CHINA

A dip in figures on China's non-manufacturing sector helped dampen financial markets optimism on Friday ahead of U.S. jobs data that will offer more clues on the strength of the world's top economy.

Asian shares and the euro fell on Friday as debt restructuring talks between Greece and its creditors dragged on, undermining sentiment, and investors sat tight ahead of U.S. jobs data that will offer more clues on the health of the world's top economy.

More than 45 auto manufacturers are expected to be competing globally in the electric vehicle market with approximately 75 models by 2015, according to a study from IHS Automotive Supplier Business. Depending on the strength of the global recovery of automotive markets and the speed with which the electric vehicle (EV) models are marketed and the supporting infrastructure, cumulative sales are expected to total 700,000 to 1 million.

Hitachi Ltd said on Friday that it would reorganize its operational structure in April by setting up five new groups, as it looks to accelerate growth in its social infrastructure business and continue overhauling its sprawling operations to boost profitability.

Four floors up overlooking the bustle of the cavernous Joy City Mall in Beijing, diners take a break from shopping to slurp noodles and nibble on dumplings at an Ajisen restaurant.

Asian shares and the euro fell Friday as caution set in ahead of key U.S. jobs data, which will offer more clues over the state of the world's largest economy, while Greek debt restructuring talks dragged on and undermined sentiment.

Russia shot down suggestions from some U.N. Security Council members of an imminent deal on a draft resolution aimed at stopping Syria's bloody upheaval, warning it would veto the current text if it were put to a vote on Friday.

Asian shares and major currencies were stuck in ranges Friday ahead of key U.S. jobs data, which will offer more clues over the state of the world's largest economy, while Greek debt restructuring talks dragged on.

The hype over Facebook's initial public offering has excited investors revisiting other social media companies, even though most of those stocks have plunged since the fanfare of their own IPOs.

China is considering increasing its participation in the rescue funds aimed at resolving the European debt crisis, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told journalists on Thursday.

Donald Trump officially endorsed Mitt Romney for president on Thursday, praising the Republican front-runner for his business sense and stance on foreign policy.

Venture capital firms are now placing more and bigger bets on Chinese internet companies, making China the second-largest recipient of venture capital financing in terms of deal volume for the first time in 2011.

Advanced Micro Devices' new chief executive delivered an enthusiastic pitch in his debut before Wall Street analysts, telling them he was getting the struggling PC chipmaker fit to fight in a quick-changing computer industry.

LVMH, the world's biggest luxury goods group, said the outlook for 2012 was excellent and hiked its dividend after rapid growth in Asia and at its Louis Vuitton brand helped it post a forecast-beating rise in full-year operating profit.

The Chevrolet Volt stands as the most heavily promoted - and harshly scrutinized - vehicle from General Motors Co in decades. And that's just version 1.0.

The rupee hit a three-month high on Thursday, encouraged by gains in domestic equities, and after manufacturing data in China and Germany boosted investor appetite in high-yielding emerging market assets.

The BSE Sensex rose 0.8 percent on Thursday to its highest close in nearly three months after strong manufacturing data in India and other major economies from China to Germany eased growth concerns and bolstered risk appetite.

Audi, the premium car brand of the Volkswagen Group , will launch seven new models in India and expand its dealers' network this year, as it looks to increase sales and market share in the luxury car segment.

Facebook aims to connect all two billion Internet users. So far it has captured 845 million of them. Of the rest, nearly 60 percent live in Asia and hooking them is going to be a daunting challenge.

Dow Chemical Co's quarterly profit and revenue missed Wall Street's expectations as demand for electronics, plastics and coatings plunged, causing the company to slash production and aggressively discount some products.

Aside from the brilliant blue tint, little Nong Yousui claims to be able to see in complete darkness, reportedly completing a test in a pitch-black room as proof. The report was originally shot by Chinese news channel CCTV in 2009, but has only recently gone viral across the Internet.