Turn, a marketing software and analytics platform, was able to get $80 million from its Series E round from two of the biggest investment firms in the world.

Mobile analytics company Kontagent which merged with PlayHaven last month was able to raise $4.8 million, according to a VentureBeat report which cited a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Volusion was able to obtain a 35 million credit facility from Silicon Valley Bank, the first external funding the ecommerce firm received since it was established in 1999.

As demand for debt backed by commercial mortgages rise in recent months, yield-hungry investors are ready to make bets on loans packaged to non-traditional properties, the Financial Times reported.

Google has acquired Nest Labs, a startup established by former Apple employees, for $3.2 billion. According to a Financial Times report, the move is seen as a bold bet on what is called the "internet of things."

In a move that will pave the way for the creation of more jobs and encourage more investment in the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron will be giving councils that allow shale gas developments to continue, Bloomberg reported.

UK oil engineering company Amec Plc has agreed to buy Foster Wheeler for $3.2 billion, paving the way for Amec to expand operations overseas, Bloomberg reported.

In a $47 million deal, Paris-based oil firm Total will be acquiring a 40% stake in licenses held by Dart Energy for two exploration areas in the eastern portion of England, Bloomberg reported.

Swiss insurer ACE Ltd agreed to buy a 60.9% stake in Thai insurance firm Siam Commercial Samaggi Insurance in a $185 million deal as it joins other insurance in making its presence felt in Southeast Asian insurance markets, Reuters reported.

The Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission will be supervising companies scheduled to hold their IPOs more strictly as it plans to hold spot checks for investor roadshows, Bloomberg reported.

UBS AG Chief Executive Officer Sergio Ermotti belied rumors that the biggest lender in Switzerland will be spinning off its investment banking business, Bloomberg reported.

Sanofi will be purchasing a 12% stake in Alnylam Pharmaceuticals as well as access to the drugs it has developed for rare diseases, Bloomberg reported.

Drugmakers from Europe are getting lured to the Boston-Cambridge area as the biotechnology boom makes it the envy of other biotechnolgy hubs in the world, Bloomberg reported.

German-based carmaker Volkswagen intends to introduce a mid-sized sports utility vehicle for its North American market in 2016 as part of its $7 billion investment program, Bloomberg reported.

Power Assets Holdings, the firm controlled by Li Ka-shing, has reduced the initial public offering size of Hong Kong's second largest power supplier, HK Electric Investments, Bloomberg reported.

Banks are growing more reliant on the growing market for equities as they get nearly half of their fourth quarter investment banking revenues from equity trading and underwriting, the Financial Times reported.

As the US economy shows signs of improvement and the dollar continues to show signs of growing strength, emerging markets could experience a crises, the Financial Times reported.

After struggling with increased book sales from online rival Amazon and others, German Catholic Church-owned publishing house Wetbild filed for insolvency and placed 6,000 jobs on the line, the Financial Times reported.

Alcatel-Lucent is in talks with interested buyers, including Unify GmbH & Co. KG, for the sale of its enterprise business, according to sources interviewed by Bloomberg.

The 2012 controversy involving the private equity industry and Washington has not stopped the industry from continuing to offer former public officials with huge paydays, Politico reported.

The Bank of America is discouraging its junior investment bankers from working on weekends as it seeks to promote better work-life balance for its employees, the Financial Times reported.

Despite a slowdown in venture capital fundraising last year, there were more venture firms that closed capital in 2013 compared to that of the previous year, according to the Wall Street Journal blog Venture Capital Dispatch citing data from DJX LP Source.

While other governments have not provided regulations about the digital currency, Singapore has issued regulations about how merchants can manage Bitcoin taxation and related transactions.

Activist investors like Elliott Associates are seeking for an overhaul of the property portfolio of Wm Morrison, the fourth largest supermarket chain in Britain, the Financial Times reported.

Private equity-owned luxury retailer Neiman Marcus Group Inc said a cyber breach in the middle of December may have compromised some of its customer cards, Bloomberg reported.

A report from the Australian Financial Review said Telstra Corp, the largest phone company in Australia, is already in the advanced stages of talks with a private equity firm to sell Sensis in a deal worth $2.7 billion, Reuters reported.

Assemblyman Jeff Gorell has proposed to put a measure before California's voters to halt bond sales to finance the state's high-speed rail system, Reuters reported.

Target Corp said the cyber breach of its payment cards during the holiday shopping season was more extensive than what it had initially believed, Reuters reported.

Pimco Total Return Fund, the biggest bond fund in the world, increased its US government-related holdings in December to 45% from 37% in November, Reuters reported.

Monster Beverage Corp, an energy drinks maker, is still an ideal target for beverage companies like Coca-Cola Co seeking to augment its sales, Bloomberg reported.