MARKETS / FINANCE

Japan scientists create 3-D images you can touch

Imagine a light switch or a book that appears only when you need it -- Japanese scientists are one step closer to making the stuff of sci-fi films into reality after creating a hologram that can also be felt.

China 3G standard needs overseas markets to succeed - ITU

China's domestically developed 3G mobile network standard must eventually expand overseas to be successful, one of many hurdles for the commercially untested technology, said the International Telecoms Union (ITU) on Wednesday.

Magyar Telekom to cut 400 jobs, save HUF 6.5 bln

Magyar Telekom will lay off 400 workers at a cost of about 7 billion forints ($37.04 million) in severance payments, the brunt of which it expects to incur in the fourth quarter, the company said on Wednesday.

Nokia says seeing 'alot of interest' in N900

Nokia is seeing large interest towards its new top-of-the-range model N900, a key product for the world's top phone maker, a senior company official said on Wednesday.

Intel gears up for mobile battle

Intel has slashed the power consumption of its new Moorestown chip platforms for mobile devices, a big boost for its efforts to grab a slice of a booming market for chips in cell phones and other consumer electronics.

U.S. consumer prices up 0.4 percent in August

U.S. consumer prices rose faster than expected in August from July on a spike in gasoline costs, government data showed on Wednesday, but the underlying trend pointed to muted inflation pressures.

Downturn may cost 25 million jobs in OECD countries

The economic downturn will likely cost as many as 25 million people their jobs by end-2010 as the unemployment rate nears a record 10 percent in the OECD group of countries, according to a report released on Wednesday.

BMW needs no more job cuts

BMW, the world's biggest premium carmaker, would not need to make more job cuts even if a second wave of the global financial crisis would hit, personnel chief Harald Krueger told Reuters.

Wall Street rises on commods, M&A; data supports recovery

U.S. stocks rose slightly on Wednesday on gains in commodity prices and renewed merger and acquisition activity.

U.S. inflation reading tame, output rises again

Higher gasoline costs pushed up U.S. consumer prices in August while industrial output increased for a second consecutive month, according to data on Wednesday that reinforced hopes the economy was finally on the mend.

U.S. consumer prices up

U.S. consumer prices rose in August from July on a spike in gasoline costs, the Labor Department said on Wednesday, but the underlying trend pointed to muted inflation pressures.

U.S. consumer prices up, current act gap narrows

U.S. consumer prices rose in August from July on a spike in gasoline costs, the Labor Department said on Wednesday, but the underlying trend pointed to muted inflation pressures.

Stock futures point higher on commodities, Adobe deal

U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday on gains in commodity prices and renewed merger and acquisition activity.

Stock futures higher on commodities, Adobe deal

U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday on gains in commodity prices and an upswing in merger and acquisition activity as investors awaited a batch of key economic data, including industrial production and consumer prices.

Stock futures higher on commodities, M&A; data on tap

U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday on gains in commodity prices and an upswing in merger and acquisition activity as investors awaited a batch of key economic data, including consumer prices and industrial production.

Unions slam bank greed, urge jobs plan pre-G20

Trade unions urged G20 leaders on Wednesday to respond decisively to the specter of 59 million job losses and slammed banks for awarding bonuses worth more than 20 percent of the taxpayer money spent bailing them out.

Majority of Americans find Wall Street pay unreasonable

A majority of Americans believe Wall Street executive compensation is unreasonable, and that bankers fared better than others during the financial crisis, a poll conducted for Reuters shows.

Blockbuster to close up to 960 stores by end of 2010

Top U.S. movie rental chain Blockbuster Inc, which is facing tough competition from Netflix Inc and Coinstar Inc's Redbox, plans to close up to 960 stores by the end of next year.

Chrysler business plan by end of November: CEO

Chrysler's new business plan will be presented by the end of November and will show numbers and the path out of years of difficulties, the company's chief executive said on Wednesday.

World stocks at new 11-month high

World equities rose on Wednesday to new 11-month highs, after upbeat U.S. data boosted faith in an economic recovery, persuading more investors to sell their low-yield dollars to buy growth-oriented stocks and commodities.

U.S. growth in 2 percent range over near term: forecast

The U.S. economy will emerge from recession by growing more than 2 percent in the current and fourth quarters on a dramatic reversal in inventories, but growth next year will be tepid, a UCLA Anderson Forecast said on Wednesday.

Oil near $71, sheds early losses on weak dollar

Oil shed early losses and hovered near $71 on Wednesday as the dollar's fall to one-year lows and Asian equities' climb to 2009 highs drew investors back to risky assets on brightening signs of a U.S. economic recovery.

Asian stocks hit 2009 highs

Asian shares swept to their highest levels for 2009 on Wednesday after upbeat U.S. economic news boosted riskier assets leveraged to global growth, while the U.S. dollar slipped to a one-year low.

Asian stocks hit 2009 highs, U.S. dollar slips

Asian shares hit their highest levels for 2009 on Wednesday after upbeat U.S. economic news gave riskier assets leveraged to global growth a boost, while the U.S. dollar slipped to a one-year low.

Cablevision rolls out interactive ads for viewers

New York cable TV operator Cablevision Systems Corp said on Tuesday it is rolling out a service to enable subscribers to interact with commercials by clicking on their remote controls.

Lehman: Barclays got $8.2 billion windfall from sale

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said on Tuesday that Barclays Capital Inc got a $8.2 billion windfall profit from excess assets it took control of in the fire sale of Lehman's U.S. brokerage business a year ago.

SEC has few options, none good, in BofA case

Stung by a federal judge's rejection of settlement efforts with Bank of America Corp, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has a few ways to proceed in the case. None is good.

Shanda Games looks to ride industry wave in IPO

Many people outside of China have never played the online video games operated by Shanda Games.

Daily Commentary - 16/09/2009

The Australian Dollar opens higher today at 0.8625 and is buoyed by improved risk sentiment after the release of stronger than expected U.S. economic data overnight.

Blackstone sees real estate opportunities, deals

Private equity giant Blackstone Group is starting to see attractive opportunities in real estate again, after waiting on the sidelines for deals since 2007, its chief operating officer Tony James said on Tuesday.