IBT Staff Reporter

Singapore state investor Temasek bought $2.3 billion worth of ICBC's Hong Kong-listed shares from seller Goldman Sachs , piling into three of China's top four banks and raising its bet on the world's second-biggest economy.

Apr 16, 2012

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear the latest appeal by former Enron Corp Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling seeking to overturn his criminal conviction over the collapse of the Houston-based energy trading giant more than a decade ago.

Apr 16, 2012

Retail sales showed unexpected vigor in March as Americans shrugged off high gasoline prices and bought a range of goods, suggesting economic growth in the first quarter was probably not as weak as many had feared.

Apr 16, 2012

As China continues to struggle through a major political scandal which has led to the purge of Bo Xilai, formerly one of the country's most visible and respected leaders, Premier Wen Jiabao used the opportunity to warn against corrupt behavior within the Chinese government.

Apr 16, 2012

Homebuilder sentiment ebbed in April for the first time in seven months as prospective buyers remained hesitant to pull the trigger, the National Association of Home Builders said on Monday.

Apr 16, 2012

Beauty product company Coty Inc, whose $10 billion bid for larger rival Avon Products Inc was rejected earlier this month, reaffirmed its original cash offer of $23.25 per share on Monday.

Apr 16, 2012

Wal-Mart Stores Inc Chief Executive Mike Duke earned $18.1 million last year, down from $18.7 million in the previous year, as sales growth at the world's largest retailer fell short of its goals.

Apr 16, 2012

Wall Street opened higher on Monday as retail sales in March eased concerns about a slowing economic recovery and Citigroup earnings helped lift bank shares.

Apr 16, 2012

Wall Street was poised for a higher open on Monday after the worst weekly drop for the S&P 500 this year as retail sales in March and Citigroup earnings topped expectations.

Apr 16, 2012

U.S. retail sales rose solidly in March as Americans shrugged off high gasoline prices and bought a range of goods, implying that economic growth in the first quarter was probably not as weak as many had feared.

Apr 16, 2012

Citigroup Inc's first-quarter profit beat Wall Street estimates as expenses fell 7 percent from the 2011 fourth quarter.

Apr 16, 2012

Retail sales rose more than expected in March as Americans shrugged off high gasoline prices and bought a range of goods, suggesting that economic growth in the first quarter did not slow as much as many had feared.

Apr 16, 2012

WASHINGTON, Apr 16 - Retail sales rose by 0.8% in March and for the third month, 'core' retail showed solid growth. March's gain is some two times larger than expected after February's 1% advance (originally up 1.1%), when the market thought there would be slowed activity after February's accommodative weather had pulled consumption forward.

Apr 16, 2012

Citigroup Inc reported lower first-quarter profit on Monday as the bank worked to contain expenses in the face of volatile capital markets.

Apr 16, 2012

Beauty product company Coty Inc, whose $10 billion bid for larger rival Avon Products Inc was rejected earlier this month, said it might raise its offer if it was invited to examine the direct seller's books.

Apr 16, 2012

Stock index futures advanced on Monday ahead of retail sales data, indicating the S&P 500 may climb after suffering its worst weekly decline of the year.

Apr 16, 2012

Fierce debate is growing in Europe over whether austerity or growth offers the best strategy to overcome the continent's sovereign debt crisis. As if it were that simple.

Apr 16, 2012

Standing before a crowd of McDonald's Corp shareholders at its headquarters last spring, an unlikely investor prepared for battle.

Apr 16, 2012

President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are laying a political trap for Republicans to be sprung on Monday when the U.S. Senate is slated to vote on the proposed Buffett Rule, which would slap a minimum tax on the highest-income Americans.

Apr 16, 2012

Danish oil and shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Monday partner and shipowner Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller died on April 16.

Apr 16, 2012

Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said on Monday he was continuing to monitor the risk that Europe's debt woes could affect Japan's banking system, just as renewed fears about the euro zone spooked financial markets.

Apr 16, 2012

Samsung Electronics Co <005930.KS> said on Monday it would unveil the third-generation of its flagship smartphone Galaxy S on May 3 in London, banking on a heavy marketing campaign heading into the summer Olympics in the city.

Apr 16, 2012

President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are laying a political trap for Republicans to be sprung on Monday when the U.S. Senate is slated to vote on the proposed Buffett Rule, which would slap a minimum tax on the highest-income Americans.

Apr 16, 2012

The U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement will enter into force next month, far earlier than expected, as a result of what the Obama administration called historic progress for Colombian worker protections and human rights.

Apr 15, 2012

The world's top copper producer, Chile's Codelco bought copper from outside sources earlier this year to meet its deliveries to customers, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

Apr 15, 2012

The principles of openness and universal access that underpinned the Internet's creation are facing their greatest-ever threat, the co-founder of Google Sergey Brin said in an interview published by Britain's Guardian newspaper on Monday.

Apr 15, 2012

South Korea's central bank on Monday trimmed its forecast for economic growth in Asia's fourth-largest economy this year due to a global downturn and weak domestic demand.

Apr 15, 2012

Gu Kailai and Bo Xilai, an elite power couple in China, are at the center of a shocking political scandal involving the death of a British national.

Apr 15, 2012

Would you bulletproof a Kia? If you live in Brazil, the answer could very well be yes - to guard against robbers at stop signs in Sao Paulo or traffic jams in Brasilia.

Apr 15, 2012