Hong Kong shares rose on Wednesday, helped by an improving global economic outlook, with retailers gaining ground after strong sales figures from cosmetics firm Sa Sa International Holdings and Italian fashion house Prada SpA. The Hang Seng Index closed up 0.7% at 23,307.41. The China Enterprises Index of the top Chinese listings in Hong Kong
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Boeing Co has found a way to fix battery problems with its grounded 787 Dreamliner jets which involves increasing the space between cells. "The gaps between cells will be bigger. I think that's why there was overheating," said a source, who declined to be identified because the plans are private. The 50 Dreamliners in commercial
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Bulgaria's government resigned from office on Wednesday after nationwide protests against high electricity prices, joining a long list of European administrations felled by austerity. Prime Minister Boiko Borisov had tried to calm protests by sacking his finance minister, pledging to cut power prices and punish foreign-owned companies but the measures failed to defuse discontent and
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British retailer JD Sports Fashion is set to make its first move into the Netherlands after opening talks to take on a handful of properties there, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. JD, which sells clothing and footwear from brands including Nike and Adidas, is in talks to acquire around 15 leases from
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Despite market activity gaining momentum early in 2013, funding and liquidity pressures will persist for Spanish banks over the coming months, Moody's Investors Service said Wednesday. A number of larger Spanish banks accessed the capital markets with senior and covered bond issuances last month and the largest (and strongest) banks announced the early repayment of
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BMW is recalling 569,830 of its vehicles in the United States and Canada due the chance of an electrical failure that may cause the cars to stall unexpectedly, U.S. regulators and the company said. The recall affects Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's popular 3-Series sedans, convertibles, coupes and sports wagons as well as its 1-Series coupes
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Italy's centre-left moved on Tuesday to quash fears that it will form a weak government after next weekend's election, saying it was committed to rapid economic reform and that outgoing premier Mario Monti must have a frontline political role. "We are fully aware that inertia is not an option. We have no time to waste.
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– Death brings worldwide death toll from new virus to six – Previously unknown coronavirus emerged in Middle East – Health officials say risk to public remains low (Adds quotes from health officials, background, latest research) A British man infected with a new virus from the same family as SARS has died, health officials said on
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Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to four Western European countries as well as Turkey, Egypt and the Gulf from Feb. 24 to March 6 on his first trip as the top U.S. diplomat, the State Department said on Tuesday. Kerry will visit London, Berlin, Paris and Rome, where he will attend a gathering
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Fears are growing in Berlin that Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi may return to centre-stage after this weekend's election, imperilling Rome's reform drive and the euro zone's tentative emergence from its debt crisis. It is unclear whether 76-year-old Berlusconi, a scandal-ridden media tycoon and four times prime minister, will win enough support to wield
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