U.S. HAS CONCLUDED NORTH KOREA IS BEHIND SONY HACK -- UPDATE
U.S. officials have concluded North Korea is behind the hacking
attack on Sony Pictures, elevating the issue from a question of
corporate security to national security, according to people
familiar with the investigation. (published 0045 GMT)
U.S. COURT REJECTS VALE BID TO DISMISS RIO TINTO LAWSUIT
A U.S. District Court rejected Brazilian mining company Vale
SA's bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging it conspired with Israeli
billionaire Benjamin Steinmetz to take a West African mine away
from rival Rio Tinto PLC. (published 2337 GMT Wednesday)
YUEXIU TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE BUYS 70% STAKE IN HUBEI SUIYUENAN EXPRESSWAY
Chinese highway operator Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure Ltd.
said it has bought a 70% stake in Hubei Suiyuenan Expressway Co.
Ltd. for 1.95 billion yuan, an effort to tap China's growth in
central and western regions. (published 0043 GMT)
ORACLE BEATS STREET VIEW FOR FIRST TIME IN A YEAR
The Oracle Corp. profit machine is back in gear. Best known for
databases used by many big businesses, the company posted quarterly
results Wednesday that were a pleasant surprise for investors who
had lost confidence in the company's ability to churn out reliable
financial results. (published 2309 GMT Wednesday)
UBS LOSES APPEAL IN FRENCH TAX EVASION PROBE
UBS AG failed to win relief from having to pay a 1.1 billion
euro bond as part of a French probe into assistance provided by the
Swiss bank to French tax evaders, prompting the lender to take its
case to the European Court of Human Rights. (published 2039 GMT
Wednesday)
ANZ SAYS IT IS WELL PREPARED FOR TOUGHER CAPITAL RULES
The chairman of one of Australia's largest lenders tentatively
welcomed a sweeping review of the financial system that has called
for banks to hold additional capital as a buffer against potential
financial crises. (published 0001 GMT)
CHINA APPROVES SYNGENTA BIOTECH CORN
China's Ministry of Agriculture has approved a controversial
biotech corn product that has been blamed for the collapse of U.S.
corn exports to the big Asian market, U.S. Agriculture Secretary
Tom Vilsack said Wednesday. (published 2202 GMT Wednesday)
AVON FORMALLY SETTLES FOREIGN BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS WITH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Avon Products Inc. settled foreign bribery charges involving its
China unit with the U.S. Department of Justice Wednesday, agreeing
to pay $67.6 million in criminal penalties. (published 2009 GMT
Wednesday)
EVA PRECISION INDUSTRIAL: EXPECT 2014 NET PROFIT TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY
Hong Kong-listed investment firm EVA Precision Industrial
Holdings Ltd. said it expects a significant increase in net profit
for 2014 from a year earlier, mainly buoyed by robust growth in
revenue as well as the cost-control measures adopted by the
company. (published 0010 GMT)
PERENNIAL CHINA RETAIL TRUST TO BE TAKEN PRIVATE
Perennial China Retail Trust on Thursday said trading in its
units will be suspended from Dec. 23 after its parent's holding in
the Singapore-listed trust rose above 90%. (published 0002 GMT)
MARATHON OIL TO CUT CAPITAL SPENDING IN 2015
Marathon Oil Corp. plans to cut spending in 2015, the latest
energy company to slim its spending plans amid tumbling oil prices.
(published 2308 GMT Wednesday)
CROESUS RETAIL FULLY HEDGES DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME TO PROTECT AGAINST YEN VOLATILITY
Croesus Retail Trust Thursday said it has increased hedging on
its distributable income to nearly 100% to protect itself against
volatility in the Japanese currency. (published 0053 GMT)
JEFFERIES'S HEAD OF GLOBAL HEALTH-CARE INVESTMENT BANKING RESIGNS -- UPDATE
Jefferies Group LLC's global health-care investment banking
head, Sage Kelly, has resigned from the investment bank to focus on
family matters, according to a memorandum seen by The Wall Street
Journal. (published 2203 GMT Wednesday)
PETROBRAS CEO LEAVES OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF RESIGNATION
The embattled chief executive of Brazilian state oil company
Petroleo Brasileiro SA left open the possibility of resigning amid
a major corruption scandal and expressed concern that related
investigations could compromise the company's production goals.
(published 2023 GMT Wednesday)