CITIGROUP CONSIDERS SALE OF JAPAN RETAIL UNIT: UPDATE

Citigroup Inc. is considering the sale of its retail-banking business in Japan, where the U.S. financial giant has had a presence for decades as a leading Western bank, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday. (published 1632 GMT Tuesday)

 
N.Y. FINANCIAL WATCHDOG FINES STANDARD CHARTERED $300 MILLION -- 3RD UPDATE

Standard Chartered PLC will pay a $300 million penalty to New York's financial regulator and impose measures to correct lapses in its anti-money-laundering procedures, the New York State Department of Financial Services said Tuesday, as part of a settlement with the British lender. (published 1804 GMT Tuesday)

 
SESA STERLITE PRESSED TO PAY DAMAGES FOR FAILED ASARCO DEAL

India's Sesa Sterlite Ltd. has lost a bid to block a bankruptcy-court order requiring it to pay an $82.75 million judgment stemming from its failed attempt to acquire Asarco LLC, a U.S.-based copper miner. (published 2040 GMT Tuesday)

 
MIGHTY RIVER POWER NET PROFIT UP SHARPLY IN FY 2014

Energy generator Mighty River Power Ltd. reported its net profit rose sharply in the 2014 financial year due primarily to a one-off cost that had weighed on the prior year's results. (published 2109 GMT Tuesday)

 
FLETCHER BUILDING FY14 NET PROFIT RISES

Fletcher Building Ltd.'s 2014 net profit rose even as the construction and building materials retailer was hit by a significant one-time cost related to the sale of Pacific Steel and Hudson Building Supplies businesses. (published 2124 GMT Tuesday)

 
PENSKE MEDIA TO BUY FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS FROM CONDÉ NAST FOR NEARLY $100 MILLION

Penske Media Corp., the owner of Hollywood trade publications Variety and Deadline, is acquiring Women's Wear Daily and other fashion-industry publications from Condé Nast for nearly $100 million, said a person with knowledge of the deal. (published 2129 GMT Tuesday)

 
SAMSUNG UNIT TO PAY $2.3 MILLION TO RESOLVE FALSE CLAIMS ALLEGATIONS ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Samsung Electronics America Inc. has agreed to pay $2.3 million to resolve allegations it had given erroneous information to Samsung resellers, which resulted in government agencies buying products made in nonauthorized countries, the Justice Department said Tuesday. (published 2140 GMT Tuesday)

 
SNAPCHAT DISCUSSING NEW CONTENT SERVICE WITH ADVERTISERS AND MEDIA FIRMS, SOURCES SAY

Snapchat Inc., the mobile app for disappearing messages, could soon be a service for disappearing videos, news articles and advertisements. (published 2214 GMT Tuesday)

 
WOODSIDE PROFIT RISES ON OIL OUTPUT

Woodside Petroleum Ltd. reported a 27% increase in first-half profit, as crude-oil prices stayed high and a vessel that pumps oil from deep below the sea off northwestern Australia resumed work following maintenance. (published 2314 GMT Tuesday)

 
YANCOAL RECORDS LOSS, SAYS COAL MARKETS TO REMAIN WEAK

Yancoal Australia Ltd. said it doesn't expect a marked improvement in global coal markets in the year ahead, as the China-backed miner reported another first-half loss. (published 2315 GMT Tuesday)

 
CHALLENGER TO RAISE A$280M TO FUND ANNUITIES GROWTH

Challenger Ltd., one of Australia's biggest annuities providers, plans to raise 280 million Australia dollars to help fund growth as it anticipates booming demand from retirees. (published 2324 GMT Tuesday)

 
WARM AUSTRALIAN WINTERS BITE AGL ENERGY

AGL Energy Ltd., one of Australia's biggest energy retailers, Wednesday said its annual profit fell after mild winter weather crimped demand for heating. (published 2337 GMT Tuesday)

 
COCA-COLA AMATIL PROFIT FALLS ON WEAK AUSTRALIAN SALES

Coca-Cola Co.'s Australian distributor reported a 16% decline in first-half profit as its Australian soft-drinks unit remained locked in a retail-price war, and subdued consumer spending meant promotions didn't bolster sales as hoped. (published 2353 GMT Tuesday)

 
WESFARMERS RETURNS A$1.21B TO SHAREHOLDERS AFTER PROFIT JUMPS

Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd., which owns everything from supermarkets to coal mines, said Wednesday it would return more than 1.2 billion Australian dollars to shareholders after it boosted its annual profit by 19%. (published 0032 GMT)