The US activist investor Daniel Loeb has bought a stake in a Japanese retailer Seven & I Holdings. Though the details about stake and valuation are not revealed, Loeb-run hedge fund Third Point is believed to have acquired stake below five percent. After the sale, the Japanese retailer is expected to take up restructuring exercise enhance profitability, reducing underperforming merchandise stores. Seven & I Holdings operates over 18,000 outlets under the brand 7-Eleven across Japan. Seven & I has decided to shut about 40 unprofitable Ito Yodado stores in the next five years.

The Finnish Social Institution (Kela) has started to draw up plans to create a basic income model that would provide a guaranteed income for the people whether they work or not.

The rising costs of labor and infrastructure are paving the way for more opportunities being created via the internet. The online-based ventures are growing up in China and also enhancing the efficiency of the traditional enterprises as well. Mobile internet is changing the way consumer market behaves in the world's second-largest economy. Initially, the technology innovation doesn't happen in a consumer market, but it takes place in the enterprise segment. The consolidation is very slow in the traditional Chinese business when compared to the western part of the world.

The technology tie-ups between the US technology giants and Chinese firms have become a center of debate as the close business relations have under current exposure to sensitive defense technology. Security analysts express their concern about possible harm to the national security of the US. In association with US technology firms, Chinese companies are becoming self-reliant in defense technology triggering the alarm bells for the US national security.

Chipotle Mexican Grill closed all its restaurants in Seattle and Portland due to an outbreak of E. coli bacteria. The Huffington Post reported that 43 Chipotle restaurants in the Pacific Northwest region have temporarily been closed due to the E. coli scare.

The newly-approved crowdfunding norms will enable start-ups to mobilize funds from mom-and-pop investors over the internet. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has okayed the new rules on crowdfunding with a majority voting of three to one. The Business Startups (JOBS) act has been enacted with bipartisan support to facilitate new startups with more flexibility in the mobilization of funds. SEC also changed the audit provisions of the crowdfunding rules.

In a bid to ease the mounting tension emerging from workers, United Continental Holdings Inc has suspended the outsourcing of jobs at the airport. The workers of United Continental expressed their concerns about measures of the company for job cuts. United already slashed 1,100 jobs early this year citing reasons for cost control. Since then, it's been involved in hiring outsourcing staff as part of cutting down costs and existing regular employees. The airline has assured employees that there wouldn't be outsourcing until 2017.

Microsoft has launched the second generation of the company's smart health tracker, Microsoft Band 2. Firstly announced at Microsoft's event earlier this month, the device is now available in the US store and will be available in the UK on November 19.

GoPro Inc has announced quarterly results below the market forecast as the demand for new cameras has been sluggish in the market. Recently launched wearable cameras haven't been received well by the market.

Contrary to economists' expectations, the number of approvals in UK mortgages suddenly dropped in September for the first time in the past four months. The mortgages rose significantly in August indicating the highest level since early 2014.

General Motors promised The United Auto Workers union a $1.9-billion investment in US operations that would add 3,300 union jobs in the country under a proposed four-year contract.

Housing advocacy groups claim that local governments in Brazil are using the Olympics to defend forced evictions and segregation in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, the Ghana Olympic Committee has held a meeting with National Federation Presidents to prepare towards the2016 Games.

Microsoft officially anounced its Arrow launcher for Android. A customization application that enable Android users to modify how their device look and behave. The application is now officially available for download in Android Google Play.

Oracle Corporation, through its CEO Safra Catz, unveiled the company's plans to build a high school on its Redwood Shores campus.

There are new enhancements in Google Photos, including better app performance, face matching features, and it can also allow users to hide photos of specific people.

Apple and Irish band U2 collaborated on a 360-degree U2 music video produced by Vrse App, a platform for original VR content. The U2's "Song for Someone" music video is Apple's first experiment in mixing VR and music videos.

The first share sale made by an Indian airline in six years has gone on to receive bids that were 6 times more than the $460 million target set by the company. The company that held an IPO was InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., an air transportation services company with headquarters in Gurgaon, India.

Gold prices are at their lowest in three weeks after the Federal Open Market Committee announced that they won't push through with the interest rates hike.

Team messaging app Slack is launching new feature on group chat. The new feature makes a user in a group to be able to break into a private discussion with up to eight people, nine including the user.

Samsung Electronics announces the Samsung Galaxy View, an 18.6-inches tablet. This new product is designed to sit between a tablet and TV. But with its 18.6-inch large display, Samsung Galaxy View is less of a tablet and more of a portable touch TV.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the Italian-US automobile company being the parent company of Ferrari, floated to the public 17.18 million shares accounting for nearly 10% of Ferrari at $52 a share at its IPO at the NYSE.

Singapore-based Biosensors International Group announces that the company has received an offer for an acquisition from a Chinese private equity fund, Citic Private Equity Funds Management Co., for an undisclosed amount.

UK's performance in the third quarter further slowed down. The gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate in July-September quarter was at 0.6 percent lower than 0.7 percent in the previous quarter.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc agreed to acquire Rite Aid Corp for $17.2 billion in cash to further expand the company's role in the distribution of medications in the U.S.

Japanese engineering conglomerate Toshiba announced on Wednesday that it will sell its image sensor business to Sony for a reported 20 billion yen, as it plans to overhaul its semiconductor business, which is still recovering from a $1.3 billion scandal.

Revlon, Inc. has recently exceeded their goal of raising $1 million on crowdfunds for women's charity organizations, mainly owing to the support of mega stars such as Halle Berry, Emma Stone, Olivia Wilde, among others.

Obamacare premiums for the benchmark silver insurance plan will increase by an average of 7.5 percent next year. CNN Money writes that the Department of Health and Human Service reported Monday that the increase will be imposed in 37 states through the federal Obamacare exchange.

Home-based businesses have proven to be one of the best business start-ups. With a good goal-setting attitude and strong discipline, one can easily enjoy the benefits that home-based business brings.

The 44th Tokyo Motor Show is open to the public from October 30 to November 8. This is where the car manufacturers, especially Japanese ones, reveal new car concepts and designs.

Paypal Holding Inc announced that its Working Capital Loans for small businesses has lent more than $1 billion to over 60,000 small businesses in the U.S., U.K., and Australia.