Japan's Sharp Corp and Pioneer Corp said they would set up a joint venture to merge their optical disc businesses, aiming to beef up one of their focus operations and take a leading position in the growing Blu-ray disc market.
A U.S. Navy destroyer arrived off Somalia on Thursday to apply pressure for the release of an American ship captain taken hostage in the first seizure of U.S. citizens by increasingly bold pirates.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Japan's third-largest bank, said it expects a full-year net loss of $3.9 billion and will sell shares to raise up to $8 billion, after being hit by losses on stock holdings and a deepening recession.
In good times and bad, Japanese never miss the opportunity to party under cherry trees during the brief period they bloom each spring.
Dutch ING plans to sell operations worth up to 8 billion euros ($10.6 billion) to reduce risk, focus its bank on Europe, and manage its banking and insurance separately, boosting its shares on Thursday.
Nintendo Co Ltd said sales of its Wii game console have lost some steam in Japan, but it aims to boost demand again by launching a new version of its blockbuster Wii Sports software in June.
Japan's ruling party unveiled on Thursday a $154 billion stimulus plan, around 3 percent of GDP, to battle a deepening recession but the prospect of record sales of government debt to pay for it spooked the bond market.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.5 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.5 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.4 percent at 4:37 a.m. EDT (0837 GMT).
Nintendo Co Ltd said sales of its Wii game console have lost some steam in Japan, but it aims to boost demand again by launching a new version of its blockbuster Wii Sports software in June.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.5 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.5 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.4 percent at 4:37 a.m. EDT (0837 GMT).
Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Thursday after the New York Times reported the U.S. banking industry seems to be in better shape than many people think, citing officials involved in the federal stress tests.
U.S. stock gains eased on Wednesday and risk aversion rose, driving bond prices higher, after minutes from the Federal Reserve's last meeting showed policy-makers worried about a steep drop in economic activity.
The recession chokehold that is gripping the world's richest nations won't loosen until late this year, and Reuters polls show the economic outlook has dimmed for 2009 despite a vigorous global stock market rally.
Shouting soldiers at a mass rally on Wednesday celebrated North Korea's defiant launch of a rocket, while Russia's foreign minister said any new punishment for Pyongyang could be counter-productive.
Oil fell to around $48 a barrel on Wednesday after U.S. data showing swollen crude stocks, and analysts said there was little sign global demand would soon rise to soak up the excess.
At first glance, a new day seems to be dawning for the overshadowed solar sector in Australia, the world's sunniest continent.
Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday, as mounting fears over corporate results knocked down stock markets around the world.
More U.S. data showing swollen crude stocks pushed oil below $48 a barrel on Wednesday, and analysts said there was little sign demand would soon rise to soak up the excess.
Sharp Corp , the world's No.3 LCD TV maker, doubled its loss estimate for the year just ended on a slump in sales of its TVs and panels, but it brought forward plans for a cost-efficient new factory to cut costs.
Oil fell by over a dollar below $48 a barrel on Wednesday, adding to Tuesday's 3.7 percent loss on falls for equities and after weekly data showed U.S. crude inventories up far more than expected.
Asian stocks tumbled on Wednesday and the U.S. dollar climbed, with investors bailing out of recent positions and camping on the sidelines to await company outlooks as what is expected to be a grim results season begins.
Japan's Sharp Corp , the world's third-largest LCD TV maker, said that it expected to post a much deeper annual loss on sliding LCD prices for the year just ended but that it will speed up panel production.
