A building boom -- and the constrained supply of materials due to mandated energy cuts -- sent Chinese cement, metal and building-equipment stocks up Thursday. Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Japanese exporters benefited from improving consumer sentiment and falling unemployment in the U.S.
Political upsets in Peruvian regional elections could indicate a national shift to the left -- and some business leaders worry that could discourage foreign investment in the country, which has rich natural resources such as oil, gas and gold.
Tyco International Ltd. filed documents with the Securities & Exchange Commission to spin off its Electrical & Metal Products division, which accounted for about 8% of its revenue last year. The company previously announced plans to spin off the unit in April.
