In Asia, WhatsApp posts mixed message for Facebook
Singapore (Reuters) – WhatsApp may be hugely popular but its forays into Asia, the world’s biggest mobile market, have had mixed success, raising questions about whether it can sustain the explosive growth Facebook Inc cited to justify its $19 billion …
Retailer Esprit says China market a priority and big opportunity
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Retailer Esprit Holdings Ltd said on Friday China remains a big opportunity, listing it as a priority over the next two years, even after reporting a drop of 24.5 percent in overall turnover in that market.
China auto lobby, policymakers collide over foreign investment
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s auto lobby has urged Beijing to support local carmakers after the regulator said it was considering further opening up the market to outside investment amid a deepening row between policymakers and state-owned car firms.
Japan’s Aso urges U.S. to communicate with markets on tapering
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso on Friday urged the United States to keep explaining to financial markets how it plans to wind back its massive monetary stimulus, noting the tapering is a good thing as it reflects an improving econ…
Vitol pays $2.6 billion for Shell’s Australian refinery, petrol stations
SYDNEY/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Top global oil trader Vitol SA has agreed to buy Royal Dutch Shell’s Australian refinery and petrol stations for about $2.6 billion in its biggest acquisition, looking to grab a share of a growing oil product market.
Citi CEO Corbat gets $14.1 million in 2013
(Reuters) – Citigroup Inc Chief Executive Michael Corbat received a 23 percent pay rise in 2013, his first full year after replacing Vikram Pandit at the helm, a regulatory filing on Thursday showed.
Consortium resumes work on Panama Canal expansion
PANAMA CITY/MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish-led consortium resumed expansion work on the Panama Canal on Thursday, raising hopes the two sides will finally draw a line under an acrimonious stand-off over massive cost overruns.
U.S. calls on China, Japan and Europe to boost domestic demand
SYDNEY (Reuters) – China, Japan and Europe need to concentrate on boosting domestic demand to help rebalance the world economy, the head of the U.S. Treasury said on Friday.
Wall Street sees sense in Facebook’s $19 billion WhatsApp buy
(Reuters) – Facebook Inc’s purchase of fast-growing messaging startup WhatsApp for an eye-popping $19 billion largely won approval from analysts, who said the deal made strategic sense as it will solidify the social network’s position as a leader in mo…
Japan firms resist government pressure to lift base wages: Reuters survey
TOKYO (Reuters) – Fewer than one in five Japanese companies plan to raise base wages in the coming business year, a Reuters survey shows, a stark sign that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s stimulus policies are still struggling to gain traction.
