JAPAN

Sony Corp. surprised investors on Wednesday by warning it is heading for its fourth straight annual net loss and that its TV business alone would produce a loss of $2.2 billion due to tumbling demand and a surging yen.

The ex-CEO of Japan's Olympus Corp said on Wednesday he wanted to meet investigators appointed to probe a scandal engulfing the firm, but added it would not be safe for him to travel to Japan.

European stocks turned negative after early gains Wednesday, adding to a sharp two-session drop as investors dumped banking shares on fresh concerns about the euro zone debt crisis.

The Bank of Japan supplied dollars in market operations on Wednesday for the first time in more than a year, a sign of the global market strains that board member Sayuri Shirai separately said could push the yen higher again.

Greece's prime minister faces a grilling from the leaders of Germany and France on Wednesday after fighting to win the backing of his cabinet to hold a referendum on a 130 billion-euro ($178 billion) bailout package.

The ex-CEO of Japan's Olympus Corp signaled his willingness on Wednesday to meet investigators appointed to probe a scandal engulfing the firm, but he said he would not meet them in Japan due to safety concerns.

Greece's prime minister won the backing of his Cabinet Wednesday to hold a referendum on a 130 billion euro bailout package but will find the stunned euro zone leaders who engineered the deal last week harder to convince.

Lenovo Group Ltd, the world's No.2 PC brand, posted a better-than-expected 88 percent rise in second-quarter profit, helped by acquisitions and an increase in sales in emerging markets such as China.

Sony Corp said it is headed for its fourth straight annual net loss, instead of a profit it forecast earlier, as Thai floods disrupted camera production, adding to losses from a soaring yen and price slides in its TVs and PCs in the United States and Europe.

Lenovo Group Ltd, the world's No.2 PC brand, posted a better-than-expected 88 percent rise in second-quarter profit, helped by acquisitions and an increase in sales in emerging markets such as China.

The Bank of Japan supplied dollars in market operations on Wednesday for the first time in more than a year, a sign of the global market strains that board member Sayuri Shirai separately said could push the yen higher again.

World stocks and the euro edged up on Wednesday after a rollercoaster week, as investors hoped for comfort on the weak U.S. economy and troubled euro zone from meetings of the U.S. Federal Reserve and Group of Twenty leaders.

World stocks and the euro edged up on Wednesday after a rollercoaster week, as investors hoped for comfort on the weak U.S. economy and troubled euro zone from meetings of the U.S. Federal Reserve and Group of Twenty leaders.

Sony Corp said it is now headed for its fourth straight annual net loss instead of a profit as Thai floods disrupt camera production on top of losses from a soaring yen and price slides in its TVs and PCs in the United States and Europe.

Olympus Corp's ousted CEO Michael Woodford said on Wednesday he wants to meet a third-party panel probing past M&A deals at the endoscope maker after the head of the investigative group earlier said it would seek a hearing with him.

Asian shares fell and the euro stuck near 3-week lows against the dollar on Wednesday, as investors shed riskier assets after Greece's shock call for a referendum stoked fears about the viability of a European debt deal struck just last week.

Sony Corp on Wednesday slashed its full-year operating profit outlook by 90 percent to its lowest level in three years as Thai floods disrupt camera production at the Japanese company, which is already struggling with a soaring yen and sluggish television sales in the U.S. and Europe.

The Bank of Japan offered dollars to banks in market operations on Wednesday for the first time since July last year, a sign that market strains from Europe's sovereign debt crisis may be broadening.

The Bank of Japan offered dollars to banks in market operations on Wednesday for the first time since July last year, a sign that market strains from Europe's sovereign debt crisis may be broadening.

Asian shares fell and the euro hovered near three-week lows against the dollar on Wednesday, as investors shed riskier assets after Greece's abrupt call for a referendum rekindled fears about the viability of a European debt deal reached just last week.

The Nikkei share average fell nearly 2 percent Wednesday after overseas shares skidded on Greece's surprise call for a referendum on a European bailout plan that investors had hoped would be the solution to the region's sovereign debt woes.