Business News: General

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday completing a 2005 U.S.-India nuclear cooperation deal would boost investment opportunities in his country, a hopeful sign for U.S. companies eyeing India's potential $150 billion market in power plants.

SHANGHAI (AP) Chinese shares retreated Tuesday on policy uncertainty ahead of the government's annual economic planning meeting.

SINGAPORE (AP) Singapore's tourist arrivals fell slightly in October from a year earlier as global travel slowly recovered.

BEIJING (AP) China executed a dairy farmer and a milk salesman for their roles in the sale of contaminated baby formula severe punishments that Beijing hopes will assuage public anger, reassure importers and put to rest one of the country's worst food safety crises.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea's trade chief urged Washington on Tuesday to implement a stalled free trade deal, warning the U.S. would suffer if Seoul's agreement with the European Union takes effect first.

SINGAPORE (AP) Oil hovered below $78 a barrel Tuesday in Asia amid mixed signs about the global economy and crude demand.

SINGAPORE (AP) Oil slipped to near $77 a barrel Tuesday in Asia amid mixed signs about the global economy and crude demand.

BANGKOK (AP) Asian stock markets retreated Tuesday as China's warning to banks to control their lavish lending underlined the risks to an economic recovery driven by easy credit.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea pledged Tuesday to double aid to African nations over the next three years in an effort to better reach out to the continent rich in energy resources, growth potential and business opportunities.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea pledged Tuesday to double aid to African nations over the next three years in an effort to better reach out to the continent rich in energy resources, growth potential and business opportunities.

SHANGHAI (AP) China Eastern Airlines is teaming up with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, hoping to cash in on an online shopping frenzy to boost ticket sales.

Despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's expression of confidence on Monday in the US "capacity to bounce back" from economic turmoil, latest data suggests it is no longer India's top export destination, yielding the position to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2008-09.

Moody's Investors Service on Monday said the announcement by Reliance Industries Ltd that it is in initial talks to acquire Dutch petrochemicals giant LyondellBasell could result in a downgrade of RIL's Baa2 credit rating, depending on the size of the deal and how it is funded.

Funds with low cash holdings outperformed those with higher cash holdings in the long run. Also, while funds with higher cash holdings reduce losses in a falling market, they tend to miss out on a subsequent rally, according to a study by Crisil on equity funds ranked under Crisil-CPR (Crilsil-Composite Performance Rankings).

The initial public offer of Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Energy will open on December 7, with an aim to raise Rs 2,700 crore.

The government has allowed Max group chairman Analjit Singh and former Vodafone-Essar CEO Asim Ghosh to part-sell their respective stakes in Vodafone-Essar Ltd to Vodafone plc.

Reliance Industries' bid for LyondellBasell, if successful, could mark India Inc's highest buy-out that could range between $13-$15 billion (over Rs 60,000 crore), say top industry sources.

Dish TV India Ltd on Monday said it will raise $100 million through an issue of global depository receipts (GDR) to private equity firm Apollo Management.

Publicis Groupe mergest public relations units Publicis Groupe combines MS&L Worldwide, Publicis Consultants And Publicis Events to create MS&L Group, a public relations and events network.

On Monday, the price of gold touched an all-time record of Rs 17,534 for 10 grams on the Indian commodities market.