CHINA

Stock markets in Asia are expected to move along with the global markets in the coming week in the absence of significant events. Market participants are likely to turn their attention to the U.S. and developments in Europe.

China has once again gotten under the skin of its neighbors -- this time with a few offending strokes on a map, printed on its revised passports, that show Beijing staking its claim on the entire South China Sea, Taiwan and regions of contention between India and China.

Asian stock markets reported their best weekly gains in two months this week as investor sentiment turned positive on signs of an improvement in global manufacturing, while expectations that U.S. lawmakers will soon arrive at a consensus to avoid the "fiscal cliff” also lifted market sentiment.

Driving to become the world's largest automaker by the end of this decade, Volkswagen AG said Friday it plans to make €50.2 billion ($64.7 billion) in strategic investments during the next three years.

Mexico's name was originally designed to follow the example of the United States of America.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Friday as signs of an improvement in global manufacturing buoyed the sentiment.

Walmart and Bharti Enterprises have suspended the chief financial officer and other staff belonging to their joint venture in India pending the outcome of an investigation into a bribery charge.

Despite his resignation after a sex scandal, many pundits believe former CIA director David Petraeus is still the best choice for CIA boss.

Crude oil prices advanced in Asia Thursday after a private survey showed that China’s manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in more than a year in November.

Asian shares rose Thursday as a survey showed China's manufacturing sector expanded for the first time in 13 months in November.

The yen fell to a 7-1/2-month low against the dollar Thursday, lifting Japan's Nikkei share average to a six-month high, on expectations of aggressive policy action under an expected new government.

Investment banks will continue to swing the ax in the years ahead.

Following the close of the 18th Party Congress in China, self-immolation by Tibetans was expected to stop. Instead, reports from monastery towns still describe people burning themselves in protest.

The demand for the precious metal by industry is expected rise following a two-year slump.

China, whose public support for the Palestinians has been a key characteristic of its policy in the Middle East, Wednesday said it would host an envoy of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the crisis in Gaza.

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) acknowledged it needs new blood to move to the mobile era. That's why CEO Paul Otellini will retire.

The ASEAN Summit ended with little mention of territorial disputes. Leaders were far more concerned about keeping trade alive.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) reported fourth-quarter results below estimates and announced an even bigger writedown than expected.

U.S. President Barack Obama, in his first meeting with China’s outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao since the presidential election, overlooked the maritime disputes between the Southeast and East Asian nations and instead laid the emphasis on establishing clear rules for trade and investment between the U.S. and China.

Foreign direct investment inflows into China fell in October compared to that in the same month last year, as investors, who are concerned about the renewed debt crisis in the euro zone and also increasing trade relations with Japan, cut down on spending.

The Bank of Japan Tuesday kept its key policy rate unchanged and refrained from announcing any monetary easing measures in spite of the political pressures to pursue aggressive stimulus steps for reviving the economic growth momentum.