Hellas Online (HOL), a Greek internet provider, said on Tuesday its first-half loss narrowed despite the country's recession, helped by a cooperation deal to share clients with mobile phone giant Vodafone. HOL, Greece's second-largest alternative telecommunications provider, said pretax losses stood at 18.4 mln euros from 24.3 mln in the same period last year. The

Britain's City regulator slapped a $3.51 mln fine on the UK branch of Zurich Insurance for data security failings after the loss of a tape in South Africa containing details on 46,000 insurance customers. The Financial Services Authority said on Tuesday the 2.275 mln pound fine was the highest to date handed down to a

WPP, the world's largest ad firm by sales, lifted its outlook for the year after a strong performance from the United States and traditional media resulted in solid growth in the first seven months. Shares in the Martin Sorrell-led group fell 3.4% in early trading, however, after strong performances from rivals had pushed up expectations

Greece is on track in its efforts to cut spending and return to financial stability, and concerns that it could be forced to restructure its debt are unfounded, the EU's economic and monetary affairs commissioner wrote in the Wall Street Journal. "Greece has taken drastic, sometimes painful, steps to turn an unsustainable situation around," Olli

Japan's Nikkei average hit a 15-month closing low below 9,000 points on Tuesday, with hedge funds and foreigners seen selling amid mounting concern about the authorities' inaction on a strong yen, which threatens a fragile economic recovery. Market players said the close below the keenly-watched 9,000 level would likely feed downward momentum, with few technical

Crude fell for a fifth day and gasoline component RBOB tumbled to a 6-and-a-half month low, as the dollar strengthened and the end of U.S. summer holidays approached without triggering a seasonal stockpile drop. U.S. crude for October delivery fell as much as 56 cents to $72.54 a barrel, the lowest price since July 7.