asia

Asia's Wacky Business Ideas

These products may be wacky and weird, but somehow, in Asia, they make business sense. Check out these unusual innovations that have caught fire across the Pacific.

World Stocks Surge; Dow Breaks All-Time High

World stock markets rose Tuesday as investors applauded China's pledge to stick to economic growth targets for its economy, the world's second largest. Outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao said the government would spend what it needs to meet the target of 7.5 percent enshrined in the latest five-year development plan.

Barclays to Cut 3,700 Jobs As Part of 'Project Transform'

Barclays new chief executive pledged a fresh course for the British lender on Tuesday, axing at least 3,700 jobs and pruning its investment bank as he seeks to rebuild its reputation and boost profitability after a series of scandals.

Markets Cautious Ahead of Debt Ceiling Vote

Stock markets traded cautiously on Wednesday ahead of a U.S. vote on raising the nation's borrowing limit temporarily. The House is set to vote on a motion to increase the nation's $16.4 trillion borrowing ceiling for three months.

U.S. Trade Gap Hit $48.7 Billion in November

The U.S. trade deficit expanded in November to its widest point in seven months, driven by a surge in imports that outpaced only modest growth in exports. The Commerce Department said Friday that the trade gap widened 15.8 percent to $48.7 billion in November from October.

Major Banks Cutting 160,000 Jobs Worldwide -- With More to Come

Major banks have announced some 160,000 job cuts worldwide since early last year, more layoffs are coming as the industry restructures. The numbers are much higher in Europe than in Asia or the United States -- and those loses will be a particularly heavy blow to Britain.

Northeast Air Travel Still Stalled, Thousands of Flights Cancelled

Hurricane Sandy grounded more than 18,000 flights, and it will be days before travel gets back to normal. Authorities closed the three big New York airports, and the ripple effects from the shutdown of the nation's busiest airspace are dramatically affecting travelers in cities far and wide.

From Supersized to Super-Sighs: Is McDonald's Growth Era Over?

McDonald's is showing signs of tarnish on the Golden Arches. Goldman Sachs downgraded its shares due to a slowdown in growth. And with challenges overseas and resurgent competition everywhere, things are unlikely to turn around anytime soon for the world's largest restaurant chain.

Unilever Bulks Up in China With an Eye on the Future

Unilever, the second largest consumer goods company in the world, recently announced plans to build one of its largest production bases in China. Unilever already has sales in China worth over $20 billion and anticipates a substantial increase in this figure in the years ahead.

Gas Prices Around the Globe: The Highs and the Lows

With U.S. gas prices near historic highs, Americans are anxious about the cost of filling up. But we still feel far less pain at the pump than drivers in many other developed nations. On the flip side, if you drive in the right world cities, you can still pay less than $1 a gallon.

iPhone vs. Android: Google May Be Winning the War in China

Deutsche Bank's insightful technology analyst Jonathan Goldberg says Android has already pulled away from the pack in China. And not just in smartphones and tablets: Android is finding its way into all sorts of platforms, from laptops to set-top boxes to ATMs.

Without Steve Jobs, What Kind of Apple Would Carry On?

The company has already proved that it can thrive while the CEO is away. But what's still not clear is whether Apple can remain far more than a tech company once he truly retires. Whose vision can possibly keep Apple the cultural phenomenon that Jobs has made it?