With little prospect of any new climate change initiatives emerging at an APEC meeting in Singapore this weekend, the climate agenda might instead focus on liberalizing trade in green goods and services.