China's manufacturing is contracting in May for the first time in seven months, adding to signs that economic growth is losing steam for a second quarter.

TOKYO�Japanese stocks tumbled the most in two years on Thursday, as weak Chinese manufacturing data, higher bond yields and a stronger yen prompted widespread selling in record trading volume.

A government inquiry in Bangladesh will recommend life in prison for nine people arrested in connection with the deadly collapse of a garment factory complex just outside the capital, Dhaka, according to a report Tuesday by the Reuters news agency.

A report Wednesday on U.S. sales of previously occupied homes in April may show the housing recovery has crossed a critical threshold.

Call it Elon Unchained. With the early repayment yesterday of Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA)'s loan from the U.S. Energy Department, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk is free to run the electric-car maker for the benefit of himself and other shareholders.

Wed May 22, 2013 11:22am EDT. May 22 (Reuters) - The following is a list of scheduled U.S. agency bill sales from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 2013.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde is testifying this morning at a Paris court investigating her decision to allow an arbitration that benefited a supporter of former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Lenovo Group Ltd. (992), the world's second-biggest maker of personal computers, reported a 90 percent gain in fourth-quarter profit after increasing its market share and boosting smartphone sales.

Irvine grew faster than all but seven other large U.S. cities between July 2011 and July 2012, with its population vaulting to nearly 230,000 last year, new census data show.

The US Federal Reserve heralded the beginning of the end for its third round of quantitative easing as Ben Bernanke said it could slow the $85bn-a-month pace of asset purchases �in the next few meetings� if the labour market is strong.