Business News: General

Playboy Enterprises Inc will outsource all its publishing operations except for editorial to American Media Inc in a bid to cut costs and return its namesake magazine to profitability in two years.

BEIJING (AP) Asian stock markets rose modestly Wednesday in a session damped by evidence that recovery in the world's biggest economy is likely to be slow and bumpy.

BEIJING (AP) Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday after more evidence that recovery in the world's biggest economy is set to be slow and bumpy.

A deal for General Motors Co to sell Saab collapsed on Tuesday when the buyer pulled out in a move that threatens a 60-year-old Swedish auto brand with closure after mounting losses.

Toyota Motor Corp will recall about 110,000 older model Tundra pickup trucks in the United States due to corrosion problems, the U.S. government and the automaker said on Tuesday.

The United States has beaten Singapore to become the single-largest investor in the Indian equities market, with a net investment of Rs 21,345 crore as on November 10, as per data presented in the Lok Sabha by the finance ministry.

TOKYO (AP) Japan's exports in October dropped 23.2 percent from a year earlier the slowest pace of decline in a year, the finance ministry said Wednesday.

TOKYO (AP) Japanese exports in October fell by the smallest amount in a year, the government said Wednesday, as stimulus spending by governments worldwide lifted demand.

Ajay Kaul Washington, Nov 24 (PTI) India and the United States today said they would intensify economic cooperation, bilateral trade and investment to create more jobs and perk up the global economy hit by the financial meltdown.

A deal by General Motors Co to sell its Saab brand collapsed on Tuesday when the buyer pulled out in a move that threatens the Swedish luxury brand with closure.

Lalit K Jha and Ajay Kaul Washington, Nov 24 (PTI) With just two weeks left for a crucial climate change meeting in Copenhagen, India and US today made "progress" on the issue and agreed on the need for a "substantive and comprehensive outcome, which would cover mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology".

Luxury goods sales will return to growth next year with profitability increasing more than revenues thanks to strong cost containment policies in 2009, according to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch report.

New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) Sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh are considering paying Rs 190-195 per quintal to sugarcane farmers in their attempt to pacify the growers and keep the mills running.

Mumbai, Nov 24 (PTI) The National Stock Exchange today said it is proposing to introduce a new mutual fund service system (MFSS), which will enable its members to use the existing infrastructure for transaction in MF schemes.

Mumbai, Nov 24 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange today launched its new market access platform--Fastrade.

Kolkata, Nov 24 (PTI) The indefinite strike called by the CITU at Haldia Petrochemicals HPL) was called off today following an agreement between the West Bengal government, the union, the contractors and the company.

Swiss giant Nestle is scanning the bid battle for Cadbury for a chance it might get back a lucrative U.S. licence for its KitKat chocolate bar or pick up gum and candy in a breakup bid.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 24 (PTI) With most mega projects in Orissa delayed due to land acquisition problems, the state government has decided to set up a panel to take care of issues related to rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) of the people affected by these plans.

Chandigarh, Nov 24 (PTI) The Punjab government today approved seven mega projects in the state with an investment outlay of Rs 1,269.49 crore.

It may be fantasy M&A, but little GFI Securities has a suggestion for putting Cadbury and Hershey together without bankrupting the buyer.