Investing in English fluency a misallocation of resources

Academics and politicians took issue with a global study of English language skills that ranked Hong Kong adults marginally lower than residents of major mainland cities including Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin.

via South China Morning Post - Business feed http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1651764/investing-english-fluency-misallocation-resources

IPOs: Hong Kong overtakes New York with year-end IPO flurry

New York has posted a banner year for Chinese IPOs, culminating with the record-breaking $25 billion (HK$153 billion) listing for Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) in September.

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Letter suggests CMR director Yan Qiping is anything but independent

Here's a joke for you. Genuine independent directors in mainland privately owned enterprises. That's it, that is the punch line.

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Solar project delays in China could make Japan the largest market

China risks being displaced as the world's largest solar market as measured by annual installations after some project approvals were postponed.

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Confidence in Genting Singapore hit by slumping casino revenue

Analysts are the least optimistic about Genting Singapore in a year as slumping casino revenue from high-rollers curbs earnings prospects for the second-worst-performing stock on the city's benchmark gauge.

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Luxembourg fund given go-ahead for through train

Hong Kong institutional investors believe a Luxembourg regulator's landmark approval for a fund domiciled there to trade mainland stocks through the stock through train is a good start.

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Carry trade sees Japanese inflows to Asia hit record 1.82 trillion yen

Japanese investors are buying Asian assets like never before as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policies make the yen a lucrative means to fund bets on regional growth.

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Construction tycoon Yan Jiehe on a mission to improve China's image

No longer shy at counting himself among the mainland's biggest private entrepreneurs, Yan Jiehe appears comfortable when selling his business philosophy.

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Green drive may see China's coal use peak by 2020

Coal use in China could peak earlier than previously forecast as slower economic growth cuts power demand and the government clamps down on energy-intensive industries to meet its emissions reduction goals.

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Nest and AIA offer mentoring programme for start-ups

An interesting opportunity has arisen for people planning to set up a start-up.

via South China Morning Post - Business feed http://ift.tt/1w0wbSc

Sony's salvation may be following Samsung's lead

Fierce rivals, Samsung Electronics and Sony Corp also face many of the same problems: overstretched businesses, a dearth of game-changing products, hierarchical corporate structures and proud places in their national psyches.

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Japan's lacklustre data deals blow to Abe growth push

Japan released a string of lacklustre economic data yesterday with inflation hitting its lowest level for more than a year, dealing another blow to attempts to conquer years of falling prices and tepid growth.

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Oil price war fires up as Opec refuses to yield to U.S. shale

Opec's decision to cede no ground to rival producers underscored the price war in the crude market and the challenge to US shale drillers.

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New bank rules distorting Europe's credit markets

New rules that will govern the world's biggest banks are already distorting Europe's credit market at least five years before they take effect.

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Chart of the day: China's deflationary millstone

Theories abound among policy watchers trying to figure out what prompted Beijing to cut interest rates this time a week ago.

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Chinese firms compete for projects in Chile without state help

A dozen Chinese firms are bidding for infrastructure and renewable energy projects in Chile and exhibiting growing confidence in going abroad without state help, said Jorge Heine, the Chilean ambassador to China.

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Stock Connect puts QFII funds under pressure

The QFII scheme has been one of the few ways for foreigners to gain access to mainland markets, but the formerly red-hot route is coming under scrutiny following this month's launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong stock connect scheme.

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Consumer confidence in Hong Kong rises as China economy stabilises

Consumer confidence in Hong Kong has bounced back from a five-month low as a stabilised mainland economy gives retailers renewed optimism, a new index shows.

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China to push football education to raise level of game: state media

China is mandating football courses at more and more schools to raise the level of the game and bolster its ambitions as a power in global sport, st...



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Russian warships wait out storm in English Channel

The Russian defense ministry says its warships have entered the English Channel to wait out a storm following a week of maneuvers in the North Sea. T...



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Tram operator urges protesters to free key line

Hong Kong Tramways has called on the pro-democracy protesters in Causeway Bay to release the occupied tram track sections at Yee Woo Street. The bloc...



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Protest staged in front of RTHK over 'bias'

A group of people has staged a protest against RTHK in Kowloon Tong, saying some of the government broadcasting station's program hosts are biased and...



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Activist for media freedom standing trial

A leading rights activist who organized rallies for media freedom went on trial Friday in a southern Chinese city for disturbing public order, more th...



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More than 500 lawyers sign protest letter at new law

More than 500 lawyers in China have signed a protest letter against a proposal to make insulting or defaming court personnel a crime, with a promine...



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US shoppers go in for the kill on 'Black Friday'

The traditionalists don't like it, but the "Black Friday'' shopping frenzy is as much a part of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States as turk...



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European stocks open mixed

Europe's main stock markets diverged in opening trade on Friday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 down 0.29 percent at 6,703.92 points. Frankfurt's...



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Protesters appear in High Court

Twenty-one people arrested during the clearance of occupied areas in Mongkok have appeared in the High Court for contempt of court. Prosecutor Wesley...



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EU gives time to rule-breaking France, Italy on budget

The European Commission was set to unveil a hard-eyed assessment of eurozone economies on Friday, but still give more time to France and Italy to fi...



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Hang Seng ends flat

Hong Kong shares closed flat Friday as OPEC's decision to maintain output sent oil prices tumbling -- hammering energy firms but boosting airlines. ...



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Liao asks not to be too quick to judge police

Pro-government legislator Martin Liao Cheung-kong has urged not to pass any quick judgements about the alleged strong arm method of police till it can...



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Pan-dems plan more than 500 motions

Pan democratic lawmakers have indicated that they will move more than 500 motions in a bid to filibuster the government's funding request to expand th...



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Three-week jail term for John Tsang's egg thrower

A pro-democracy activist -- who threw an egg at Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah in December last year -- has been given a three-week jail term...



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Green group urges govt to scrap Lantau development panel

Green group "Save Lantau Alliance" has called on the government to scrap the Lantau Development Advisory Committee. The committee has recently approv...



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Ip defends police action on protest site

The chairwoman of the New People's Party, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, has defended the way police handled the clearance of the pro-democracy Occupy site in...



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Three Hong Kong-listed restaurant chains said revenues up as consumption, food scandals hit China

Three Hong Kong-listed restaurant chains, Tsui Wah Holdings, Café de Coral Holdings and Fairwood Holdings, reported growth in revenue despite weakening consumption and food scandals in China.

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RRJ Capital and Bright Dairy in China to list joint dairy venture in 5 years

RRJ Capital, a private equity firm run by former Goldman Sachs partner Richard Ong, and Bright Dairy & Food plan to list their newly formed joint venture within five years, Bright Dairy announced on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website on Friday.

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Hang Seng dips in morning session

Hong Kong shares ended the morning session 0.11 percent lower Friday, with energy firms taking a hit after oil cartel OPEC's decision to maintain ou...



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Nikkei up by break

Tokyo stocks rose 0.92 percent Friday morning, lifted by a weak yen, while Japan's two biggest airlines soared on OPEC's decision not to cut oil pro...



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Li Ka-shing’s Hutchison may bid for EE or O2 in UK mobile market

Hutchison Whampoa, the owner of Britain’s fourth largest mobile operator 3 Group, is preparing a bid for EE or O2, the mobile groups already in talks on a deal with BT Group, several sources familiar with the matter said.

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Pele recovering in special care

Brazil legend Pele has said he is "doing fine" after being transferred to a special care unit following treatment for a urinary infection. The Albert...



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Hsin Chong plans to raise HK$2.3b in rights and placement

Hsin Chong Construction, a Hong Kong-listed construction company, plans to raise up to HK$2.3 billion by launching a share placement and rights offering simultaneously, it said in a statement with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Friday.

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Ferguson takes comfort in Thanksgiving

A peaceful Ferguson came together Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving and recover from violent protests that erupted when a police officer was not ch...



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Media groups angry over cameraman's arrest

Journalists' organizations have condemned the arrest of an Apple Daily cameraman for assaulting a police officer, accusing the force of suppressing pr...



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No plan to reoccupy Mong Kok: Joshua Wong

Student protest leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung has said that neither his group, Scholarism, or Federation of Students -- will seek to re-occupy Mong Kok....



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Lackluster Japan data paints gloomy picture for Abenomics

Japan released a lackluster string of economic data Friday including a slowing inflation rate that dealt another blow to Tokyo's bid to conquer year...



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Japan readies asteroid probe for lift off

Japan will send a space probe this weekend on a six-year mission to mine a distant asteroid, just weeks after a European spacecraft's historic landi...



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Floating football pitch keeps Thai tourist blues at bay

With its stunning limestone cliffs towering over stilt houses surrounded by azure waters, the island of Panyee is a typical Thai paradise. But it's ...



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South African disease lab on frontline of Ebola fight

South African professor Janusz Paweska hesitates for a moment as he describes his work trip to the heart of the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. "Ob...



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OPEC move to keep oil output target sparks price slump

OPEC's decision against cutting oil production, despite a global glut in supplies, triggered a five-dollar collapse in crude prices and prompted a f...



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Shipping, airline stocks rally in Hong Kong over oil price slump to 5-year low

Shipping and airline stocks shot up on Friday morning trading after Brent crude prices plunged to a five-year low, prompted by the belief that cheaper oil will help bolster transportation companies’ earnings.

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Mixed Hong Kong IPO debuts as oil’s plunge casts shadow over market

Two companies – EGL Tours and China Maple Leaf Educational Systems, a Hong Kong-based travel agency and an international school operator in Dalian – made a mixed trading debut in Hong Kong on Friday as the market digest the fall of crude oil prices to a four-year low.

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Argentina accuses HSBC in US$3b tax evasion cases

Argentina’s tax agency charged HSBC bank Thursday with helping more than 4,000 Argentines evade taxes by placing their money in secret Swiss accounts.

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Money Lender Global International Credit seeks HK$160m in IPO

Global International Credit Group, a Hong Kong-based money lender, plans to raise up to HK$160 million in a Hong Kong float, according to a statement posted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday.

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Hong Kong companies increasingly use shares to compliment cash bonuses

In a city where many believe cash is king, many Hong Kong employees focus on their year-end bonus or double pay at this time of the year.

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Chinese steelmaker sued over purchase of antique porcelain

China Gerui Advanced Materials Group, a Chinese speciality steelmaker, was sued by an investor for spending more than US$230 million on antique porcelain and the share price decline that followed.

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Baccarat takings down 36 per cent in Las Vegas as Chinese VIPs flee

Baccarat winnings on the Las Vegas Strip fell 36 per cent to US$97 million in October, echoing declines in Macau where a mainland anti-corruption drive has crimped high-end play.

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Vice Premier Ma Kai pledges support for Hong Kong-Shanghai stock connect scheme

Beijing is untroubled by the low turnover under the cross-border stock trading scheme, Vice-Premier Ma Kai told Hong Kong bankers in comments in Beijing yesterday that also pledged more support to the city as an offshore yuan centre.

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Wal-Mart sacks senior executives on mainland and in Hong Kong

Wal-Mart Stores, the world's top retailer, has fired about 30 senior executives in China, including several in Hong Kong, amid a restructuring in Asia that includes store closures in Japan and management changes in India.

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China's export growth outpaces most major economies in third quarter

Exports grew strongly in China and India in the third quarter of the year but slowed in other major economies, according to international trade statistics from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

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Shek Kwu Chau incinerator requires careful look

The Legislative Council finance committee is again poised to give the go-ahead for funding the Shek Kwu Chau incinerator. We hope the committee will take a careful look at this project.

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Shanghai surge sees stocks hit 3-year high

The surge in mainland equity trading that coincided with market peaks in 2009 and 2010 is back again after the Shanghai Composite Index jumped to a three-year high.

via South China Morning Post - Business feed http://ift.tt/1FwiuvX

Australian economy shows signs of a move away from mining

The Australian economy's rebalancing away from mining to other industries looks to be finally under way, validating the central bank's strategy of keeping record-low interest rates and calling for a weaker currency.

via South China Morning Post - Business feed http://ift.tt/1vpKNJg

China Mobile poised for big gains from 4G push into rural areas

A plan by China Mobile to redeploy some of its spectrum to roll out fourth-generation network services in rural parts of the mainland could provide it with as much as 66 billion yuan in fresh revenue over the next three years.

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Chart of the day: Sing when you're winning

Reserve Bank of Australia chief Glenn Stevens might just be about to burst into song

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Hong Kong insurers bullish amid influx of policy-buying Chinese tourists

Mainland tourists have driven up sales in the local insurance industry, with about 28 per cent of new life policies in the first half of this year bought by non-residents.

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German labor market unfazed by economic weakness

The German labor market continued to shine in November, shrugging off the current economic weakness, with unemployment now at its lowest level since...



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Scotland to be granted greater autonomy: commission

Scotland could be handed sweeping new powers including setting its own income tax rates and controlling welfare payments under a new plan unveiled b...



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Toyota, Daihatsu announce new Takata airbag recall

Toyota said Thursday that it is expanding a recall of cars with airbags made by auto parts maker Takata which have been linked to driver deaths, in ...



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China Internet giants in tit-for-tat battle for users

China's version of Twitter, Weibo, has effectively banned users from promoting the country's most popular messaging app WeChat on its platform as th...



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Arrested cops released on bail

Seven police officers who were arrested in connection with the alleged assault on Civic Party member Ken Tsang last month, have been released on bail....



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Coca-Cola partnership to create biggest bottler in Africa

The Coca-Cola Company Thursday announced a partnership to form its largest soft drinks bottling company in Africa, serving "high growth'' countries ...



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Scuba-diving Santa spreads Christmas cheer in Japan

Santa was dishing out presents to fish in Japan on Thursday, as a scuba-diving St Nick went swimming in a Tokyo aquarium. Stingrays, sharks and doze...



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Eurozone loans to private sector still contracting: ECB

Loans to the private sector in the euro area, a gauge of economic health, fell year-on-year in October, but by slightly less than in September, the ...



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CLP scales back predicted tariff rate increase

Next year's tariff increase will be far lower than its earlier prediction of 11.8 percent, the power company CLP said. The company said it has submit...



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Pan-dems flay use of police for 'political ends'

The Legislative Council's pan-democrats said they're worried about how the city's courts and police are being used by the administration of Chief Exec...



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Egg thrown at Joshua Wong

Scholarism leader Joshua Wong has been hit by an egg outside Kowloon City court. Police took away two men in connection with the incident. Wong said...



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E-cigarettes contain 10 times amount carcinogens: Japan research

E-cigarettes contain 10 times the level of cancer-causing agents as regular tobacco, Japanese scientists said Thursday, the latest blow to an invent...



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Mongkok shops see dip in business

Some shops on a busy shopping street in Mong Kok -- where there were long stretches of tense standoffs between police and pro-democracy activists -- s...



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Hang Seng down, Shanghai on three-year high

Hong Kong stocks fell 0.45 percent down Thursday, while China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended on its highest close in more than three years...



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European stocks mixed at open

Europe's main stock markets opened mixed on Thursday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 down a slight 0.03 percent to 6,727.07 points. Frankfurt's D...



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German chip-maker Infineon sees growth after solid Q4

German semiconductors giant Infineon said Thursday it will pay an increased dividend for the year to September and forecasts further sales growth af...



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General strike shuts down services across Greece

A nationwide general strike to protest continued austerity measures has shut down services across Greece, grounding flights, leaving ferries tied up i...



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India 'raped' girls found hanging killed selves: investigators

Two girls found hanging earlier this year in northern India committed suicide and were not gang-raped and murdered as previously thought, federal in...



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Two Afghan civilians killed in attack on British embassy vehicle: official

At least two Afghan bystanders were killed when a suicide bomber on a motorbike attacked a British embassy vehicle in Kabul on Thursday, injuring so...



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Malaysia reverses vow to scrap controversial sedition law

Malaysia's prime minister on Thursday abandoned his pledge to repeal a controversial sedition law critics say is used to silence political opponents...



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(Champions League) Arsenal advance, Liverpool keep hopes

Arsenal are through to the Champions League knockout stages for the 15th consecutive season. Yaya Sanogo scored his first goal for the Gunners in a 2-...



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Guizhou coal mine explosion kills 11: Xinhua

Eleven people died Thursday in a coal mine explosion in China, state media reported, in the second deadly accident in two days in the country's noto...



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Nikkei ends lower

Tokyo stocks lost 0.78 percent on Thursday as a stronger yen took the wind out of the market ahead of the US Thanksgiving holiday. The Nikkei 225 i...



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Fillibustering not helpful: govt

Filibustering by pan-democratic lawmakers in Legco's finance committee considering waste disposal matters is not doing any good for the city's environ...



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(NBA) Italy's Messina coaches Spurs over Pacers

Assistant coach Ettore Messina guided San Antonio over the Indiana Pacers 106-100 Wednesday, becoming the first Italian to coach an NBA game while r...



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Long Hair, Joshua Wong banned from Mong Kok areas

The Kowloon City Court has banned protesters arrested during the Mong Kok clearance action, including lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, popularly known as Lon...



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Police not used as political tool:Starry Lee

Executive Councillor Starry Lee Wai-king has denied that the clearance of Occupy protesters from Mong Kok had reduced the police in Hong Kong to a pol...



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Police get 13 compliants over Mong Kok action

The Independent Police Complaints Council said 13 complaints were lodged against the police in relation to Mong Kok over the past two days. These c...



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US-China deal on audit inspections runs into snags

The top US auditor regulator said negotiations with China to inspect audit firms there have reached a "difficult and frustrating place," the latest hitch in a long-sought agreement to address faulty corporate audits in that country.

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Bond fund manager Fuss plunks new investments in shorter maturities

Top bond fund manager Dan Fuss boosted investments in developed bond markets in the past quarter, lowering the cash level in his flagship bond fund to 20 per cent in November from 27 per cent in July.

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Housing Society prices flats in Hong Kong’s Heya Delight up to 40pc lower than nearby project

The Housing Society has priced the first batch of flats at its private residential project Heya Delight, which is restricted to Hong Kong permanent residents, in Cheung Sha Wan at a price as much as 40 per cent lower than another new project now going on sale in a nearby

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Canadian condo seller to sell canola oil to China, supplies to be secured

A Canadian company better known for selling condominiums has walked into a C$1 billion (US$890 million) deal to ship edible oil to China as consumer demand there overtakes domestic supplies.

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China a potential goldmine for US luxury carmakers

China is the new El Dorado for US automakers looking to develop sales of their luxury brands, which globally are lagging behind German and Japanese competitors.

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China’s central bank holds off from open market operations for first time in 4 months

China’s central bank refrained from draining funds from the money market on Thursday, the first time it held off from open market operations in four months and signalling its intentions to keep borrowing costs low, traders said.

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China Gas pays $1.63b yuan for gas unit of Beijing Enterprises

China Gas, one of the mainland’s largest city gas distributors, plans to acquire a gas unit from Beijing Enterprises Holdings, for 1.63 billion yuan (HK$2.1 billion), according to a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Thursday.

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Manulife to issue mix of fixed, floating rate bonds

Canadian insurer Manulife plans to issue C$500 million (HK$3.44 billion) bonds by offering a mixed of fixed and floating rates, the company said in a statement with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Thursday.

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Mongolia Energy losses widen amid write-down in iron ore project

Half-yearly losses in coal mine developer Mongolia Energy widened to HK$457.8 million for the six months ending in September, up from HK$331.9 million the same period a year earlier, according to a statement with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Thursday.

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Spectre of trade protectionism on the rise

Protectionism is on the rise, according to two policy-monitoring reports on G20 countries released just before the recent Brisbane summit. One is by the Global Trade Alert and another by the World Trade Organisation.

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Protests expose vulnerability of an unloved government

One point that is frequently made in conversations about the protests is that they have achieved nothing. In a banal sense, that is true.

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US spending data points to slower economic growth

United States consumer spending rose modestly last month and a key measure of business spending plans on equipment fell for a second straight month, suggesting some slowing in the pace of economic growth.

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European funds spooked by 'lack of protection' in Hong Kong-Shanghai link

Concerns by Europe's top funds watchdog that a landmark Hong Kong-Shanghai trading link may not adequately protect investors are preventing thousands of funds from buying mainland shares.

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MTR Corp joint venture signs letter of intent for Beijing Metro Line 16

A MTR Corp joint venture has signed a letter of intent with the Beijing municipal government to invest in, operate and maintain Beijing Metro Line 16, which will partially open by the end of 2016.

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Economic woes and Ukraine crisis drag down Sberbank earnings 24pc

An economic slowdown, losses in Ukraine and a weaker rouble reduced third-quarter profits by 24 per cent at Sberbank, Russia's biggest bank, as provisions for loan losses more than doubled.

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Samsung to buy back shares worth 2.19 trillion won

Samsung Electronics plans to buy back shares valued at 2.19 trillion won (HK$15.3 billion) after its parent group announced the sale of stakes in chemicals and defence businesses in its biggest restructuring.

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China steps up bid to lure private funds in key sectors

The State Council has set out a broad vision for encouraging private investment in key sectors of the economy but faces challenges in the invention of innovative financing methods to lure sustainable funds.

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Lohas Park sale takes MTR closer to hitting homes target

The MTR Corp yesterday sold a site in Lohas Park to Wheelock Properties at the lowest price in 10 years in that area.

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Leveraged China developers to benefit from PBOC's interest rate cuts

Property companies with high levels of onshore debt are expected to benefit from the interest rate cuts by the People's Bank of China last week.

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Rate cuts may put China on road to debasing currency

Almost everyone applauded mainland's surprise move to reduce interest rates. Our reports carried only a single brief mention that cutting lending rates by 40 basis points and deposit rates by only 25 would further squeeze bank margins.

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Mainland holds key to Hong Kong growth story

Pessimism over a slide in Hong Kong's competitiveness is deepening in the business community, but some of its leading figures say the city can shore up its position by tapping opportunities created by mainland consumers and outward investment.

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Juncker unveils 300b euro plan to kick-start European economy

New European Union Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker unveiled an eagerly awaited €315 billion (HK$3 trillion) investment plan to "kick-start" the economy, insisting it would show the world Europe was back in business after years of crisis.

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China drafts first domestic violence law

China has drafted its first national law against domestic violence, with activists hailing it Wednesday as a step forward in a country where abuse h...



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UK confirms 0.7% growth in Q3

British economic growth slowed to 0.7 percent in the third quarter of 2014 from output in the previous three months, official data showed Wednesday,...



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Five more arrests in expanding Thai police graft probe

Five more civilians have been arrested as part of a major corruption probe into a network of senior Thai police officers, authorities said Wednesday...



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Germany agrees law on quota for women board members

Germany's biggest companies will have to fill 30 percent of supervisory board positions with women candidates from 2016 under a law agreed late Tues...



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Police slams attempts to occupy Portland Street

A police spokesman, Chief Superintendent Steve Hui Chun-tak, slammed protesters for trying to illegally occupy Portland Street and nearby areas after ...



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Coal mine fire kills 26 in Liaoning: Xinhua

A fire at a Chinese coal mine killed 26 workers early Wednesday, state media reported, the latest fatal incident to hit the accident-prone industry....



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Hong Kong needs universal suffrage, says Zeman

The Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings, Allan Zeman, has called for universal suffrage and a revamp of the current electoral system, saying the curren...



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Shuffles of government officials

Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) Au King-chi will retire after 32 years of service with the government...



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EU's Juncker proposes US$380 billion investment plan

Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Union's executive branch, is proposing a 315-billion euro investment plan to boost the bloc's flagg...



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New Thai tourism strategy: 'I Hate Thailand'

It's been a bad year for tourism in Thailand, and at first glance it looked like a new YouTube video was adding to the misery. The video called "I Ha...



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ADB ready to work with new China-led bank, says president

The head of the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday he is ready to work with China on a new infrastructure investment lender proposed by Beijing, ...



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18 Jockey Club employees charged for fraud

Eighteen telebet services assistants of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) have been charged by the ICAC for allegedly using false sick leave certificat...



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Samsung sells units and announces share buyback

Samsung announced Wednesday the US$1.7 billion sale of stakes in four affiliates and a US$2.0 billion share buyback as the South Korean giant steps up...



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Movement leaders, barricades in Mongkok cleared

Hong Kong police arrested Joshua Wong and another student protest leader Wednesday as authorities forcibly cleared part of a main road blocked for t...



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Nikkei ends lower

Tokyo stocks ended 0.14 percent lower Wednesday after a lacklustre session on Wall Street, while the yen picked up against the dollar. The Nikkei 22...



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European stocks up at open

Europe's main stock markets opened higher on Wednesday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 adding 0.17 percent to 6,742.47 points. Frankfurt's DAX 30...



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Hang Seng finishes higher

Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks climbed Wednesday, with traders still broadly upbeat after last week's surprise Chinese interest rate cut. The Hang S...



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Obama's immigration move disappoints businesses

President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration have left out some of the business community's top priorities. That's disappointing execut...



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Prosecutor faces new criticism over Ferguson case

A Missouri prosecutor is facing renewed scrutiny of his handling of the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer -- inclu...



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Albert Chan kicked out of LegCo over police speech

People Power lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip has been ordered to leave the LegCo meeting for speaking about police action in Mong Kok during debate about...



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China asks US for help in hunting down fugitives

A senior Chinese diplomat Wednesday called on the US and other Western countries to put aside their wariness of China's justice system and work with B...



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(NBA) Hawks come back to beat Wizards

Reserves Mike Scott and Shelvin Mack led a fourth-quarter surge for the Hawks, topping Wizards 106-102. Scott and Mack scored Atlanta's first 16 poin...



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(NBA) Nuggets extend streak to five

Ty Lawson scored 20 points, including a key jumper in the waning seconds, as Denver beat Chicago 114-109, earning its fifth straight win. Arron Affla...



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(NBA) Warriors beat Heat behind Curry's 40 points

Stephen Curry scored 40 points to help and the Golden State Warriors beat the Miami Heat 114-97 on Tuesday night for their sixth consecutive victory. ...



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(NHL) Miller marks season's second shutout in Canucks win over Devils

Ryan Miller made 20 saves for his second shutout of the season, helping the Canucks beat New Jersey. Alex Burrows and Shawn Matthias scored for the C...



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(NHL) Colorado beat Arizona in extra period

Daniel Briere scored 3:16 into overtime, helping the Avalanche complete a comeback from three goals down to get a 4-3 road win over Coyotes. Briere g...



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(NHL) Predators top Kings in shootout

James Neal scored the only goal of a six-round shootout to give the Nashville Predators a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. Craig ...



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'Police will stay alert to prevent more trouble'

The police deputy regional commander for Kowloon West Duncan McCosh said the clearance operation has gone smoothly. But he said police will also be on...



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New relics found at To Kwa Wan MTR site

Archaeologists have discovered new relics at the To Kwa Wan MTR site. The chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board Andrew Lam said the new found - ...



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Wenzhou-based private commercial bank could launch soon – state backed paper

A Wenzhou-based private commercial bank could launch before the end of the year, according to a state-backed financial newspaper that quoted anonymous sources.

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Samsung Group sells stakes in four firms for 1.9 trillion won

Samsung Group is selling stakes in four chemical and defence firms for 1.9 trillion won (HK$13.3 billion) to Hanwha Group in the latest move in the restructuring South Korea’s largest conglomerate.

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China oil stockbuilding stoked by low crude prices

China has done two surprising things in oil markets recently; pledging to be more open about its strategic stockpiling and buying crude very openly in the daily trading window in Singapore.

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China to take cues on easing from 4Q data, US and Japanese monetary policy

China’s central bank will wait until fourth-quarter economic data is out and monitor US and Japanese monetary policy before considering any more rate cuts or easing, a central bank adviser said on Tuesday.

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Vitasoy says net profit up 22pc on strong growth in China, Hong Kong

Vitasoy International, the largest Hong Kong beverage maker, reported a 22 per cent growth in net profit to HK$222 million for the six months ended September 30, boosted by strong growth in China and in Hong Kong.

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Swift says 15 countries now using yuan to settle over 10pc of trades with China, Hong Kong

Fifteen more countries are now using the Chinese yuan to settle over 10 per cent of their trades and investments deals with China and Hong Kong, bolstering the view that the renminbi is becoming more popular in the international community and is firmly on a path to global

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Fibre cable maker Yangtze Optical seeks HK$1.6b IPO

Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable, a mainland manufacturer of optical fibre, has started to take orders from retail investors between Wednesday and Monday afternoon, to raise up to HK$1.6 billion in a Hong Kong initial public offering.

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Amax International looking to raise HK$9.21m in share placement

Amax International, a junket operator controlled by Macau businessman Ng Man Sun, plans to raise HK$9.21 million in a share placement to up to six investors, according to a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday.

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Secrets of doing business in Asia a myth fit for insurance salesmen

Have you ever been tempted to read one of those books about business etiquette or signed up for a seminar that promises to reveal the secrets of doing business in another culture?

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Clean energy firm Huadian Fuxin seeks HK$1.7b in share placement

Huadian Fuxin Energy Corp., a mainland developer of wind and solar farms, has received approval from Chinese regulators to raise HK$1.72 billion in a share placement, the company said in a statement with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday.

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Specter of trade protectionism on the rise in world trade

Protectionism is on the rise according to two policy-monitoring reports on G20 countries released just prior to the recent Brisbane Summit. One is by the Global Trade Alert (GTA) and another by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

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Rate cuts may put China on road to debasing currency

The mainland’s surprise move to reduce interest rates for the first time in more than two years has fired up expectations of further cuts aimed at shoring up an economy that is on track to record its weakest annual growth since 1990.

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Beijing's crackdown on credit card issuers seen as positive by Fitch

Tighter regulation over mainland credit card issuers is a healthy sign for development of the country's asset-backed securities market, ratings agency Fitch said yesterday, just a week after the regulator issued a ban on securitising credit card debt.

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Watchdog calls on CME to beef up 'spoofing' detection

CME Group, the world's largest futures market operator, should continue to develop strategies to detect an illegal trading practice known as "spoofing", the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said.

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PBOC governor Zhou's past signals likelihood of further rate cuts

In his 12 years as People's Bank of China governor, Zhou Xiaochuan has never stopped at a single shift to benchmark interest rates once prompted into action.

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Japan's Sony targets 70pc jump in electronic devices revenue

Japan's loss-making Sony Corp is targeting a near 70 per cent jump in revenue for its electronic devices division over the next three years, even as it warned further restructuring was in store for its television and smartphone units.

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US Fed's inflation goal in the 'coming years' a mirage

The US Federal Reserve's 2 per cent inflation objective feels more and more like an aspiration or, maybe, like steadily rising middle-class wages, a nostalgic anachronism.

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US surprises as third quarter GDP growth hits 3.9pc

United States economic growth was far stronger than initially thought in the third quarter, pointing to strengthening fundamentals that should support the economy for the rest of the year.

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Government sets example with illegal parking in Central

Good to see the government leading from the front, so to speak. Our picture today shows a government car (AM 65) illegally occupying a part of Central outside the Hong Kong Club that is marked as a no-parking area.

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Chow Tai Fook outlook dulls as profit drops 23pc

Weak sales of gold products saw Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, the world's largest jewellery retailer by market value, post a 23 per cent drop in half-year profit yesterday.

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Investor interest in IPOs holds Chinese stock market hostage

So much money is chasing after China's next round of initial public offerings that the nation's US$4.3 trillion stock market has become hostage to the fundraising plans of companies seeking just US$1.3 billion.

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Chart of the day: False hope for pound-euro

Yes, it is an old story, but the British pound has gained against the euro since July last year when 87 pence were needed to buy one unit of the single currency.

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HKEx to launch thermal coal contract early next year

HKEx remains committed to a thermal coal contract but says investors must wait until early next year for its introduction while officials proceed with metals contracts next week that will mark the bourse's entry into commodities trading.

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China 4G services expansion intensifies Xiaomi-Lenovo rivalry

Xiaomi could see Lenovo Group chip away at its strong lead on the mainland from next year as the computer giant drives 4G handset sales with its recently acquired Motorola brand.

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(Football) Bottom side Stuttgart turn to Stevens again

Dutch trainer Huub Stevens is back again at Bundesliga bottom side VfB Stuttgart after being named successor to Armin Veh as head coach on Tuesday. ...



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Report: UK soldier's killers were on spies' radar

British lawmakers say two Islamic extremists who murdered a soldier in a London street had been under scrutiny by the intelligence services, and one h...



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Pope urges EU to give migrants 'acceptance and assistance'

Pope Francis urged European lawmakers on Tuesday to do more to help migrants and not to allow the Mediterranean to become a "vast cemetery.'' "Ther...



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Fake Japanese "Beethoven'' faces damage lawsuit

The fraudulent composer once dubbed "Japan's Beethoven'' is facing a lawsuit over the cancellation of his tour after it emerged he lied about his wo...



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Europe's biggest bank names new boss in reshuffle

Spain's Santander, the biggest bank in Europe by market value, on Tuesday named Jose Antonio Alvarez its new chief executive in a reshuffle after lo...



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New concourse is on schedule, says airport chief

A new concourse between the two existing runways will open on time -- by the end of next year, the Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Fred Lam ...



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Rights activist warns against police gloves

The Director of Human Rights Monitor, Law Yuk-Kai, has called on the police to stop wearing gloves that are wrapped in hard plastic, saying that those...



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'Inflation, property prices adding to youth woes'

Inflation and high property prices, as well as heavy student loans, are the biggest barriers to young people's upward mobility, according to a pro-gov...



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Eight people hurt in Wong Tai Sin attack

At least eight people have been injured after being attacked with corrosive liquid at two Cafe de Coral restaurants in Wong Tai Sin District. The att...



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Pope starts whirlwind visit to European institutions

Pope Francis began a lightning visit to European institutions in Strasbourg on Tuesday where he was expected to call for a "tired'' Europe hit by ec...



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Arrests, scuffles as police try to clear protest site

Hong Kong police arrested at least 10 people Tuesday as scuffles broke out when demonstrators tried to block authorities from clearing part of a pro...



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Riot after US jury fails to indict Ferguson policeman

Protesters set buildings ablaze, shot at police and looted stores in the US town of Ferguson on Monday after a grand jury chose not to press charges...



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15 trapped in deadly Cairo apartment block collapse

Rescue teams battled to free 15 people trapped in the rubble of a Cairo apartment block early Tuesday after it collapsed during the night, killing a...



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Hang Seng down at close

Hong Kong stocks slipped 0.21 percent Tuesday as profit-takers moved in after the previous day's rally that came in response to China's shock decisi...



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Consumer spending helps Germany skirt recession in Q3

Higher household and government spending enabled Germany, Europe's biggest economy, to avoid a recession in the third quarter, official data showed ...



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Japanese central bank chief stands by last month’s shock stimulus decision

Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda has stressed the bank’s readiness to expand stimulus to meet its inflation goal, standing firm in the face of criticism that last month’s monetary easing had accelerated unwelcome falls in the value of the yen.

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Bank of Korea gets warning on dangers of deflation, rate cuts urged

South Korea’s top state-run research institute warned the Bank of Korea on Tuesday against underestimating the danger of Asia’s fourth-largest economy falling into deflation and called on the central bank to cut interest rates.

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China state-owned firms profit growth quickens, but no sign of turnaround

Profit growth of China state-owned firms quickened slightly in the first 10 months of 2014, but there is little sign of a turnaround as factories struggle to cope with falling prices and sluggish demand.

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China approves second batch of local asset management companies

Mainland China’s banking regulator has approved a second batch of local asset management companies (AMCs) tasked with cleaning up debt at the city and provincial level, bringing the number of formally approved local “bad banks” to 10.

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Mobile game operator Feiyu seeks US$99m in IPO

Feiyu Technology International, a mainland mobile game developer, has launched an initial public offering on Monday that could raise up to US$99 million in Hong Kong, according to a sales document.

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3 men plunge to death in Ho Man Tin

Three men jumped to death in Oi Man Estate, Ho Man Tin today. A man jumped from Tun Man House at around 9am this morning. About 10 minutes later, ano...



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Japan man arrested in Indonesia for smuggling meth

A 73-year-old Japanese man has been arrested in western Indonesia for allegedly attempting to smuggle crystal methamphetamine into the country, an o...



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Swiss museum accepts Nazi-era art hoard bequest

A Swiss museum said Monday it would accept a German recluse's bequest of a spectacular trove of more than 1,000 artworks hoarded during the Nazi era...



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Poll win for Italy PM but voters fire warning shots

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi celebrated Monday his center-left Democratic Party's victory in two regional elections, despite a record low tur...



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Manila reassessing blacklisted journalists' cases

The Philippine Consul-General in Hong Kong, Bernardita Catalla, says the authorities in Manila are now reassessing the cases of nine Hong Kong journal...



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Proposal to trim Liberal Studies curriculum

The government has proposed cutting out part of its Liberal Studies curriculum for secondary-school students that explores how youngsters can particip...



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Portuguese ex-premier quizzed again in fraud case

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates is back in court for more questioning by a judge about suspected corruption, money-laundering and tax f...



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UK outlines new counterterrorism measures

UK authorities are outlining a new set of counterterrorism measures, including a ban on insurance companies reimbursing ransom payments. The bill to ...



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Internet execs hobnob in Wuzhen; Xiaomi aims high

Most of China's high-tech attention was focused on the scenic canal city of Wuzhen near Shanghai this past week, as a who's-who of top Internet executives gathered for a conference that billed itself as a global gathering.

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German business confidence index Ifo rises in November

Germany's Ifo business confidence indicator rose in November, data showed on Monday, as the outlook for Europe's biggest economy begins to brighten....



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China blasts US comments on island project as 'irresponsible'

Beijing on Monday dismissed as ''irresponsible'' US criticism of its construction of an artificial island reportedly large enough for an airstrip in...



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(NBA) Denver beat LA in overtime

Wilson Chandler scored 19 points and Ty Lawson had 18 points and 16 assists as Denver beat the Lakers 101-94. Arron Afflalo added 15 points for the N...



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Injunction notices posted in Mong Kok

Bailiffs and lawyers have posted more than 20 notices of the injunction order to remove barricades set up by occupiers in Mong Kok at ten different lo...



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(Football) Match-fixing scrutiny for Suzuki Cup

A specialist agency will look out for suspicious betting patterns during Southeast Asia's Suzuki Cup in a move aimed at stamping out potential match-f...



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Olympic champ Sun Yang failed doping test in May

Chinese multi-Olympic and world swimming champion Sun Yang had failed a doping test and been banned for three months, China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINAD...



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Hang Seng, Shanghai jump on PBoC rate cute

Hong Kong stocks rallied 1.95 percent Monday after China's central bank announced a surprise interest rate cut at the end of last week in a bid to s...



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European stocks mixed at open

Europe's main stock markets open mixed on Monday, with Paris rising and London and Frankfurt starting the week with small losses. London's benchmar...



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Advanced cyberspying tool dates from 2008: researchers

A highly sophisticated cyberspying tool has been used since 2008 to steal information from governments, businesses and others, security researchers ...



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Philippines convicts Chinese 'poachers' despite Beijing's warnings

A Philippine court on Monday found nine Chinese fishermen guilty of poaching and environmental crimes for fishing in disputed waters, in a case that...



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'Pre-emptive' decision on relics criticized

The government has been accused of making a pre-emptive decision on how to preserve relics found at a construction site in To Kwa Wan -- one of the fu...



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Beijing visit will not touch on political reform

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor says her two-day visit to Beijing will not touch on Hong Kong's political reform but rather she'll discuss ...



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SKorea women forecast to outnumber men next year

South Korea will undergo a major demographic change next year when, for the first time, women will outnumber men -- the result of a rapidly aging po...



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Dozens take refuge from Japan quake aftershocks

Dozens of villagers are staying in shelters as aftershocks rattle a region in central Japan jolted by a weekend earthquake that injured at least 41 pe...



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Nepal bus crash toll hits 47 as more bodies found

Rescuers pulled 44 more bodies from a fast-flowing river in western Nepal where a bus crashed last week, hiking the death toll to 47, police said on...



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Protesters step up demands for Ferguson indictment

More than 100 protesters marched through St Louis late Sunday, stepping up pressure on a grand jury to indict a white police officer for shooting de...



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Hong Kong tycoon Tony Fung’s Australia casino plans thrown into doubt

Hong Kong tycoon Tony Fung’s plans to take over Australia’s Reef Casino Trust (RCT) are in doubt after the Queensland government said it was not possible to complete a regulatory review before the offer expired.

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Abe's party takes lead in polls ahead of Japan election

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling party showed a strong lead in opinion polls released Monday ahead of Japan's general election next month, despite...



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SKorea exam chief resigns over errors in high-stakes college test

South Korea's education minister apologised and the head of the national exam board resigned Monday after accepting that there were errors in two qu...



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6 killed on suspicion of wine poisoning in Cambodia

Six people died last week in Cambodia's eastern Kratie province after they drank locally made rice wine, which is suspected of being contaminated with...



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Barricades outside British consulate removed

More than 10 police officers on Monday removed barricades and banners that were earlier put up by 10 Occupy protesters outside the British Consulate-G...



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Hang Seng jumps by lunch

Hong Kong shares climbed 1.87 percent in the morning session Monday after China's central bank cut interest rates for the first time in more than two ...



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(NBA) Thunder extend skid to six

Marreese Speights scored 28 points for Golden State to beat Oklahoma City 91-96, matching the second-highest scoring game of his career and his best t...



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(NBA) Aldridge leads Portland past Boston

LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and reserve Chris Kaman scored 16 points as Portland topped Boston 94-88 to extend its winning streak...



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(NBA) Heat top Hornets

Luol Deng scored 26 points, and Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers each added 20 as Miami held on in the final seconds to beat Charlotte 94-93 and snap a t...



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Date set for Wanchai double murder trial

The Eastern Court has given the prosecution more than seven months to investigate the alleged double murder by British banker, Rurik Jutting. The pro...



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Civic Passion in court over LegCo break-in

A member of the radical political group, Civic Passion, has appeared in Eastern court over Wednesday's break-in at the Legislative Council building. ...



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Boy with fake gun dies after shot by US officer

A 12-year-old boy shot by police after apparently grabbing what turned out to be a replica gun died from his wounds Sunday, a day after officers respo...



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China’s Baic Motor to seek listing approval in Hong Kong on Thursday

Chinese carmaker BAIC Motor, partly owned by German giant Daimler, is scheduled to seek a listing approval in a hearing with the Hong Kong stock exchange this Thursday, moving a step closer to its long-planned US$2 billion listing.

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Shenzhen-traded GF Securities halted after hitting daily limit up amid HK flotation

Shenzhen-traded shares in GF Securities, one of China’s largest brokerage firms, were suspended from trading on Monday after hitting a daily ceiling of 10 per cent amid fresh speculation over its Hong Kong listing.

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Sichuan quake death toll rises to five

Mainland media say the death toll from a 5.9-magnitude earthquake near Kangding in Sichuan province on Saturday has risen to five. Xinhua News Agency...



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(NBA) Gasol sparks Grizzlies to 22nd home win in a row

Spain's Marc Gasol scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Memphis Grizzlies over the Los Angeles Clippers 107-91 Sunday for their 22nd...



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Gas blast no accident: expert

The President of the Hong Kong Institute of Utility Specialists, King Wong, says the severing of a gas pipe that appears to have caused a huge explosi...



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Australian mother charged after baby survives five days in drain

An Australian mother was Monday charged with attempted murder after her newborn baby was found crying at the bottom of a roadside drain in Sydney, w...



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Island project in disputed waters 'justifiable': general

Beijing on Monday fired back at US criticism of an artificial island project in the disputed South China Sea that could reportedly include an airstr...



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British banker fit to stand trial in murders

A British banker accused of the murder of two women whose mutilated bodies were found in his Hong Kong apartment was on Monday ruled fit to stand tr...



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Fosun International to spin off iron ore unit for 1.7b yuan

Fosun International plans to raise up to 1.76 billion yuan (HK$2.16 billion) by listing its iron ore business on the Shanghai stock exchange, according to a statement with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday.

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Small companies may struggle raising funds due to curbs on shadow banking in China

A bid by China to rein in its "shadow banking" activity is producing results, thanks to slowing economic growth and tighter regulation.

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CGN Power launches IPO in Monday roadshow, hopes to raise US$3.16b

CGN Power, the mainland’s biggest nuclear energy company by installed capacity, has launched its initial public offering in an institutional roadshow on Monday to raise up to US$3.16 billion on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

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Sinopharm to raise HK$5.5b by issuing 198.8m new shares

Sinopharm, the mainland’s largest drug distributor, plans to raise HK$5.55 billion by issuing 198.8 million new shares to a handful of investors, according an announcement with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday.

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Trade politics riven by US-China rivalry, but ground for cooperation on major issues

Trade politics have become so complex, and filled with such palace intrigue, that sometimes it is necessary to stand back and look at the big picture.

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Swire Pacific takes venture capital path in green push

Swire Pacific, one of Hong Kong's largest conglomerates known for its conservative approach to business, has stepped into the risky world of venture capital to locate companies that can help it become more environmentally friendly.

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