JAPAN

The Exxon Mobil Corp. plans to sell a large part of its 50 percent stake in TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK back to its Japanese refining partner in a deal that could be worth about $3.9 billion, with an announcement to be made as early as Monday, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

It has only been a few days since the Federal Reserve adopted a formal goal for inflation, and already policymakers are missing their target.

ACTA protests are spreading across the globe, as outrage grows over the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement treaty in the wake of the SOPA bill being shelved by the U.S. Congress. Find all the details about protest events in this article.

The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in 1-1/2 years in the fourth quarter, but a rebuilding of stocks by businesses and slower business spending warned of weaker growth in early 2012.

The world's biggest hedge fund Bridgewater Associates posted returns of 23 percent in 2011, in a year when most of its peers underperformed the major stock market indexes, the New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the firm's investment strategy.

The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in 1-1/2 years in the fourth quarter, but a strong rebuilding of stocks by businesses and weak spending on capital goods hinted at slower growth in early 2012.

The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in 1-1/2 years in the fourth quarter, but a strong rebuilding of stocks by businesses and weak spending on capital goods hinted at slower growth in early 2012.

Japan and South Korea are Iran's third and fifth biggest oil customers, but the United States, looking for international support for new sanctions pressuring Iran's oil sector, would like that to change.

World stocks held steady near a 5-1/2 month high on Friday as investors anticipated an imminent conclusion to Greek debt talks while lower Spanish bond yields and a fall in Italy's six-month borrowing costs also supported the euro.

The broad asset rally which the U.S. Federal Reserve inspired by pledging to keep rates low decelerated on Friday as investors awaited the outcome of Greek debt talks and U.S. gross domestic product data. Asian stocks paused.

Japan's core consumer prices fell for the third consecutive month in the year to December, and mild deflation is expected to persist this year as energy prices stabilize and worries about Europe's debt crisis suppress wage growth and economic activity.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata dismissed the idea that the age of the dedicated handheld games device was over and said he aimed to return the company to substantial profit in 2012/13, after it warned of its first ever operating loss this year.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata dismissed the idea that the age of the dedicated handheld games device was over and said he aimed to return the company to substantial profit in 2012/13, after it warned of its first ever operating loss this year.

The BSE Sensex rose 0.7 percent on Friday and was on track to post its fourth weekly gain in a row, on expectations improving global risk appetite will draw in more portfolio investments.

Samsung Electronics Co posted a record 4.7 billion dollar quarterly operating profit, driven by booming smartphone sales.

A broad asset rally inspired by the U.S. Federal Reserve's pledge to keep rates low paused Friday, as investors sought to gauge how sustainable the burst of optimism will be while waiting for the outcome of crucial Greek debt talks.

A tankless toilet so inspired Japan's Panasonic Corp. that the company will end their production of water-logged toilets and focus on the design alternative.

A new survey conducted by Deloitte suggested Gen Y consumers, generally between the ages of 19 and 31, prefer hybrids or electric vehicles -- vehicles with some electrified elements.

Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich called on Wednesday for a base on the moon and an expanded federal purse for prize money to stimulate private-sector space projects.

Samsung Electronics Co, the world's top technology firm by revenue, will report record quarterly profit on Friday, powered by strong sales of its smartphones, but most interest will be in its 2012 spending plans and mobile sales numbers as it vies with Apple Inc for smartphone supremacy.

Anonymous issued a response to Poland, who signed the controversial ACTA copyright protection treaty on Thursday, by hacking their government websites.