Seven tips to lift a man's love life
A few home truths for men, from the women you'd like to be dating.
World Business
Regulation
EU won't ring-fence big banks: report
4:35pm The European Union is set to drop financial reforms that would force big banks to ring-fence their retail departments from riskier investment operations, reports say.
Tapering
Central banks split on stimulus in 2014
12:46pm The united stimulus front of central banks is starting to splinter as 2014 dawns.
US
Bernanke strikes upbeat note in swan song
Despite trimming its bond-buying stimulus, the Fed remains committed to ultra-low rates, Ben Bernanke has said in what could be his last speech as Fed chairman.
China
Fox found in Wal-Mart China’s donkey meat
Wal-Mart says it's adding DNA tests of meat it sells in China after recalling donkey products from a local supplier that authorities said contained fox DNA.
US Economy
US jobless rate falls, manufacturing accelerates
US factory activity held near a 2-1/2-year high in December and the number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell again last week
Media
Rupert Murdoch gives up on China with Fox’s sale of TV stake
Christopher Williams Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox is selling its 47 per cent stake in Star China TV, which operates three Mandarin-language television stations.
Food
Top harvests worldwide ease pressure on costs
Elizabeth Campbell Consumers could be in for a treat as rises start to ease.
Economy
China manufacturing dips to three-month low in December
China's factory activity expanded at the slowest pace in three months in December.
Gas
Anti-trust concerns over Leviathan gas may prompt selloff
The Israeli and US companies developing the massive Leviathan natural gas field off Israel’s coast may have to sell their stake in two smaller fields to avoid being branded a cartel.
Food
Spaniards divided over new olive oil ruling
Raphael Minder Tougher labelling laws mean the end for the cruet.
Commodities
Bumper coffee crop to cut prices further after three years of falls
Luzi Ann Javier Coffee futures lost further ground this week, capping longest run of annual declines since 1993, on concerns that a global glut will increase as crop conditions improve in Brazil.
Media
Chinese magnate wants to buy New York Times
Shan Li A spotlight-loving Chinese business mogul said Tuesday that he wanted to expand his empire into media by purchasing The New York Times.
Rural India transformed by roads and phones
Kartik Goyal Policies to lift rural living standards are working.
US
FedEx sued by New York over cigarette 'racket'
FedEx has been accused by New York City of taking part in a racketeering conspiracy by shipping tons of untaxed cigarettes.
US
Crocs CEO departs with private equity bailout as popularity slides
The company that makes Crocs shoes is getting a $US200 million ($226.3 million) bailout from a private equity fund, and its CEO is retiring.
Banking
Sons and daughters: How JPMorgan wooed China’s elite
Ben Protess and Jessica Silver-Greenberg After failing to secure a lucrative Chinese contract in 2009, JPMorgan’s top executives, smarting from the loss, decided the solution was to embrace their rivals’ strategy, hiring the children of China’s ruling elite.
New Zealand’s cows come home in its own commodities boom
MICHAEL PASCOE It’s bad enough losing the rugby, but in 2014 Australians will have to suffer Kiwis getting uppity about their economy as well.
Technology
Tech world trends: the innovations to expect in 2014
Jon Swartz As Apple, Twitter and Samsung compete for domination, the old guard has not yet given up in the fight for the electronic dollar.
Insurance
US airlines get insurance against terrorism and war
Alan Levin, Jodi Schneider, Washington Coverage extended for four carriers that otherwise would have lost it at the end of the year.
Automotive
Hyundai replaces US unit CEO after sales growth lags
Craig Trudell Automaker names new US CEO after sales trailed the US market's pace in the last year.
Apple CEO receives pay increase despite gains falling behind S&P; 500
Ari Levy Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook received compensation valued at $4.25 million this year, a 1.9 percent increase over 2012, even as the iPhone maker's stock gains lagged behind the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
Off limits, but blessed by the Fed
Gretchen Morgenson Documents show how the Fed gave JPMorgan Chase a free hand to expand in businesses like electricity that are typically off limits to big banks.
Tech
Apple makes new bid for Samsung sales ban
Apple is again seeking to ban sales in the US of Samsung products that are now no longer on the market.
Europe
UK would grow faster by exiting EU, says study
Britain will surpass France and Germany to become Europe's biggest economy by 2030, according to a study.
Economy
Argentina economy woes continue
Katia Porzecanski Twelve years after defaulting, Argentina is still struggling to regain the trust of its people.
Credit
US corporate borrowing in a purple patch
Matt Robinson This year issuers took advantage of borrowing costs averaging a record low 3.83 per cent.
Comment
Japan's young guns beat the drum for innovation
Martin Fackler An entrepreneurial spirit is challenging old ways.
Retail
UPS fails to cope with Christmas deliveries
Craig Trudell Amazon.com offers customers compensation as gifts miss Christmas.
Retail
Americans stay home as Christmas store traffic drops 21pc
US store visits plummeted 21 per cent and retail sales dropped 3.1 per cent in the week through Saturday, signalling a lacklustre finish for the most important selling season of the year.
Tech
China deal gives Apple a big market to court
Eric Pfanner and Brian X. Chen Just about any way you slice it, 763 million customers is a huge potential pie.
