In spite of the steep price cuts offered, consumers in the US did not do a lot of shopping in brick-and-mortar stores on the weekend before Christmas, Reuters reported.

During the financial crisis when the deal markets were quiet, banks parted ways with their senior investment bankers. Now that business has slowly revived, lenders are seeing that they are left with junior bankers that are a little wet behind the ears.

Investors have received billions of euros from European companies so cautious about the economic outlook they could find nothing better to do with spare cash, but many now want boards to snap up rivals instead - and are rewarding them when they do.

Every day, through eyes clouded by glaucoma, Peter witnesses the spending power generated by Singapore's economic success, knowing he can only afford to look.

Two foreign investments in Chinese financial institutions this month suggest China will not turn away cash from countries it has taken diplomatic or trade measures against after blaming them for interference in its domestic affairs.

Retailers are going to be ramping up efforts to lure buyers on the final weekend leading up to Christmas but shoppers intend to spend less, Reuters reported.

A survey from Jana, a mobile platform that connects brands with consumers in the emerging markets, revealed that a good number of respondents from Asian countries know about the Bitcoin.

Venture capital investors and startup CEOs are feeling optimistic and confident about the venture ecosystem next year, according to a survey from National Venture Capital Association and Dow Jone VentureSource.

Tech investment in Brazil is set to grow by 6% and investments for IT training will almost double in 2014, according to a recent survey among 1,000 decision makers in large and medium enterprises.

The revival of initial public offerings in the US and Europe which started this year is set to continue next year, the Financial Times reported.