CHINA

Motorola Inc reported a surprising quarterly profit on better-than-expected demand for its higher-margin smartphones, vindicating its strategy of relying on Google Inc's Android software system.

Greece readied severe austerity measures Thursday to secure a multi-billion euro aid package needed to avoid default, providing relief to financial markets but drawing threats of a mighty battle from Greek unions.

A rise in the yuan would make Chinese exports less competitive and cut the cost of imports, providing incentives for capital and labour to be redeployed towards the domestic sectors of the economy.

Developing markets were critical for consumer product makers last quarter, as strong sales growth in countries like China helped drive profits while markets such as the United States remain somewhat sluggish.

Brilliance Auto, BMW's partner in China, has halted its car exports to Europe after its in-house designed BS4 and BS6 sedans met with a cool reception, highlighting the quality issues facing Chinese automakers eager to tap mature markets.

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp are aiming to bump up sales in China by almost a quarter this year, heating up competition with global and local rivals.

ArcelorMittal , the world's largest steelmaker, forecast a sharp recovery in demand and prices in all main markets in the second quarter after its core earnings in the first three months missed expectations.

German industrial conglomerate Siemens raised its profit outlook on the back of cost cuts and higher demand from factories that are cranking up production amidst an economic rebound.

ArcelorMittal , the world's largest steelmaker, forecast a sharp recovery in demand and prices in the second quarter after its core earnings in the first three months of the year missed expectations.

China's top Internet search firm Baidu Inc is emerging as a big winner following Google's recent retreat from China as it smashed analysts' forecasts, suggesting increased business from advertisers.

China's yuan remains undervalued, but increased currency flexibility is just part of a range of policies needed for rebalancing in Asia, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.

Hewlett-Packard Co announced a $1.2 billion deal to buy Palm Inc , betting it can resuscitate the struggling smartphone maker to compete with the likes of Apple Inc and RIM .

SAP AG will start selling a long-delayed suite of Web-based software for running small to mid-sized businesses in July, a top company executive said on Wednesday.

Honda Motor Co forecast a smaller-than-expected 10 percent rise in full-year operating profit on Wednesday, warning tough competition would dent gains from improving sales in the United States and China.

Remember the impact of Reserve Bank of India's decision to buy 200 tonnes of gold from International Monetary Fund (IMF) in November 2009 had on the price of yellow metal? That time gold prices soared to new heights because the world feared that India is shifting its foreign reserves to gold expecting the dollar to crash.

Honda Motor Co , Japan's No.2 automaker, forecast a 10 percent rise in operating profit this year as demand in its biggest and most profitable U.S. market recovers from a multi-decade low.

Honda Motor Co , Japan's No.2 automaker, forecast a 10 percent rise in operating profit this year as demand in its biggest and most profitable U.S. market recovers from a multi-decade low.

(Corrects 2nd paragraph to state that AliExpress was launched on Monday, not now in beta-testing.)

Ford Motor Co posted a stronger-than-expected $2.1 billion quarterly profit and said it would be solidly profitable in 2010, a year ahead of schedule, driven by strong U.S. sales and market share gains.

Strong demand for industrial goods from customers in emerging economies helped a half dozen U.S. manufacturers produce pleasant earnings surprises on Tuesday.

China's largest e-commerce firm Alibaba.com said it will offer e-payment services on its new online commerce platform from eBay's PayPal, in the first such tie-up between the former arch-rivals.