Markets

Wal-Mart's move pressures Target

Everyday low prices may not mean everyday low wages for employees at Wal-Mart ... and soon at other companies. The move by the U.S.' largest retailer to hike its minimum wage in America could spill

Feb 21, 2015

UK public finances improve

A welcome boost for Britain's coffers. The biggest monthly surplus in seven years, thanks to a rise in British income tax receipts. The Office for National Statistics reported a January public

Feb 20, 2015

What would Grexit look like?

The possibility of a Greek exit - or "Grexit" from the euro zone back on people's lips, as talks over Greece's financial future continue to flounder. In 2012 it was a similar picture. The difference

Feb 20, 2015

Fashionistas descend on London

A fashion show - with a difference. Naomi Campbell strutted her stuff at Somerset House in aid of her Fashion Against Ebola campaign. A host of famous faces joined her including the Duchess of York

Feb 20, 2015

Deere cuts profit forecast, hurt by weak equipment sales

Farmers are hurting and that's bad news for Deere. The world's largest farm-equipment maker reported a 43 percent drop in its first-quarter profit, while sales declined 17 percent-- though it did top

Feb 20, 2015

Critical Greek talks underway

Crunch time for Greece. Euro zone finance ministers meeting in Brussels are hoping to break a deadlock over the country's bailout - which is due to expire in just over a week. Greek finance minister

Feb 20, 2015

BP loses bid to cut oil spill fine

It's a case of two steps forward, one step back for BP. The oil giant has made huge progress turning the company around since the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill which left it with billions of dollars

Feb 20, 2015

Nasdaq up for seventh straight session

The Nasdaq rose for the seventh straight session, driven by biotech stocks. The Composite getting closer to the 5,000 mark. But stocks mostly ended in the red zone amid uncertainty over the prospects

Feb 20, 2015

Apple sued for poaching staff

Apple's being sued for poaching talent. The lawsuit comes from car battery maker A123 Systems. It's a further sign that the iPhone maker may be trying to get into the electric car business. The suit

Feb 20, 2015

Ukraine: what next from the West?

A ceasefire barely a week old. If not already dead, then suffocated by claims and counterclaims. This is from a Ukrainian soldier who - though it wasn't clear whether he was speaking under duress -

Feb 19, 2015

Wal-Mart hikes wages, profit tops estimates in the fourth quarter

Walmart posted a strong profit and raised wages for its employees. The world's largest retailer topped earnings estimates in the key holiday quarter. It also said starting in April… hourly workers

Feb 19, 2015

Ball says we can together to UK's Rexam

They're already the world's two biggest makers of drinks cans. Now they want to combine to become a global packaging giant. US company Ball Corp has offered a cash-and-stock deal valued at 4.43

Feb 19, 2015

Swiss treats from Re and Nestle

Some disappointment - but sweetened by the promise of better things to come from two of Switzerland's biggest companies, Nestle and Swiss Re. Nestle - maker of KitKat chocolate and Nescafe, reported

Feb 19, 2015

Germany pours cold water on Greece deal

Not good enough - Germany's response to Greece's request for a six month loan extension. Athens offered up major concessions but ran into strong objections from the EU paymaster. The German finance

Feb 19, 2015

Sheepish year ahead for global economy?

A celebratory mood, as Zhang Qiyue, China's consul general in New York rang the Nasdaq opening bell to celebrate Chinese New Year, the most important holiday season on the Chinese calendar. 2015 is

Feb 19, 2015