An inflation-busting wage deal for Germany's biggest labor union agreed on Tuesday looks set to boost household spending this year after consumer activity propelled strong growth in Europe's largest economy at the end of 2014.
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British American Tobacco mulls $3.5 billion buyout of Brazil unit stake
British American Tobacco Plc (BATS.L) is considering a buyout of the 24.7 percent stake it does not already own in Souza Cruz SA (CRUZ3.SA), Brazil's largest cigarette company, in a deal that could cost about 2.3 billion pounds ($3.53 billion).
South Korea's Lotte proposes purchase of Italy's World Duty Free: report
South Korea's Lotte Group has submitted a proposal to acquire a controlling stake in Italy's World Duty Free SpA (WDF.MI) in a deal estimated at 3 trillion to 4 trillion won ($2.71 billion to$3.61 billion), Korean media reported on Tuesday.
Japan Inc shops abroad to duck bleak domestic prospects
With shrinking prospects at home and the threat of further yen weakness, Japanese companies are rushing to buy overseas and seem willing to pay top dollar, as shown by Japan Post's $5 billion bid for Australia's Toll Holdings (TOL.AX).
Visa Europe plans new security that could pave way for Apple Pay
Visa Europe has announced a new, more secure way for consumers to pay retailers via smartphones, a move that could set the stage for Apple's Apple Pay and rival payment services to be introduced into Europe in the coming months.
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Brent fell toward $58 a barrel on Tuesday, extending the 2-percent loss in the previous session, as oversupply fears lingered, overshadowing any optimism on the outlook for the global economy.
Asian share markets crept higher on Tuesday as Tokyo scored another 15-year peak, though gains were hostage to what Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen might say later in the day about the likely lift-off date for U.S. rate hikes.
AAR Corp (AIR.N) said it would sell its cargo handling business, Telair Cargo Group, to TransDigm Group Inc (TDG.N) for $725 million in cash to focus on its aviation services business.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Ltd, an aircraft leasing and maintenance company controlled by the government of Dubai, is looking to sell its aviation services unit, StandardAero, for more than $1.8 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.
Caution gripped Asian markets on Tuesday as investors fretted over what Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen might say later in the day on the likely lift-off date for U.S. policy tightening.
Italian industrial conglomerate Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI) is set to announce the sale of its shares in rail and signaling units AnsaldoBreda and Ansaldo STS (STS.MI) to Japan's Hitachi (6501.T) as soon as Tuesday, a source close to the matter said on Monday.
HSBC (HSBA.L) reported a 17 percent fall in annual pretax profit and cut its profitability target, saying allegations its Swiss business had helped customers to dodge taxes had brought shame on the bank.
Google Inc has partnered with several large U.S. wireless carriers to pre-install its electronic payment service on phones, as the companies seek to counter Apple Inc's recent entry into the nascent market for mobile payments.
Crude oil futures fell more than 2 percent on Monday as investors worried about oversupply and a strong dollar, but heating oil futures jumped 5 percent due to operational problems at major U.S. refineries.
