CHINA

Growth in China's factory output is likely to fall slightly to 12-13 percent in 2012 due to weakening global demand, the industry ministry said on Thursday, but that level probably still implies a comfortable GDP growth rate of 8-9 percent next year.

China has been forced into self-help mode after a series of international crises have hollowed out its export markets and left it feeling like the only man standing.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) on Monday started notifying customers of United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Italy that it would hold its annual one-day shopping event on Friday, a day after Thanksgiving, at its retail stores and on online store.

Exports of Swiss luxury watches, particularly in Asia have reached an all-time high with China emerging as a major market for high-end products.

Knee-deep in foul-smelling water, workers are piling office equipment, documents and food onto fiber boats that ferry them from one building on Hana Microelectronics' 12-acre company site to another with more space on higher floors.

The market is expecting that China would loosen its monetary policy in the coming months, and many believe a selective easing has already begun, and that more serious easing will come soon.

The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Pozen, Andatee China Marine Fuel Services, Power-One, Cirrus Logic, and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: BGC Partners, Jack Henry & Associates, Perion Network, Alaska Communications Systems Group, and Dendreon.

Japanese stocks hit a two-and-a-half-year low and the euro struggled on Thursday after a disappointing German bond sale raised alarm that Europe's ever-worsening sovereign debt crisis is starting to affect even the continent's economic powerhouse.

The euro fell to a six-week low against the yen on Thursday and Asian stocks were subdued after an unsuccessful German bond sale raised alarm that Europe's ever-worsening sovereign debt crisis is starting to affect even the continent's economic powerhouse.

U.S. consumer spending growth slowed in October and business capital investment plans were weak, raising questions about expectations for solid economic performance in the fourth quarter.

Ever wondered what the U.S. economy might look like should there be another Lehman Brothers-style bank collapse? Well, it would not be pretty.

Sustainable economic growth is one of the key questions facing economists today, especially when it comes to developing countries.

Stocks tumbled about 2 percent and were on track for a sixth straight day of losses on Wednesday as frustration over the euro zone debt crisis coupled with weak Chinese factory data sank sentiment.

Microsoft, the world’s biggest software company, may be preparing for a renewed bid for troubled search engine Yahoo. Microsoft’s $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo was rejected in 2008.

Chinese group Minmetals Resources has extended its $1.3 billion takeover offer for Africa-focused Anvil Mining to December 9, to allow more time to resolve a dispute over contracts with Congo which threatens to scupper the whole deal.

Johannesburg stocks fell to their lowest close in a month on Wednesday, as weak Chinese factory data sparked concerns about demand from the world's second-largest economy, hitting miner Assore and luxury good maker Richemont.

Stocks tumbled again on Wednesday, leaving the benchmark S&P 500 on pace for a sixth straight decline as frustration with the euro zone's debt crisis coupled with weak Chinese factory data sank investor sentiment.

Consumer spending growth slowed in October and business capital investment plans were weak, raising questions about expectations for solid growth in the fourth quarter.

Stocks tumbled again on Wednesday, leaving the benchmark S&P 500 on pace for a sixth straight decline as frustration with the euro zone's debt crisis coupled with weak Chinese factory data sank investor sentiment.

Deere & Co reported a 46 percent rise in quarterly earnings and projected substantial growth for 2012 amid strong global farming conditions and higher prices, sending its shares higher in an otherwise weak stock market.

Stocks fell about 1 percent on Wednesday, putting the S&P 500 on track for a sixth straight losing session as the euro zone crisis and weak Chinese data weighed on sentiment.