Carrefour Battles Tough European Market
French retailer Carrefour said that it continued to gain ground
in its efforts to kick-start growth despite difficult business
conditions in Europe as it reported an increase in full-year
operating profit.
Adidas Fourth-Quarter Loss Widens
Adidas reported a significantly wider fourth-quarter loss, hurt
by goodwill impairment losses, negative currency effects and losses
from its discontinued Rockport unit.
AbbVie to Buy Pharmacyclics in $21 Billion Deal
AbbVie said late Wednesday it will buy cancer biotech
Pharmacyclics in a $21 billion deal that returns the North Chicago,
Ill., drug company to deal-making after backing away from a big
tax-lowering takeover last year.
Apple to Mass Produce Larger iPad in 2nd Half
Apple suppliers have been told to start production of a
larger-screen iPad in the second half of this year as the U.S. tech
giant wrestles with new designs and features for the enterprise
market, people familiar with the matter say.
Simon Property Group Seeks to Takeover Macerich
Simon Property Group has made takeover approaches for rival
Macerich, seeking to combine two of the largest shopping-mall
owners in the U.S. The latest approach came within the past few
weeks, and followed an earlier one late last year, according to
people familiar with the matter.
Standard Bank's New Focus Lifts Profit
Standard Bank, the biggest African lender by assets, reported a
12% rise in its 2014 net profit as it continue to dispose of
non-African business and is focusing more sharply on the
continent.
RBA's Lowe Says Global Easings Affecting Local Rates
Aggressive monetary easings and currency devaluations by the
world's central banks are having a big impact on the setting of
interest rates in Australia, while keeping the local currency
artificially high, the country's central bank said.
Rio Tinto Clears Hurdle on Controversial Coal Pit
Rio Tinto cleared a hurdle toward its hoped-for expansion of one
of Australia's largest coal pits Thursday, with state planning
officials in New South Wales recommending that a controversial
extension of the mine be approved.