Mexico ships 1st load of best tequila to China

Mexico has shipped its first load of blue agave tequila to China in hopes of turning the Asian nation into the biggest market for the alcoholic beverage after the U.S.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/article/1300862/mexico-ships-1st-load-best-tequila-china

Kaka wants to leave Real

Real Madrid midfielder Kaka says he wants to leave the Spanish club after seeing that his role as a bench player has not changed under coach Carlo Anc...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40402

Elderly man killed in Kwai Chung accident

An elderly man has died after being knocked down by a goods van in Kwai Chung. Police say the 75-year-old was pushing a cart across Castle Peak Road ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40401

Hang Seng inches up at close, Shanghai flat

Stocks in Hong Kong ended 0.12 percent higher today. The benchmark Hang Seng Index added 26.59 points to 21,731.37 on turnover of HK$50.48 billion. ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40400

Beijing 'unhappy' over Hart meetings

A state-run newspaper says Beijing is "extremely unhappy" about the meeting of the recently appointed US consul general Clifford Hart, with political ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40399

Heavy rain hits on NT crops

Farmers in Sheung Shui say their crops have been destroyed by flooding after torrential rain overnight and this morning. The Observatory issued the a...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40398

Closure order for building granted

The Buildings Department has obtained a closure order for a To Kwa Wan tenement building with balconies that are deemed to be unsafe. The District Co...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40397

'Landfill leak caused no serious damage'

The government has insisted that a leak at the landfill in Ta Kwu Ling has not led to any serious environmental damage or public health concerns. The...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40396

Hermès reports rise in profits, fashion and perfumes segments among top performers

Luxury label Hermès, reputed for its leather goods, fashion and accessories as well as silk scarves, reported today that half-year earnings grew 14 pe...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40395

Thunderstorms in the city tonight

Hong Kong will experience a few showers and can expect thunderstorms tonight, the weather forecaster said. The unsettled weather is caused by a trou...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40394

Europe equities tick up

Europe's main stock markets steadied at the start of trading Friday. London's benchmark FTSE 100 index inched up 0.20 percent to 6,496.06 points. F...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40393

Zhou Yongkang investigated for graft, report says

China will investigate former security tsar Zhou Yongkang, one of Beijing's most powerful politicians of the last decade, a local media report said, ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40392

Virgin Australia reports massive losses

Virgin Australia's key shareholders backed the airline with major loan commitments today after the carrier plunged into the red. The carrier posted...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40391

(US Open) Nadal sails through

Rafael Nadal made quick work of his second-round opponent at the US Open in new York, Thursday, taking the final 12 games in his 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 victory...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40390

Boy Scouts of America sued over abuses

A dozen men filed a broad new lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America and former adult leaders Thursday, saying that abuse occurred regularly in Was...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40389

Nikkei closes in negative column

Stocks in Tokyo fell 0.53 percent despite data showing consumer prices in July gained at their fastest pace in almost five years, while traders rema...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40388

Yang Dacai, the official with the smirk and luxe wardrobe on trial

An official with a penchant for luxury watches who sparked outrage after he was pictured smiling at the scene of a fatal accident went on trial for ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40387

China shares rise, Hong Kong down slightly as Syria fears recede

Stock markets in China rose on Friday alongside most regional peers, lifted by finance, insurance and retailers after Chinese bank earnings beat expectations and worries there would be an attack on Syria by the US receded.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/money/stock-talk/article/1300588/china-shares-rise-hong-kong-down-slightly-syria-fears

Storm kills three in Taiwan

At least three people were killed when torrential rain brought by tropical storm Kong-Rey caused widespread flooding in the south of Taiwan, the gov...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40386

Batista’s Brazilian empire was sunk by more than hubris

Fifteen months ago, OGX Petrsleo chief executive Paulo Mendonga was confident that the company he led was on track to become a major independent oil producer, an anchor for Eike Batista’s vast Brazilian resource empire.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300583/batistas-brazilian-empire-was-sunk-more-hubris

Nikkei down at break

Stocks in Tokyo fell 0.67 percent despite data showing consumer prices in July rose at their fastest pace in almost five years, while traders remain ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40385

Sinopec buys Egypt oil and gas assets for US$3.1b

Oil giant Sinopec will pay US$3.1 billion for a one-third stake in the Egyptian oil and gas business of US firm Apache Corp, the company said. The de...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40384

Boiling hot August in China

China has experienced its hottest August for more than half a century, weather authorities said, after a summer heat wave. A map on the website of ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40383

Scare or no scare, customers have little choice but Fonterra

However much China and other big customers strive to rely less on Fonterra after a global food contamination scare this month - now downscaled to a ‘false alarm’ - the New Zealand firm’s grip on the global dairy trade is unlikely to be loosened.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1300581/scare-or-no-scare-customers-have-little-choice-fonterra

Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz set to beef up sales network in China

Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz will try to reach deeper into China’s inland-west region and small “lower-tier” cities for growth as part of a broader turnaround plan for the world’s biggest auto market, according to people familiar with the matter.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300580/daimlers-mercedes-benz-set-beef-sales-network-china

China oil giant Sinopec buys into Egypt for US$3.1b

Chinese oil giant Sinopec will pay US$3.1 billion for a one-third stake in the Egyptian oil and gas business of US firm Apache Corp. it said Friday, as China builds up its access to global energy reserves.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300578/china-oil-giant-sinopec-buys-egypt-us31b

Detroit seeks US$350m ground-breaking loan

Detroit, which made the largest Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy filing in US history, on Thursday filed a request for proposals for US$350 million in unprecedented financing, the city emergency manager’s office said.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300576/detroit-seeks-us350m-ground-breaking-loan

Indian rupee charts in uncharted territory

The rupee has fallen so far so fast that not even technical analysts can divine the currency’s future.

The chartists, as these analysts are also known, are struggling to make sense of a currency that is now firmly in territory that is uncharted.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300574/indian-rupee-charts-uncharted-territory

Salesforce’s raised outlook reassures, lifts shares

Salesforce.com raised its fiscal next year sales outlook after reporting better-than-expected revenue and earnings on Thursday, reassuring jittery investors that the cloud software company will continue its red-hot growth.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300571/salesforces-raised-outlook-reassures-lifts-shares

Portugal top court rejects labour bill in blow to government austerity drive

Portugal’s Constitutional Court has dealt a new blow to government efforts to cut spending and keep the country’s EU/IMF bailout on track, rejecting a bill that would have effectively allowed the state to fire public sector workers.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300570/portugal-top-court-rejects-labour-bill-blow-government-austerity

Virgin Australia plunges into the red

Virgin Australia on Friday posted an annual net loss of A$98.1 million (HK$680.4 million), a sharp reverse as high fuel costs and intense competition led by Qantas hurt the bottom line.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300567/virgin-australia-plunges-red

Trading in shares of China Everbright Securities suspended: exchange

Trading in shares of China Everbright Securities was suspended on Friday pending an announcement, the Shanghai Stock Exchanges said on its website.

Everbright Securities official declined to comment, saying that the company would make an announcement later.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300565/trading-shares-china-everbright-securities-suspended

BP: Jindal admin ’misrepresents’ company’s record

BP says Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration has misrepresented its record in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, including how much it has spent on cleanup.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300562/bp-jindal-admin-misrepresents-companys-record

Why Wall St doesn’t blink at extra US$30b for Verizon Wireless

It’s not often that Wall Street shrugs off what amounts to a 30 per cent price hike for an asset inside of four months.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300560/why-wall-st-doesnt-blink-extra-us30b-verizon-wireless

Blueberries, grapes, and apples may cut diabetes risk

Eating more whole fresh fruit, especially blueberries, grapes, apples and pears, is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but drinking more frui...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40382

Trade pact eases further access for funds

Mainland investors will have greater access to the Hong Kong stock market after the Hong Kong and Beijing added 73 measures to their trade partnership...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40381

Nikkei falls at break

Stocks in Tokyo fell 0.67 percent, giving up early gains due to caution over Syria following a rise the previous day. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40380

(Athletics) Ethiopian Defar revels at 5,000m run

Meseret Defar (pictured) of Ethiopia produced a telling sprint finish to hold off a strong challenge from compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba and win the 5,000...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40379

(Golf) Tiger feeling fine for TPC Boston

World number one Tiger Woods heads into the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston, Massachusetts, hoping to remain free of the back pain that dogged ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40378

AMR bankruptcy judge leans toward reorganization plan approval

A US bankruptcy judge on Thursday hinted he would approve AMR Corp’s bankruptcy exit plan despite the government’s challenge to its main component: AMR’s planned megamerger with US Airways Group Inc.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300559/amr-bankruptcy-judge-leans-toward-reorganization-plan-approval

Renault’s Tavares steps down after hinting at US move

Renault’s second-in-command, Carlos Tavares, has quit , two weeks after he dismayed colleagues by hinting he might join one of the US carmakers.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300557/renaults-tavares-steps-down-after-hinting-us-move

Nasdaq says software bug, Arca problems led to trading outage

Nasdaq OMX Group said Nasdaq’s three-hour trading halt last week was due to an internal software bug and other technology issues triggered by problems at NYSE Euronext’s Arca exchange that led to the failure of a key backup system.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300556/nasdaq-says-software-bug-arca-problems-led-trading-outage

’Shadow’ banks face 2015 deadline to comply with first global rules

The US$60 trillion “shadow banking” sector has been given until 2015 to fully comply with its first set of global rules, after an international regulatory task force unveiled plans to curb risk without strangling economic recovery.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300555/shadow-banks-face-2015-deadline-comply-first-global-rules

(US Open) Business as usual for Serena and Federer

The considerable gulf between No 1 seed Serena Williams and No 4 Sara Errani was hard to ignore in their back-to-back matches Thursday at the US Open ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40377

Finnish government plans to trim generous welfare model

Finland’s government announced a long-term plan to start scaling back its welfare system, one of the most generous in the world, aiming to preserve its triple-A credit rating in the face of a slower economy and aging population.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300554/finnish-government-plans-trim-generous-welfare-model

Japan consumer inflation hits five-yr high, output rebounds

Japan’s core consumer inflation rate accelerated to its highest in nearly five years in July and factory output rebounded smartly, suggesting that government and central bank efforts to end deflation are making some progress.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300552/japan-consumer-inflation-hits-five-yr-high-output-rebounds

Fishy pants expose Vietnamese smuggler

A Vietnamese man's attempt to smuggle tropical fish into New Zealand in his pants floundered when he tried to get through customs with his pockets dr...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40376

Israelis bulldoze Palestinian family into cave

When Israeli bulldozers knocked down their home, Khaled Zir al-Husseini and his family had to find a new roof over their heads, so they moved just d...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40375

Humiliated Cameron puts Obama in go it alone mode on Syria, protesters denounce war lies in New York

Hundreds protested at New York's Times Square Thursday over possible US plans to strike Syria believed have used chemical weapons on civilians last w...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40374

Hang Seng eases down, Shanghai flat

Stocks in Hong Kong edged down 0.12 percent at the beginning of trade despite a second successive rally on Wall Street. The benchmark Hang Seng Inde...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40373

Thunderstorms may drench city

Hong Kong can expect showers and scattered squally thunderstorms today, the weather watchers said. Showers will be heavy at first, the Hong Kong Obs...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40372

Hang Seng ends 0.8pc higher

Hong Kong shares ended 0.84 higher Thursday on bargain-hunting following heavy selling over the past week, while dealers also took heart from a rally ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40346

Japan regulator urges monitoring of Fukushima sea

Japan's nuclear regulator says the impact that radiation-contaminated water leaks from the country's wrecked nuclear plant is having on the Pacific is...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40345

Girl killed by bulldozer over land dispute

A three-year-old girl was killed by a bulldozer during a land dispute in China. The girl's father said she was died under the tracks of the construct...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40344

Rafael Hui faces more debt claims

Another bank has filed claims for HK$1.2 million from the former Chief Secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan. The writ from Standard Chartered Bank is the four...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40343

China urged to 'improve human rights'

A coalition on human rights in China has petitioned Beijing's Liaison Office here, urging President Xi Jinping to improve the nation's human rights re...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40342

Protest over delay in leak disclosure

About a dozen Tseung Kwan O residents have staged a protest outside the government headquarters over the late disclosure of a leachate leak at the Ta ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40341

New Zealand’s biggest financial scammer Ross guilty

A New Zealand fund manager pleaded guilty to masterminding the country's largest Ponzi scheme, which defrauded more than 1,200 investors of NZ$380 mil...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40340

European markets positive at open

Europe's main stock markets gained at the start of trading. London's benchmark FTSE 100 index up 0.15 percent to 6,439.86 points. Frankfurt's DAX ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40339

Critics suspicious after fugitive Filipino lawmaker surrenders

A Philippine businesswoman who allegedly helped legislators embezzle 10 billion pesos (US$230 million) in government funds has surrendered. The wealth...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40338

Pernod Ricard whisky sales hit in China crackdown, but Martell cognac drives growth

French wines and spirits company Pernod Ricard said annual profit improved by 4 percent in a difficult year, as its operations in the US and emerging ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40337

China Everbright first-half profit edges down to HK$736.6m

China Everbright’s net interim profit eased four per cent to HK$736.6 million, largely reflecting writedowns for its associate, China Everbright Securities, but the group said it came through the first-half mainland market selloff intact, but predicted challenging times f

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300338/china-everbright-first-half-profit-edges-down-hk7366m

Nikkei breaks losing streak

Stocks in Tokyo gained 0.91 percent, snapping three days of falls after US share prices and the dollar rebounded. The Nikkei 225 index closed 121.25 ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40336

Hong Kong, China shares mixed as worries over Syria ease

Hong Kong and Chinese shares were mixed on Thursday, as the offshore market rebounded from multi-week lows after Wall Street bounced overnight and fears of an imminent US-led strike on Syria abated.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/money/stock-talk/article/1300327/hong-kong-china-shares-mixed-worries-over-syria-ease

Wheelock says core interim profit jumped 40 per cent to HK$4.76 billion

Wheelock & Co said core interim profit, excluding property revaluation surpluses and exceptional items, increased by 40 per cent to HK$4.76 billion for the six months to June 30.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1300326/wheelock-says-core-interim-profit-jumped-40-cent-hk476

Slain cop hailed after Xinjiang ‘terrorist’ raid

A Chinese policeman was killed in an “anti-terrorism'' operation in the restive region of Xinjiang, state media reported. In an incident last week...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40335

Hagel says regional players risk confrontation

Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel warned fellow defense ministers that a growing number of maritime incidents and tensions in disputed Asian waters increas...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40334

Senior Singapore parks official faces bike deal charges

A senior official of Singapore's National Parks Board has been charged with providing false information to the government over a bicycle purchase deal...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40333

(US Open) Murray in a hurry

Defending US Open champion Andy Murray raced into the US Open second round with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 win over veteran France's Michael Llodra Wednesday. ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40332

Artist pleads for stolen Singapore night fest installation pieces

An artist who created an installation for the Singapore Night Festival has pleaded for the return of a chunk of the work stolen after a public display...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40331

Hang Seng positive at break

Stocks in Hong Kong gained 0.52 percent in the morning session following a rally on Wall Street. The benchmark Hang Seng Index gained 111.12 points t...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40330

India’s rupee crisis crimps middle class lifestyles

Seventeen-year-old Indian student Appu Sharma was going to apply to a US university to study economics but with the rupee on the ropes, he’s set his sights closer to home.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300311/indias-rupee-crisis-crimps-middle-class-lifestyles

US probe into JPMorgan hiring practices widens: Bloomberg

US government investigations into the hiring practices of JPMorgan in China have uncovered evidence including a spreadsheet that links hires to specific deals, Bloomberg News reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300308/us-probe-jpmorgan-hiring-practices-widens-bloomberg

China environment min suspends some approvals for Sinopec, CNPC

China’s environment ministry will stop approving some new refining projects or the expansion or renovation of existing facilities by the country’s top state-owned oil firms after they failed to meet key pollution targets last year, it said on Thursday.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300306/china-environment-min-suspends-some-approvals-sinopec-cnpc

Google co-founder Brin and wife living apart: spokesperson

Google co-founder Sergey Brin is living apart from his wife, who is the chief executive of a biotech firm that Google has invested millions of dollars in and whose sister is one of the Internet search company’s top executives.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300305/google-co-founder-brin-and-wife-living-apart-spokesperson

Iranian, Pakistani and Afghan held for people smuggling

Five men from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been arrested and accused of facilitating the passage of up to 132 asylum-seekers boats in Austral...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40329

China state media casts wary eye at Washington’s Syria intel, urges world to be not led astray

State media warned the West against military strikes on Syria as momentum mounted for President Bashar al-Assad's forces to be punished over an allege...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40328

Nikkei up at break

Stocks in Tokyo gained 0.48 percent, snapping three days of falls after US share prices and the US dollar rebounded. The Nikkei 225 index was up 63.80...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40327

(Football) Kazakhs unlucky, Celtic flourish

A stoppage time strike from James Forrest secured Celtic's place in the Champions League group phase as the Scottish champions defeated Shakhter Kar...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40326

Barca stifled, but hoist silverware once more

Barcelona lifted the first silverware of the Spanish season on away goals after a 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid in the second-leg of the Spanish Sup...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40325

Migraines may cause brain lesions

Migraines may cause permanent changes in brain structure, though just how this affects patients over the long-term is unknown, according to latest r...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40324

Lab test data delayed Ta Kwu Ling sewage leak report

A specialist in waste management has supported the Environmental Protection Department over its handling of a leak from a landfill leachate lagoon, th...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40323

Review: Google, Apple decent contenders to Office

Over the years, as I’ve added laptops, smartphones and tablet computers to the collection of desktop machines I use at home and work, it’s become a chore to keep track of which files are where.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/technology/article/1300301/review-google-apple-decent-contenders-office

First US-made smartphone just as cheap to produce

Motorola’s new Moto X phone doesn’t cost more to make simply because it’s assembled in Texas, research firm IHS said Wednesday.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300300/first-us-made-smartphone-just-cheap-produce

US, some Swiss banks near tax probe deal: Justice Dept

The US government expects to announce within days a program that would allow some Swiss banks to avoid or defer prosecution under a probe of offshore tax dodging by Americans, a senior Justice Department official said on Wednesday.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300298/us-some-swiss-banks-near-tax-probe-deal-justice-dept

Italy reaches deal on housing tax, easing pressure on Letta

Italy’s government reached a deal on Wednesday to reform an unpopular property tax, easing a source of persistent tension which had threatened to split the fragile coalition of traditional rivals from the left and right.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300296/italy-reaches-deal-housing-tax-easing-pressure-letta

Nintendo cuts Wii U price, plans lower-priced device for holidays

Nintendo plans to offer a new handheld gaming device and a US$50 discount on its most expensive Wii U console in North America and Europe, to compete with rivals Microsoft and Sony as they prepare to release new hardware.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300295/nintendo-cuts-wii-u-price-plans-lower-priced-device-holidays

Batista quits as LLX chairman as EBX breakup continues

Brazilian tycoon Eike Batista quit as chairman of Brazilian port operator LLX Logmstica on Wednesday, extending the break-up of his once high-flying EBX Group, a mining, shipbuilding, oil, energy and port conglomerate.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300293/batista-quits-llx-chairman-ebx-breakup-continues

(US Open) Qualifier Devvarman hangs tough

Indian qualifier Somdev Devvarman needed five sets over eight hours between rain delays and a determined foe, but he reached the second round of the...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40322

US soldier Hasan to die for military base killings

A US court martial sentenced a US Army officer to death for carrying out an Al-Qaeda inspired mass shooting on the Fort Hood base in Texas that left ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40321

Douglas and Zeta-Jones part company

Hollywood A-listers Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, one of Tinseltown's most high-profile couples, have decided to split, at least for a w...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40320

India finds price of expats’ patriotism elusive as growth fades

The patriotism of wealthy overseas Indians has helped the country avert economic crises in the past and it is little surprise that embattled policymakers are turning to them again to plug a record trade gap that is battering the rupee.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300289/india-finds-price-expats-patriotism-elusive-growth-fades

Brokerage giant settles discrimination lawsuit

Lawyers for hundreds of black financial advisers have reached a US$160 million settlement in a lawsuit accusing Wall Street brokerage giant Merrill Lynch of racial discrimination, a plaintiffs’ attorney said Wednesday.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300288/brokerage-giant-settles-discrimination-lawsuit

(US Open) Zheng Jie outlasts Venus

China's Zheng Jie advanced to the third round of the US Open by outlasting seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) in a vi...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40319

(US Open) Li Na awaits tormentor Robson

China's Li Na, the fifth seed at the US Open, breezed into the third round and a revenge match against Britain's Laura Robson with a 6-2, 6-2 triump...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40318

South Korea July current account surplus falls

South Korea's current account surplus fell for the second straight month in July, but exports increased and the central bank forecast a record surplu...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40317

Troubled Qantas ekes out profit, overseas business still in red

Troubled Australian carrier Qantas has bounced back into the black, reporting a modest annual net profit boosted by cost-cutting and its alliance wi...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40316

Nikkei positive

Stocks in Tokyo opened 0.33 percent higher, snapping three days of falls after US share prices and the dollar rebounded. The Nikkei 225 index was up ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40315

Hang Seng, Shanghai edge up

Stocks in Hong Kong edged up 0.41 percent in the first few minutes of trade Thursday as dealers welcomed a rally on Wall Street. The benchmark Hang S...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40314

Toyota says new Prius, fuel cell car due in 2015

Toyota has two important vehicles coming in 2015: the next-generation Prius hybrid and the company’s first hydrogen fuel cell car.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300287/toyota-says-new-prius-fuel-cell-car-due-2015

Obama lays gas attack blame on Assad’s doorstep, envoy Power rounds on China over UN vote

US President Barack Obama declared unequivocally that the US has “concluded'' that the Syrian government carried out a deadly chemical weapons attack ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40313

Tax on more luxury goods

Xinhua News Agency says China will widen the scope of its consumption tax to include more luxury items. But it didn't specify. The move may mean good...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40282

ATV supporters protest over ruling

ATV staff and its supporters have staged a rally outside government headquarters, calling on the administration to withdraw a ruling by the Communicat...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40281

South Korean-made T-50 jet crashes killing pilots

Two pilots were killed when a South Korean air force T-50 jet trainer crashed near the southwestern Gwangju, the defense ministry said. It was the ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40280

Hang Seng slumps 1.6pc, Shanghai lower

Stocks in Hong Kong ended 1.60 percent lower, in line with a global sell-off as traders become more concerned about a possible US-led military strike...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40279

Euro zone business loans drop sharply

Lending to businesses in the debt-mired euro zone contracted sharply in July, data published by the European Central Bank showed today, a potential ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40278

Japan regulator claims ignorance of Fukushima plant leak dangers, global watchdog demands answers

The global nuclear watchdog has urged Japan to explain more clearly what is happening at Fukushima and avoid sending “confusing messages'' about the...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40277

Aussie military cadets guilty in sex broadcast case

Two former Australian military cadets were found guilty of broadcasting a sexual encounter on Skype for five of their friends to watch in another room...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40276

Twitter and New York Times under cyber attacks

Twitter and The New York Times were hit with cyber attacks, with credit quickly claimed by a group backing embattled Syrian strongman Bashar Al-Assa...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40275

Australia economy counts on post-election confidence

With Australia’s election just days away business leaders want one thing for certain -- certainty.

Just give us political certainty, they cry, and we’ll be happy to abandon caution and spend like drunken sailors.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300074/australia-economy-counts-post-election-confidence

Microsoft - The insiders who could be boss

Microsoft has a stable of senior executives who could be contenders to succeed Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, even though outsiders have sparked the most discussion so far.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300062/microsoft-insiders-who-could-be-boss

Former health chief calls for end to hospital row

The former Secretary for Health, York Chow Yat-ngok, has called for an end to the recent row between a disgruntled heart specialist Yu Cheuk-man and t...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40274

The rupee is where? Currency collapse confounds India Inc

Indian companies such as Whirlpool of India say they can’t plan more than a couple of months out as a fast-falling rupee currency drives up the cost of imports, forcing them to raise prices even as consumer spending crumbles.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300058/rupee-where-currency-collapse-confounds-india-inc

Arkansas lawsuits test fracking wastewater link to quakes

Tony Davis, a 54-year-old construction worker in central Arkansas, said he welcomed the boom in natural gas drilling that brought jobs and new businesses to his hometown starting about a decade ago. But that was before the earth shook.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1300047/arkansas-lawsuits-test-fracking-wastewater-link-quakes

(Doping) Aussie football dope coach sticks to his story

The Australian coach at the center of a drug supplements scandal which resulted in the biggest punishments in the history of the Australian Football L...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40272

Beijing to ensure steady growth

China will work to ensure quality and steady economic growth in the second half of 2013 by boosting demand, industrial upgrading and reforms, accordin...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40273

CUHK introduces new therapy for ketamine abusers

A new study has found that an anti-inflammatory therapy could improve the urinary function of ketamine abusers. Their bladders become damaged after r...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40271

Lavrov raises Syria war perils

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned against a military solution to the Syria conflict, saying it would destabilize the country and the Midd...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40270

General’s son Li Tianyi in the dock for gang rape

The son of a Chinese general went on trial today over his involvement in an alleged gang rape, state media said, in a case that sparked public outrag...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40269

SEC reviews Nasdaq as rivals blame each other for outage

Regulators are questioning how robust Nasdaq OMX Group’s systems are after last week’s massive trading outage, while shrugging off a spat with NYSE Euronext as a distraction, a source familiar with the matter said.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300044/sec-reviews-nasdaq-rivals-blame-each-other-outage

Judge speeds hearing on Detroit bankruptcy eligibility

The federal judge overseeing Detroit’s bankruptcy filing is accelerating the already hurried process of determining whether the city is eligible for protection from its creditors.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300043/judge-speeds-hearing-detroit-bankruptcy-eligibility

US asks for March trial in airline merger challenge

The US Justice Department has asked a federal court to set a March 3 trial date to hear arguments over whether it should stop a planned merger between US Airways and American Airlines.

The companies had requested a 10-day trial that would begin on Nov. 12.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300041/us-asks-march-trial-airline-merger-challenge

China shares slide on Syria concerns, Petrochina resignations

Concerns over a possible US-led military strike on Syria took a toll on Chinese equity markets on Wednesday, as did the resignations of key executives at index heavyweight Petrochina, with all key indexes sinking alongside regional peers.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/money/stock-talk/article/1300040/china-shares-slide-syria-concerns-petrochina-resignations

Nikkei slumps 1.5pc at close

Stocks in Tokyo lost 1.51 percent today. Risk aversion has been growing as US forces readied for possible military action against Syria. The key Nikke...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40268

(Fonterra scare) NZ ministry statement

The following is the statement from New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries on the Fonterra bacteria scare that led to global product bans. ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40267

New Zealand says Fonterra products tested positive for bacteria that spoils food

New Zealand government officials said today tests have shown that the bacterial contamination suspected in Fonterra milk powder is not one that causes...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40266

Eyeballs plucked from Chinese child found

Police in China say a woman tricked a 6-year-old boy into going into a field, and then removed his eyeballs. The boy's brutal ordeal happened Saturd...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40265

Hang Seng slides 1.7pc

Stocks in Hong Kong tumbled 1.74 percent by the break, in line with a regional sell-off owing to growing fears of a US-led military strike on Syria....



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40264

American Tourister sales lift Samsonite earnings, costs rise

Hong Kong listed travel and business luggage maker Samsonite International (1910) said today half-year earnings grew by 17.6 percent to US$92.9 millio...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40263

Dollar under pressure

The yen maintained its gains against the US dollar in Asia and emerging market currencies sagged as traders shunned risk and fled to safety on risin...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40262

Syria fears push oil prices higher

Oil prices hit new multi-month highs in Asian trade as the US and UK prepared for possible military action against Syria over alleged use of chemic...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40261

BlackBerry eyes spinoff of messaging service: report

BlackBerry is considering spinning off its messaging service into a separate unit, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, quoting people familiar with the matter.

The subsidiary would be called BBM, the newspaper said.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300029/blackberry-eyes-spinoff-messaging-service-report

Greece puts hand out for extra 10b euros

Recession-mired Greece is unsure of what an inevitable third package of financial aid will look like. Since the beginning of the debt crisis in 2010...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40260

Nikkei plunges 2.3pc by break

Stocks in Tokyo lost 2.32 percent with risk aversion growing as US forces readied for possible military action against Syria. The key Nikkei 225 inde...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40259

Facebook admits revealing user names, got 38,000 demands

Government agents in 74 countries demanded information on about 38,000 Facebook users in the first half of this year, with about half the orders comin...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40258

Tiffany’s strong China sales offset tepid Americas business

Tiffany’s strong sales in China and higher prices made up for some disappointing business in its home market in the latest quarter, leading the US jeweler to raise its profit forecast for the year.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300026/tiffanys-strong-china-sales-offset-tepid-americas-business

(Football) Gunners get into Champions group stage

Arsenal will play in the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season, and Schalke scraped into the group stage along with them after beating PAOK S...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40257

Las Vegas Sands casino to pay US$47.4m to end federal probe

The Las Vegas Sands has agreed to return USUS$47.4 million to the US Treasury to end a probe into the casino’s failure to alert authorities to suspicious deposits by a high-rolling gambler, federal officials said on Tuesday.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300025/las-vegas-sands-casino-pay-us474m-end-federal-probe

(US Open) Duval pulls off stunner, Djokovic and Federer move on

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer advanced with ease at the US Open but 2011 winner Samantha Stosur was ousted...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40256

Sheldon Adelson’s Sands penalized US$47m over deals involving Chinese facing Mexico drug charges

Casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp owned by high-profile Republican donor and Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson, has agreed to pay US$47.4 million...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40255

French workers, employers to pay more in pension reform

French workers and companies will pay more into public pensions over a longer period of time under long-awaited proposals to reform the indebted scheme announced by the government on Tuesday after talks with employers and unions.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300016/french-workers-employers-pay-more-pension-reform

Exploring Google Glass through eyes of early users

Geeks aren’t the only people wearing Google Glass.

Among the people testing Google Inc.’s wearable computer are teachers, dentists, doctors, hair stylists, architects, athletes and even a zookeeper.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/technology/article/1300011/exploring-google-glass-through-eyes-early-users

US judge wants external monitor for Apple in e-books case

A US judge weighing remedies to assure that Apple does not fix prices again in the e-books market said that she plans to require it to hire an external monitor, something the company considers unnecessary.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300010/us-judge-wants-external-monitor-apple-e-books-case

Record French jobless claims threaten Hollande’s goal

The number of jobless people in mainland France hit an all-time high in July, squeezing the time left for President Francois Hollande to fulfil a pledge to reverse the trend by the end of the year.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1300006/record-french-jobless-claims-threaten-hollandes-goal

JPMorgan’s former “London Whale” supervisor arrested in Spain

Spanish police arrested former JP Morgan Chase trader Javier Martin-Artajo on Tuesday as he prepares to fight possible extradition to the United States over a US$6.2 billion financial scandal at America’s largest bank.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1300004/jpmorgans-former-london-whale-supervisor-arrested-spain

Nissan pledges to make self-driving cars by 2020

Nissan Motor says it will make cars that drive themselves by 2020.

The Japanese automaker made the pledge Tuesday at an event in California.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1300002/nissan-pledges-make-self-driving-cars-2020

Hang Seng tumbles 1.3pc

Stocks in Hong Kong fell 1.33 percent at the open of trade, following a sell-off on Wall Street and in Europe fuelled by concerns about a possible m...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40254

US envoy seeks pardon for evangelist Bae

The US is to send a senior envoy to North Korea to seek the release of an ailing Korean-American missionary alleged to have been evangelizing and impr...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40253

US lawmakers demand Syria debate

Dozens of US lawmakers are calling on President Barack Obama to consult with Congress and gain its approval for military attacks on Syria. The US ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40252

Nikkei dives 1.9pc

Stocks in Tokyo opened sharply lower, plunging 1.90 percent following a fall on Wall Street as US forces readied to take military action against Syr...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40251

Syrian Electronic Army owns up to cyber raid on Twitter and New York Times

Twitter and The New York Times were crippled by cyber attacks Tuesday and a group backing embattled Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad claimed credit. ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40250

Qatar reports second Sars-like infection

Health authorities in Qatar announced the second confirmed case in a week of the MERS coronavirus in the Gulf state. A 29-year-old man is infected an...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40240

Spain recession worse than first announced

Spain's recession was deeper than first announced in 2012, revised figures showed today. The Spanish economy shrank 1.6 percent in 2012, deeper than ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40239

India's apex court puts spotlight on 11,154 rape acquittals

India's top court has criticized the large number of rape cases that end in acquittal, amid yet another gang-rape of a young woman, this time in Mumb...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40238

Japanese man admits bicycle saddle fetish

Japanese police have got to the bottom of a mysterious crime spree that led to the disappearance of 200 leather bicycle saddles in a few months in Yo...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40237

Moscow scoffs at ‘artificial excuses’ to justify military adventure in Syria, warns of catastrophe

Russia warned that a military intervention in Syria could have “catastrophic consequences'' for the region and called on the international community ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40236

Hang Seng retreats, Shanghai advances

Stocks in Hong Kong fell 0.59 percent as market sentiment was affected by Washington’s intention to launch military intervention in Syria. The benchm...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40235

Australia's battered Billabong nearly worthless

Embattled Australian surfwear brand Billabong, created in 1973 by Gordon and Rena Merchant, reported a A$859.5 million (US$771.7 million) net annual l...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40234

Singapore mothers seek mind-bending route to exam success

Singaporean mothers are putting their children through hypnotherapy sessions that could cost thousands of dollars to help increase success at studies ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40233

Airport highway vehicle pile-up injures seven

Seven people have been injured in a five-vehicle pileup on the North Lantau Highway today. No one was seriously hurt. The crash was on the airport bo...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40232

(Football) Lebanese refs dodge Eric Ding trial in Singapore

Two Lebanese match officials jailed in Singapore for accepting free sex from an alleged Singaporean match-fixer have refused to return to testify at...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40231

Moscow regrets US scrubbing Syria meeting

Russia said it regretted a decision by the US to shelve a meeting on Syria this week, as Washington signaled intention to take military action. “It ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40230

European equities in negative territory

Europe's main stock markets dipped in opening deals, following earlier losses in Asia and overnight on Wall Street. London's benchmark FTSE 100 ind...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40229

India rupee on the ropes again

India's rupee fell to a new low on fears over the slowing economy and the financial impact of a new food program for 800 million poor Indians. The r...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40228

Nikkei retreats

Stocks in Tokyo fell 0.69 percent on nervousness over the international response to alleged chemical weapons use in Syria. The Nikkei 225 index clos...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40227

Wharf 1h slips 27pc despite visiting Rubber Duck

A giant rubber duck lifted pedestrian traffic at Harbour City, but wasn’t enough to stem a 27 per cent fall in interim net profit to HK$17.2 billion at The Wharf (Holdings), which blamed the lower earnings on a fall in gains from property revaluations and a lack of one-of

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299726/wharf-1h-slips-27pc-despite-visiting-rubber-duck

Tokyo puts Ban on the spot over comments

Japan voiced irritation over comments by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, who called on Tokyo to face up to the past and improve ties with neighbor...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40226

China appliance makers flip the retail switch to survive

Chinese white goods makers like Haier Electronics Group are muscling in on their distributors and expanding into logistics and e-commerce in a bid to win the fierce battle for margins in the world’s biggest home appliance market.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299720/china-appliance-makers-flip-retail-switch-survive

Ahead of G20, China urges caution in Fed policy tapering

The US Federal Reserve must consider when and how fast it unwinds its economic stimulus to avoid harming emerging market economies, senior Chinese officials said on Tuesday.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1299719/ahead-g20-china-urges-caution-fed-policy-tapering

Hong Kong, China shares slip on profit-taking, Syria concern

Hong Kong and China shares took a breather on Tuesday after strong performances the previous day, as financial and insurance shares retreated and investors awaited news from Syria.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1299715/hong-kong-china-shares-slip-profit-taking-syria-concern

Hong Kong Exchange names former NYSE LIFFE exec as LME boss

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange named industry veteran Garry Jones as chief executive of the London Metal Exchange, ending a high-profile recruitment process by selecting a former top executive at the NYSE Liffe.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299716/hong-kong-exchange-names-former-nyse-liffe-exec-lme-boss

China August official PMI seen hitting 3-month high

China’s factory activity in August may have expanded at the fastest pace in three months, a Reuters poll showed, adding to evidence that the world’s second-largest economy may be stabilising after slowing for more than two years.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1299707/china-august-official-pmi-seen-hitting-3-month-high

Hang Seng down at break

Stocks in Hong Kong were down 0.30 percent by the break as the US signalled military intervention in Syria. The news weighed on market sentiment. Th...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40225

British data trafficker Humphrey and wife regret illegally profiting from China information

State television put two fraud investigators including a middle-aged British man on display today and he was contrite over allegations of profiting fr...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40224

China’s antitrust probes not just aimed at foreign firms- official media

A series of antitrust investigations by Chinese regulators are part of efforts to toughen enforcement of a 2008 anti-monopoly law and are not just directed at foreign firms, the official China Daily reported on Tuesday.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299693/chinas-antitrust-probes-not-just-aimed-foreign-firms-official

Bradway’s patient dealmaking brings Onyx to Amgen

Investment banker turned biotech chief executive, Robert Bradway, staked a claim as a savvy dealmaker with Amgen’s successful acquisition of Onyx Pharmaceuticals for more than US$10 billion.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299692/bradways-patient-dealmaking-brings-onyx-amgen

Argentina offers bond swap to skirt US court rulings

Argentina’s government is proposing a voluntary bond swap on its foreign debt, shifting payments to Buenos Aires, if it cannot overturn US court rulings that threaten to trigger its second debt crisis in just over a decade.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1299691/argentina-offers-bond-swap-skirt-us-court-rulings

Russia fiercely rebukes Belarus for detaining potash boss

Belarus detained the head of Russia’s Uralkali, the world’s top potash producer, and threatened to seize its assets in the country on Monday, drawing a fierce rebuke from Moscow in an escalating dispute over the collapse of a cartel.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1299688/russia-fiercely-rebukes-belarus-detaining-potash-boss

Toyota freshens Lexus image to woo young

Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus is trying to shake off its stodgy image. So it’s opening a cafe.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299687/toyota-freshens-lexus-image-woo-young

Swiss govt to decide soon whether to keep seeking US tax deal: top diplomat

Switzerland will decide soon on whether to keep pursuing a tax agreement with the United States, an outgoing top diplomat said, or risk extending a long, costly dispute over banks that shelter tax evaders.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1299684/swiss-govt-decide-soon-whether-keep-seeking-us-tax-deal-top

Startups gain appeal as Japan Inc names fade

In a shabby back-alley office in Shibuya, a Tokyo district known for youth culture and tech ventures, defectors from corporate Japan are hard at work for a little-known company they fervently believe will be the country’s next big manufacturing success.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299683/startups-gain-appeal-some-japan-inc-names-fade

Argentina sizzles at salon tango

Argentine couples have swept top honors in the “salon tango'' finals at the world's top tango dancing competition in Buenos Aires. First-place winne...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40223

Is Coke the same as it was 127 years ago? Maybe

Coca-Cola keeps the recipe for its 127-year-old soda inside an imposing steel vault that’s bathed in red security lights. Several cameras monitor the area to make sure the fizzy formula stays a secret.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299681/coke-same-it-was-127-years-ago-maybe

Japan's ANA to buy 49pc stake in Myanmar airline

Japan's ANA Holdings will acquire a 49 percent stake in a Myanmar airline, reports said today. ANA Holdings intends to obtain the maximum portion al...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40222

China says .cn servers crippled by biggest attack

China has been hit by the “largest ever'' attack on its internet structure, crashing the country's .cn servers, according to a government-linked age...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40221

Nikkei flat by break

Stocks in Tokyo were flat as bargain-hunting helped erase early losses on nervousness over the international response to alleged chemical weapon use...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40220

Mumbai gang-rape suspects are local criminals

As Mumbai reels over the gang-rape of a young female photographer in the heart of the city last week, angry neighbors of the arrested suspects descr...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40219

Treasury’s Lew US will exhaust borrowing capacity in mid-October

US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew pressed Congress on Monday to act quickly to allow the federal government to borrow more money, warning that the United States risks defaulting on its obligations if lawmakers do not act by mid-October.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/economy/article/1299677/treasurys-lew-us-will-exhaust-borrowing-capacity-mid-october

Sweden flags tougher rules for banks

Sweden should introduce tough new capital requirements for its banks, already subject to some of the world’s most stringent regulations, to shield taxpayers from any future bailouts, the government said on Monday.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1299676/sweden-flags-tougher-rules-banks

Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz to outline strategic plan for China

Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz will launch about 20 new or upgraded car models in China over the next two years, part of a broader turnaround effort aimed at reversing the brand’s recent struggles in the world’s biggest auto market.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299671/daimlers-mercedes-benz-outline-strategic-plan-china

JPMorgan liable to billionaire Blavatnik over mortgage losses

A New York state judge found JPMorgan Chase liable to Russian-American billionaire Leonard Blavatnik for breach of contract for stuffing an investment account he held with risky subprime mortgage securities, and ordered the bank to pay more than US$50 million of damages i

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1299669/jpmorgan-liable-billionaire-blavatnik-over-mortgage-losses

Briton favors split for bailed out RBS

British lawmakers urged finance minister George Osborne to speed up plans to spin off the state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland into “good'' and “bad...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40218

Hang Seng ticks down, Shanghai directionless

Stocks in Hong Kong opened 0.24 percent weaker, tracking US shares lower. The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 52.55 points to 21,952.77 in the first f...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40217

US helped Saddam in Iran war, ignored Iraq chemical attacks

The United States provided Iraq with intelligence on preparations for an Iranian offensive during the Iran-Iraq war even though it knew Baghdad woul...



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BATS, Direct Edge create formidable trading power

Electronic exchange operators BATS Global Markets and Direct Edge Holdings announced they would merge to create the second-largest stock exchange in...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40215

Brazil foreign minister quits over Bolivian political drama

Brazil's foreign minister resigned Monday over tensions with La Paz after Brazilian diplomats spirited away a Bolivian opposition senator wanted for...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40214

Facebook pays up US$20m for ‘likes’ scam

A US judge approved a deal in which Facebook will pay US$20 million for using members “likes’’ as endorsements for ads. The pot of money is to be di...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40213

Billionaire punishes JPMorgan to the tune of US$42m

US bank JPMorgan has been ordered to pay billionaire Leonard Blavatnik US$42.5 million damages in relation to a soured investment in mortgage-backed s...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40212

US Treasury running out of breathing room to borrow

The US will hit its statutory debt ceiling in mid-October, raising the chance that the government will be forced to default on debts, Treasury Secre...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40211

Nikkei opens lower

Stocks in Tokyo opened 0.62 percent lower, following falls in US shares after Washington warned Syria it would face action over the “moral obscenity'...



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US signals Syria showdown, ally Israel bends Washington’s ear in White House chat

A senior Israeli delegation visited the White House Monday for high-level talks on the Syria chemical weapons crisis and the nuclear showdown with Ir...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40209

Sinopec cleared to build giant coal-to-gas project

China Petroleum & Chemical (Sinopec) has received Beijing's approval for a mega project to turn coal into natural gas as part of the mainland's strategy to increase energy efficiency and cut reliance on oil and gas imports.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1299614/sinopec-cleared-build-giant-coal-gas-project

Japanese greed for tuna decimating species

Time is running out to save some species of tuna from overfishing, environmental groups warned, calling on the world’s biggest consumer Japan to tak...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40208

Beijing party weekly favors online informants

A Communist Party newspaper suggested Beijing pay more attention to the role of technology in supervising officials and containing corruption. Chi...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40207

Thai cops hunted for tourist extortion and robbery

Thai police say they are searching for colleagues allegedly involved in extorting two Italian tourists by locking them up in a hotel room and demandin...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40206

UN says snipers fired at Syria chemical inspectors

Snipers shot at UN experts forcing them to suspend investigations into alleged chemical weapons use near Damascus. “The first vehicle of the chemica...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40205

Beijing defers to UN over Syria, cautions against interference

UN Security Council permanent member China called for a “cautious'' approach to the Syrian chemical weapons allegations, as pressure grew in the US, ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40204

Hong Kong stocks close 0.65pc up Wall Street rally

Hong Kong shares ended up 0.65 per cent by the close Monday following a rally on Wall Street fuelled by a waning of fears the Federal Reserve will begin tapering its stimulus programme.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/money/stock-talk/article/1299509/hong-kong-stocks-close-065pc

In Iraq’s bloodbath, death toll is a casualty

As Iraq struggles to stem spiralling violence, authorities are waging a public relations battle over the number of people killed. The government has...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40203

Kyrgyz boy dies of bubonic plague

A teenage boy has died of bubonic plague in Kyrgyzstan, health officials confirmed today, adding that an epidemic was not likely. The 15-year-old...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40202

Bo Xilai pours his heart out, lamenting the poison of illicit love

Deposed Chongqing Communist Party chief Bo Xilai claimed on the final day of his trial today in Jinan, the capital of Shandong, the “real reason'' C...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40201

Tesla hits China speed bump, BYD turns around

A couple of interesting news bits are coming from the new energy vehicle sector, including a potential roadblock into the China market for up-and-coming US player Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) and new results from struggling domestic electric car maker BYD (

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1299508/tesla-hits-china-speed-bump-byd-turns-around

Snowden took cover at Russian consulate in HK

Edward Snowden, who exposed large scale illegal US intelligence gathering, contacted Russian officials before he flew to Moscow and spent several day...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40200

UK’s Hague floats Syria response ‘under many scenarios’

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said an international response to the suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria was possible without unanim...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40199

Hang Seng, Shanghai bounce

Stocks in Hong Kong ended up 0.65 percent by the close following a rally on Wall Street fuelled by a waning of fears the Federal Reserve will begin ...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40198

Mars over the moon, JT rocks at MTV awards

Justin Timberlake stole the show at the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony in New York, singing several of his top hits and surprising fans with reunio...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40197

Aquino pork barrel politics under scrutiny

Tens of thousands of Filipinos protested in a Manila park demanding the abolition of a corruption-tainted development fund that allows lawmakers to al...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40196

Swollen Heilong river touches record levels

The Amur River which marks the border between China and Russia has experienced its worst flooding in a century, cutting off roads to some areas, Chi...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40195

Bundesbank chief signals policy shift based on data

The European Central Bank is unlikely to keep its interest rates low for years, the head of the German Bundesbank said, but warned that the euro zon...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40194

New Microsoft boss faces big choices post-Ballmer

The next boss of Microsoft has one big decision to make: press on with retiring chief executive Steve Ballmer’s ambitious plan to transform the software giant into a broad-based devices and services company, or jettison that idea and rally resources around its proven stre

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299474/new-microsoft-boss-faces-big-choices-post-ballmer

ING’s Asia sale plan nears end as MBK set to buy South Korea unit

ING Groep drew closer to completing its year-and-a-half-old Asia divestment plan as private equity firm MBK Partners was set to agree on Monday to buy a 90 per cent stake in its South Korean insurance unit for 1.63 trillion won (HK$11.3 billion).

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1299472/ings-asia-sale-plan-nears-end-mbk-set-buy-south-korea-unit

Short-seller hits China food firm in rare Singapore attack

Food producer China Minzhong Food Corp Ltd on Monday became the first Singapore-listed Chinese firm to come under attack by a short-seller, which wiped off more than 50 per cent of its market value in two hours and triggered a trading halt.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1299471/short-seller-hits-china-food-firm-rare-singapore-attack

(Cricket) Whinging Aussies rattled by booing, umpires, and light

Australian Skipper Michael Clarke told umpire Aleem Dar not to touch him as the fifth and final Ashes cricket test ended in an acrimonious draw, loc...



via The Standard - Breaking News http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=40193