CHINA

China Mobile, the world's largest mobile operator, reported a 3.6 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, its best profit in a year and beating expectations as revenues per user posted a rare rise despite intense competition.

Nike Inc posted a return to sales and profit growth on Wednesday and forecast higher expected orders around the world after a year of declines, sending its shares up more than 3 percent.

China on Wednesday rejected criticism of its exchange rate policies and said it was being made a scapegoat after the U.S. Congress threatened to slap duties on Chinese goods unless it revalues its yuan.

Nike Inc posted a net profit that beat analyst expectations, fueled by fewer clearance sales of merchandise and improving sales around the world, sending its shares up more than 3 percent.

Nike Inc , the largest global sporting gear maker, posted a net profit that beat analysts' expectations, helped by fewer clearance sales of merchandise and improving sales around the world.

A consortium led by Blackstone Group has agreed to invest about $600 million in a Chinese agricultural company ahead of its planned Hong Kong listing, sources with knowledge of the deal said on Wednesday.

Vedanta Resources may demerge its aluminium division. According to a report appeared in The Independent in UK, the new firm will be the world's fourth biggest aluminium player, behind Russia's United Company Rusal, America's Alcoa and China's Chalco.

Japan's Nissan Motor would consider joining a potential alliance between its French partner Renault and Daimler, the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday.

OPEC ministers agreed not to change oil output targets they are already exceeding, anticipating that demand will pick up later in the year to mop up extra barrels.

Korea Life Insurance Co shares closed up 8 percent in heavy trading on their debut on Wednesday, signaling keen demand ahead of bigger rival Samsung Life's planned $4 billion IPO in May.

As if a Porsche isn't enough of a status symbol, the German luxury sports car company's subsidiary, Porsche Design, is marketing a mobile phone that's exclusive to Porsche owners.

OPEC ministers agreed not to change output targets they are already exceeding, an OPEC delegate told Reuters Wednesday, as demand should pick up later in the year to mop up extra barrels.

Shares of Intel Corp jumped 4 percent to their highest in more than a year on expectations that robust Asian sales and a rebound in corporate spending will help the chipmaker beat current-quarter earnings estimates.

Chinese firms selling advertising space on Google's search pages have demanded clarity about the search giant's plans in China, as speculation increases over Google's future in the world's largest Internet market.

The World Bank raised its 2010 growth and inflation forecasts for China and recommended a tighter monetary policy as well as a stronger exchange rate to restrain inflation expectations and asset bubbles.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq 100 all up around 0.2 percent.

Technology stocks pushed Asian shares to a two-month high on Wednesday, powered by hopes of strong earnings for Intel, while the yen faltered after the Bank of Japan loosened policy in a bid to spur the flagging economy.

China said on Wednesday it could not be any clearer in its repeated commitment to a stable exchange rate after the U.S. Congress threatened to levy duties on some Chinese exports if it fails to revalue its currency.

Members of Congress on Tuesday threatened Beijing with duties on some of its exports if it fails to revalue its currency, pressuring the Obama administration to label China a currency manipulator.

With Google expected to decide soon whether to close its Chinese search engine, students at one of the schools cited by some reports for being behind hacking attacks on the Internet giant are decidedly ambivalent.

Members of Congress on Tuesday threatened Beijing with duties on some of its exports if it fails to revalue its currency, pressuring the Obama administration to label China a currency manipulator.