Concerns over Europe's fiscal problems hit the euro and sterling on Wednesday, while world stocks hovered near their recent six-week highs, though they were still up 66 percent from a low hit one year ago.
The euro and sterling were under pressure on Wednesday after renewed concerns about Europe's fiscal problems but oil, copper and the Australian dollar were supported by China's strong export and import data.
Asian stocks hovered near six-week highs on Wednesday as Chinese data showed exports and imports in February were better than expected, while the euro and the pound suffered on renewed concerns about Europe's fiscal problems.
Japan's government on Tuesday vowed to stick to its ban on nuclear arms after a probe showed its predecessors may have turned a blind eye to breaches, but said ties with security ally Washington would not be affected.
Toyota Motor Corp said it had found no flaw with its throttle controls as it seeks to dismiss an external study critical of its electronic safety systems.
Japanese carmakers are considering following Toyota Motor's lead in adopting a brake override system that would potentially address all sources of unintended acceleration, including driver error.
The yen gained across the board on Tuesday as most world equity markets fell, illustrating a rise in risk aversion as investors moved into the low-yielding Japanese currency. Appetite for risk had been boosted by Friday's better-than- expected U.S. employment report, pushing the yen down to two-week lows versus the euro and the dollar.
Sony Corp will launch 3D televisions in June, entering an increasingly crowded market that is betting the revolutionary TV will become the next hot product.
Oil and higher-yielding currencies pulled back from multi-week highs on Tuesday and Asian stocks drifted lower as investors paused in their recent chase for riskier assets.
Sony Corp said it will launch 3D televisions in Japan in June, entering an increasingly crowded field of competition for what many see as the next hot product in the electronics industry.
Oil and higher-yielding currencies shrank from multi-week highs on Tuesday and Asian stocks drifted lower as investors paused in their recent chase for riskier assets.
MetLife Inc pursued AIG's foreign life insurance business for two years before finally clinching a $15.5 billion purchase that will give it beachheads in 47 nations from Peru to Bangladesh.
McDonald's Corp reported a better-than-expected 4.8 percent rise in February sales at established restaurants as Asia helped offset softness in the United States and Europe, sending its shares up nearly 3 percent.
A Web application that alerts wine grape farmers when their vines are thirsty has won first place in a competition to spur entrepreneurs in the investment-starved water sector, organizers said on Monday.
AIG is selling its foreign life insurance unit to MetLife Inc for about $15.5 billion, its second major asset sale in a week as it raises funds to repay a $182.3 billion U.S. government bailout.
Four in five adults believe access to the Internet is a fundamental right -- with those feelings particularly strong in South Korea and China -- and half believe it should never be regulated, according to a global survey.
Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance said its IPO, Japan's biggest in 12 years, would raise as much as 1.1 trillion yen ($12 billion) at the top of a price range.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Monday, following a strong rally to end last week's session, when the Nasdaq closed at an 18-month high on better-than-expected February payroll data.
McDonald's Corp reported a 4.8 percent rise in February sales at established restaurants as strong overseas results offset softness in the United States.
U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Monday following a strong rally to end last week's session, when the Nasdaq closed at an 18-month high on better-than-expected February payroll data.
AIG is selling its foreign life insurance unit to MetLife Inc for about $15.5 billion, in its second major asset sale in a week to repay the U.S. government billions of bailout money.
Stock index futures pointed to a pause on Wall Street on Monday after last week's strong rally fueled by better-than-expected U.S. jobs data.
