Total profit falls on thin European refining margin
PARIS (Reuters) – French oil company Total reported a drop in profits due to narrow refining margins in Europe and a heftier exploration bill on Thursday, and decided not to match a dividend increase by rival BP .
Avon revenue slides in North America; sales force shrinks
(Reuters) – Avon Products Inc posted weaker-than-expected third-quarter sales on Thursday, hurt by a big drop in North America and in growing markets like Mexico and Russia, and reported the size of its sales force had shrunk.
China’s Alibaba to launch online fund sales service: media
BEIJING (Reuters) – Alibaba Group Holdings has secured approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to act as a third party for the online sale of fund products, local media group Caixin reported on its website.
Time Warner Cable cuts revenue forecast after CBS blackout
(Reuters) – Time Warner Cable Inc cut its full-year revenue growth forecast after losing more video customers than analysts had expected from a month-long blackout of No. 1 U.S. broadcaster CBS Corp.
Sony slashes profit outlook with TV business back in red
TOKYO (Reuters) – Sony Corp cut its full-year profit targets after slipping to a quarterly net loss as its recovering TV operation relapsed into the red.
Britain mulls tax on foreign property investors: Sky
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain is considering imposing capital gains tax on foreign property investors in an effort to tackle soaring house prices in the capital, Sky News reported on Thursday citing unidentified sources.
Investors see opportunity as miners seek alternative finance
BANGALORE/LONDON (Reuters) – From fund giant BlackRock to activist shareholder Julian Treger, mining investors seeking predictable returns and better cash flows are stepping into mine finance.
Six major central banks make currency swap accords permanent
TOKYO (Reuters) – Six major central banks said on Thursday they would make their web of currency swap arrangements permanent as a “prudent liquidity backstop” in case of future global financial strains.
Exclusive: China securitization plan expanded to include foreign banks – sources
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Chinese regulators have expanded a pilot plan allowing banks to package loans into tradable securities to include foreign banks, sources said.
BOJ raises GDP forecast, holds line on inflation
TOKYO (Reuters) – The Bank of Japan stopped short of officially forecasting it could raise inflation to 2 percent in two years after a review on Thursday, but said it was on track to reach its target and would maintain its massive stimulus as long as n…
