CHINA

President Barack Obama called on Saturday for a new strategy to rebalance global growth, but leaders around the Pacific rim, gathering for a weekend summit, took aim at signs of U.S. trade protectionism.

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged Saturday to deepen dialogue with China rather than seek to contain the rising power, as he laid out a vision for greater engagement with a vibrant Asia-Pacific region.

Taiwan's Chi Mei agreed to be merged with Innolux through a share swap worth about $1 billion to create a new company that aims to have a stronger foothold in the highly competitive LCD industry dominated by bigger Korean rivals.

The US trade deficit widened more than expected in September although import prices increased less than expected, suggesting that inflation in remaining steady.

Apple Inc, which is expected to ship 11 million iPhones in the quarter, has sold 30,000 units in China since its debut on October 30, according to an analyst note issued on Friday.

Strong demand in China and Germany last month triggered a double-digit growth rate in group sales volume at Volkswagen that wiped away the last signs of weakness from the start of this year.

When President Barack Obama sits down with his Chinese counterpart next week to talk climate change, it is highly unlikely they will craft a definitive plan to tackle global warming.

U.S. consumer sentiment soured in early November on grim job prospects while a larger-than-expected trade deficit had analysts scaling back estimates for third-quarter U.S. economic growth.

Dell Inc is entering the smartphone market, with its first device to launch in China in late November, followed by Brazil toward the end of the year.

China's Huawei Technologies took the No. 2 position in the ailing mobile network gear market in the third quarter, almost doubling its market share from a year ago, and bypassing Nokia Siemens.

U.S. consumer sentiment fell in early November amid a grim outlook for future job prospects, although separate data showing rising imports in September raised some hopes of renewed U.S. economic growth.

The dollar fell across the board on Friday after unexpectedly weak trade deficit and consumer sentiment figures stoked worries about the outlook for a U.S. economic recovery. Gains in the U.S. stock market also helped boost risk appetite, pressuring the safe-haven greenback and lifting the euro and higher-yielding currencies such as the Australian and New Zealand dollars.

Lafarge, the world's largest cement maker, and Shui On Construction and Materials Ltd are set to spinoff their cement joint venture, aiming to raise $500 million-$600 million from a Hong Kong initial public offering in 2010, sources close to the matter said.

Nasdaq OMX Group said the number of Greater China companies that list on its exchange could double in as little as two years, fueled by a growing appetite for these shares from a wider range of U.S. institutional investors.

Nasdaq listings by companies in the Greater China region could double in 2-3 years, as mainland firms make up a larger percentage of all foreign listings, an executive from Nasdaq OMX Group said on Friday.

Hewlett-Packard Co's $3.1 billion play for 3Com Corp will help the technology giant expand its product portfolio amid rapid industry consolidation -- and few think HP is done shopping.

U.S. consumer sentiment fell in early November amid a grim outlook for future job prospects, although separate data showing rising imports in September raised some hopes of renewed U.S. economic growth.

The head of the International Monetary Fund said on Friday the pace of the recovery in the U.S. economy remains sluggish but he does not believe there will be a double-dip recession.

The U.S. trade deficit widened in September by an unexpectedly large 18.2 percent, the largest increase in more than 10 years, as oil prices rose for the seventh straight month and imports from China bounded higher.

China is falling in love with Hyundai Motor. The South Korean company has accelerated to become the maker of the top selling foreign car brand in the world's largest auto market today from virtually nothing just seven years ago.