Continental European non-listed real estate funds have posted their first positive quarterly capital growth since 2007, as growth and confidence returns to the sector, an industry group said on Thursday. Capital growth in the third quarter of 2010 was 0.7 percent, compared to negative readings for 2008, 2009 and the first two quarters of this

Employment in Cyprus recorded an increase during the third quarter of 2010, according to data issued Wednesday by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union. Eurostat’s data show that compared to the third quarter of 2009, employment in Cyprus reached an increase by 0,7%. The number of persons employed in both the euro area

Hong Kong stocks slipped lower in weak turnover on Thursday morning, extending losses from Wednesday's 2% drop, with a fall in insurers offsetting a slight rebound in energy counters. The Shanghai Composite Index rose slightly, outperforming other Asian markets on the day, helped by gains in coal and oil majors and with the food and

Leaked U.S. diplomatic cables reveal BP suffered a blowout on an Azerbaijan gas platform in September 2008 and was fortunate to evacuate workers safely after a blast that preceded the one that killed 11 workers in the Gulf of Mexico in April, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported. Other cables leaked by the web site Wikileaks claim

India's Supreme Court said on Thursday it will oversee a widening investigation into allegations of corruption in the sale of telecoms licences worth billions of dollars, a scandal touching the heart of government. The government has struggled to contain the fallout from the sale of lucrative mobile phone licences at below-market prices in 2007-08. The

Cash-strapped Cuba achieved some of its economic goals in 2010, but will have to improve its performance if it wants to emerge from its chronic economic funk, a top government official said on Wednesday. Economic and Planning Minister Marino Murillo complained about a lack of discipline and other problems in the state-dominated economy in a

Top U.S. and Chinese officials said on Wednesday they had made progress on beef, software and other bilateral trade irritants, reducing some friction ahead of a presidential summit next month. "The understandings that we reached today will help to protect American jobs and bolster America's competitiveness and help to grow our economy," U.S. Trade Representative

European Union leaders will be warned on Thursday that a rolling debt crisis poses a systemic threat to the euro zone as they seek to paper over divisions at a summit on how to restore confidence. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will tell the 27 leaders that the crisis requires new steps by the

A deal that President Barack Obama struck with Republicans to extend tax cuts for nearly every working American and spur job growth moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for passage as early as Thursday. Many of Obama's fellow Democrats in that chamber strongly oppose the measure as favoring the wealthy, and are still angry