Business

Asian markets fall on global uncertainty; pound holds rally

HONG KONG , China (AFP) — Asian markets turned lower Wednesday following a negative lead from Wall Street and Europe, with analysts saying Britain’s shock decision to call a snap election added to global uncertainties. The pound held on to its gains after Prime Minister Theresa May announced a snap poll for June 8 as she looks to cement a mandate heading into key Brexit talks with her European Union counterparts. The move comes as France […]

Yahoo earnings beat expectations on cusp of Verizon merger

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Yahoo on Tuesday reported quarterly earnings that topped expectations as the pioneering internet firm remained on track to be bought by Verizon. Yahoo posted profit of $99 million in the first three months of this year on revenue of $1.3 billion, as compared to posting a loss on $1.09 billion in revenue in the same period last year. The California-based company said that it was continuing to work with […]

BSP, kinukonsidera ang mabilis na pagbubukas ng bank accounts

(Eagle News) — Kinukonsidera ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas na gawing madali sa publiko ang pagbubukas ng basic bank account. Ayon sa BSP, dapat ay mababa ang requirements, walang bayad, aberya at maintaining balance. Target ng BSP ang beneficiaries ng Conditional Cash Transfer Program na magbukas ng bank accounts dahil sa sa ganitong paraan ay direktang mapupunta ang kanilang pera sa account sa pamamagitan ng national retail payment system. Batay sa 2014 Consumer Finance Survey […]

China, Saudi Arabia expand oil cooperation to downstream sector

YANBU, Saudi Arabia (CCTV) — Cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in the oil industry has become closer in recent years, expanding from exploration to the refinery sector, a progress that Amin H. Nasser, president of Saudi Aramco, attributes to China-proposed “Belt and Road” initiative, which fits in well with Saudi Vision 2030. A typical case that inks their closer ties is Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company or Yasref, a joint venture in which Saudi […]

Google reaches $7.8 mn antitrust settlement with Russia

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Google on Monday agreed to pay a nearly $8 million fine and open its Android mobiles to competing search engines in Russia in an antitrust settlement reached after two years. The deal with Russia’s antimonopoly service (FAS) came after Yandex, the country’s biggest search engine, complained Google had an unfair advantage by pre-loading its search engine on Android phones. “We are pleased to announce that we have now reached a commercial […]

Asia markets fall but China growth figures upbeat

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asia stocks retreated Monday as tensions on the Korean peninsula weighed on sentiment, but data showing China’s GDP growth was higher than expected in the first quarter was a positive sign for the world’s second largest economy. Tensions between Pyongyang and Washington have soared in recent weeks as a series of North Korean weapons tests have wrought ever-more bellicose warnings from US President Donald Trump’s administration. During a visit to […]

China’s economy grows 6.9% in first quarter of 2017: gov’t

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s economy grew 6.9 percent in the first quarter of 2017, government data showed Monday, beating expectations in the latest sign of stabilization in the world’s second-largest economy. The reading was better than the median analyst expectation of 6.8 percent in an AFP poll. “The national economy in the first quarter has maintained the momentum of steady and sound development,” the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement. It added […]

Apple gets permit to test self-driving cars

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Apple has joined the list of companies with permits to test self-driving cars in California, according to an updated roster released on Friday by state officials. The iPhone maker has disclosed little about its ambitions when it comes to self-driving vehicles, with chief Tim Cook hinting at plans but the company declining to comment for news reports on long-idling rumors. Late last year, Apple revealed it is investing heavily […]

DTI chief: Philippines signs $200m worth of trade agreements with Qatar

DOHA, Qatar –The Philippines and Qatar have signed trade agreements worth $200 million during the final leg of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Gulf tour, Manila’s trade and industry secretary told reporters in Doha Sunday. Ramon Lopez said 6,000 jobs would be created in the Philippines as a result of the 13 agreements signed between private companies at the weekend, which covered areas such as health, defense and tourism. “The private firms in Qatar have shown great […]

Tesla’s Musk announces plans for semi-truck launch

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Tesla founder Elon Musk said Thursday the electric car startup is set to launch its first semi-truck in September, moving for the first time into that segment. Musk made the announcement in a tweet, offering few details about the plan, although he has spoken in the past about moving into the truck segment. “Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September. Team has done an amazing job. Seriously next level,” […]

Tokyo shares open lower after US strike on Afghanistan

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo shares opened lower Friday on rising geopolitical fears after the US military dropped a massive bomb in Afghanistan, adding to tensions over the Middle East and the Korean peninsula. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.11 percent, or 19.66 points, to 18,407.18 in first minutes of trading, while the Topix index of all first-section issues lost 0.49 percent, or 7.18 points, at 1,461.13. © Agence France-Presse

Steam train hits 100mph in UK in 50-year first

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — A steam train clocked 100 miles (161 kilometres) per hour on Britain’s mainline railway network for the first time in almost 50 years on Wednesday. Tornado, a Peppercorn-class A1 steam locomotive, reached the landmark speed during a test run aimed at proving it can operate passenger services at 90mph (145 kph). A steam locomotive has not hit 100mph in Britain since 1968, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. Built by […]