Business News: General

Over 60 per cent of companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange have seen their share value fall in the last two years, Parliament was informed.

Volkswagen named a 41-year-old former Porsche Holding sales expert who joined the Europe's largest carmaker only a year ago to its management board as new group head of sales and distribution starting next year.

Standard Chartered Plc said it planned to invest in several renewable energy projects in Asia worth over $800 million.

Japan Airlines Corp may have to pay about 100 billion yen ($1.1 billion) to settle derivatives transactions, a newspaper said on Friday, sending the struggling carrier's shares down 3 percent to a record closing low.

Big shareholders at Goldman Sachs have asked the U.S. bank, on track to deliver $20 billion in bonuses, to pass more profit to investors after it quadrupled quarterly net profit, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Cadbury suitors Ferrero and Hershey would likely break the UK confectioner up into separate businesses if a mooted bid for the company succeeds, an Italian newspaper reported.

Budget shortfalls pose a direct threat to millions of U.S. jobs, many in the private sector, as state and local governments lay off workers and cut spending on contracts and other business services, a think tank said on Thursday.

Shares of Sony Corp fell to their lowest in nearly four months on Friday after the electronics maker's new business strategy failed to convince investors it could deliver strong profit growth.

Nokia is to cut 330 research and development jobs in Finland and Denmark as it focuses on launching fewer, but more iconic, phones.

Lorry driver Zhang Jianwei isn't worried about cleaner fuel requirements that come into force in China next year, raising the price of motor fuels -- he will just keep buying cheaper, dirtier diesel at smaller stations.

AOL plans to cut one-third of its workforce, or about 2,500 jobs, in an effort to trim some $300 million in annual costs as part of the Internet company's planned spin-off from Time Warner Inc.

Democrats in the U.S. Senate geared up for a fierce battle over a new healthcare reform plan on Thursday as Republicans condemned the bill's price tag and tax hikes before the first crucial test vote on Saturday.

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives home on Thursday with no big policy breakthroughs after more than a week in Asia trying to recast the U.S. relationship with a dynamic region.

The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share index fell by 22 points at 1015 hours on Friday in sustained volatility caused by approaching expiry of futures & options contract.

Gold futures steadied near record highs on Friday as pressure from profit-taking was offset by the yellow metal's safe-haven appeal on cautious global economic outlook, analysts said.

The rupee recovered smartly by 15 paisa to 46.53/54 against the greenback in early trade on Friday on exporters dollar sales amid subdued local stocks.

Sony Corp said on Friday that its planned entertainment content distribution service for network-compatible TVs and other devices will be launched next year.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Budget carrier AirAsia said Friday its net profit totaled 130 million ringgit ($38.4 million) in the third quarter, buoyed by rising passenger numbers and income from add-on services.

Continuing its slide for the third straight session, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index Sensex lost nearly 118 points in opening trade on Friday on increased capital inflows by funds and retail investors, triggered by weak global markets.

Oil rose in Asian trade on Friday as investors bought the commodity at more attractive prices, but concerns over the strength of the global economic recovery has injected caution into the market.