CHINA

China's central bank increased the reserve requirement ratio for its commercial banks by another 50 basis points on Thursday, extending its campaign to calm prices despite initial signs of slowing in the economy.

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Thursday as disappointing outlook from Cisco Systems and lower commodity prices weighed.

Thursday's London Silver Fix set the white metal's price at $32.50 per ounce, nearly $7 lower than a day earlier and 33% below the 31-year high of $48.70 set on April 28. [Silver] is still in an uptrend, despite the sharp sell-off reckons Mary Ann Bartels, head of US technical and market analysis at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, who said yesterday silver could hit $50 per ounce by the end of the year.

Goldman Sachs plans to raise up to 5 billion yuan ($770 million) for a private equity fund in China, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

China lifted bank reserve requirements by 50 basis points on Thursday, signaling that containing inflation and soaking up excess cash remained its top priority even after signs the economy was slowing down.

Goldman Sachs plans to raise up to 5 billion yuan ($770 million) for a private equity fund in China, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Nissan Motor Co reported a 7.2 percent rise in quarterly operating profit on Thursday and said global production disrupted by Japan's March 11 earthquake will return to normal at least a month earlier than predicted by bigger home rival, Toyota Motor Corp.

China's economic growth could slow to 8 percent, Goldman Sach's Jim O'Neill said on Thursday, as economic data and a drop in commodity prices point to Beijing ending its monetary tightening policy sometime this year.

Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasoul, in his first visit to China since he took office in January, said in Beijing on Wednesday that the elimination of Osama bin Laden was ‘positive’ and will make Afghanistan's transition process easier.

Nissan Motor Co <7201.T> posted a 7.2 percent rise in quarterly operating profit but offered no guidance for the new financial year on Thursday, citing uncertainties over the pace of recovery after the March 11 earthquake disrupted the industry's supply chain.

Nissan Motor Co posted a 7.2 percent rise in quarterly operating profit on Thursday and said global production disrupted by Japan's March 11 earthquake will return to normal a least a month earlier than predicted by bigger home rival, Toyota Motor Corp.

Asia's reserve-rich nations see no viable option but to keep on purchasing U.S. government debt despite their uneasiness about Washington's fraught political battle over public spending.

Oil rebounded by about $1 on Thursday as investors focused on strong demand growth in Asia after a sell-off the previous day triggered by a surprise increase in U.S. gasoline stockpiles.

In a shocking report, evidence about child abduction by family planning officials in China for the purpose of oversees adoption has raised questions on the current human-rights situations of the country.

Asian share markets fell on Thursday after a second big sell-off in commodities in less than a week cut investor appetite for riskier investments and boosted the U.S. dollar, although oil prices clawed back some losses in early trade.

Oil prices tumbled nearly 5 percent on Wednesday, as easing supply concerns sent gasoline into a tailspin that briefly forced trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange to stop.

Telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent sees no end in sight to booming demand in the United States as major operators invest to keep up with a data overload driven by smartphones and streaming video.

Oil prices tumbled 4 percent on Wednesday, dragged down by a plunge in gasoline futures that triggered a brief halt in trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Alibaba Group's latest message to Yahoo sounds a lot like the last one: it wants its shares back.

The Chinese economy may be in trouble and the stock market seems to acknowledge the dangers.

U.S. stocks faltered on Wednesday after a three-day rally as a strengthening dollar and data showing a rise in U.S. fuel supplies sent crude oil prices lower, hurting energy stocks.