Japanese fair trade regulators raided last month the offices of Airbnb over suspected violations of antitrust laws, the home rental site has revealed, denying any wrongdoing.

Next year's iPhone could be redesigned completely and is being tipped to feature a curved display. Nikkei reports that Samsung will manufacture the curved display for Apple.

The organisers of the 2020 Olympic Games, which will be hosted in Tokyo, are considering using recycled electronics to create the medals for the event.

Apple is expected to cut production of its latest iPhone models by about 30% in the January-March quarter due to mounting inventories, the Nikkei reported, rattling the nerves of investors in the US giant’s Asian suppliers.

Some modern smartphones often struggle to make it through a full day on a single charge. Sony appears to have found a solution and is developing a battery that lasts 40% longer than a normal lithium battery.

Public support for Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has fallen after the passage of controversial national security bills,

British publishing group, Pearson is in talks to sell its 50% stake in The Economist to the other shareholders of the weekly newspaper, with one, Italy’s Agnelli family, confirming it wants to increase its stake.

Nikkei’s $1.3bn (€1.18bn) purchase of the Financial Times from Britain’s Pearson marks the culmination of decades of attempts by the Japanese household name to break into mainstream English-language media.

Pearson PLC, the owner of the Financial Times, has agreed to sell FT Group to Nikkei Inc. for £844 million (€1.2 billion).

Further evidence of how the ECB interfered in eurozone countries’ economies, including Ireland’s, has been revealed by former ECB president Jean Claude Trichet.

Optimism is probably one of the most precious, mercurial human characteristics.

Markets fell across Europe yesterday as equities across most sectors turned lower.

INTERNATIONAL stock markets enjoyed a rare consecutive day’s rise yesterday as optimism surrounding positive solutions to the eurozone debt crisis being found gathered momentum.

Japan has promised to overhaul nuclear safety standards once it regains control of the wrecked Fukushima complex, admitting its current safeguards were not enough.

Japanese stocks rebounded today, recovering some of the massive losses sustained over the last two days following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Japan’s Nikkei stock index nosedived nearly 11% today as the earthquake-shattered country faced an unfolding nuclear crisis after a radiation leak was detected at a crippled power plant and residents were warned to stay indoors. Other Asian markets also tumbled.

Japan's leading shares have nose-dived after the country's massive earthquake.

GLOBAL stock markets made modest gains yesterday as investors appeared to keep their powder dry in anticipation of what 2011 will bring.

Better-than-expected results from US investment banking giant JP Morgan failed to inspire the London market today as the FTSE 100 Index stuck close to its opening mark.

Toyota said around 270,000 vehicles sold worldwide, including luxury Lexus sedans, have faulty engines. It did not say whether it would recall the vehicles.

Fresh optimism over economic recovery prospects ensured the London market started the new year in the same fashion it ended 2009.

The FTSE 100 Index struggled to make headway today after poor data in the United States fuelled worries over the pace of economic recovery.

AIB and Bank of Ireland led the sharp 4.5% drop on the Irish Stock Exchange in what was a dismal day for many Irish shares.

The FTSE 100 Index dived 4% to a six-year low today as investors ran for cover after another blow to confidence in the banking sector.

IRISH stocks bounced back yesterday finishing in positive territory for the first time in 12 days.

Toyota, the world’s biggest car maker, is preparing to set a 2009 global vehicle production target of about 6.5 million vehicles, the lowest in six years, it was reported today.

IRISH share prices gathered some momentum in Dublin yesterday, lifting the ISEQ 100 Index off the 13-year low it hit on Wednesday.

The most miserable 12 months for Japanese stocks finally come to an end, closing with a modest climb that did little to mollify the year’s historic haemorrhaging.

Japan’s Nikkei index tumbled nearly 7% today as Asian markets plunged over spreading pessimism about the world economy.

Stock markets slumped today after more grim economic news from the US stoked fears that the world’s largest economy is plunging into a deep and protracted recession.

Banking stocks were back under pressure today as the London market extended yesterday’s losses.

Japan is set to inform the US and Britain later this week that it will withdraw its naval refuelling mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan on November 1, a news report said today.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marked the 60th anniversary of Japan’s constitution today by calling for a bold review to allow the country to take a larger role in global security and foster a revival of national pride.

JAPANESE stocks rose with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average surpassing 18,000 for the first time in more than six years.

JAPANESE stocks fell yesterday, paced by exporters such as Toyota Motor and Sony on speculation that European finance ministers will seek to halt a slide in the yen against the euro that has boosted earnings.

JAPANESE stocks fell yesterday, led by companies that outperformed benchmarks last year such as Canon and Honda Motor Co., as investors sought to lock in the benefit of gains before they are eroded.

JAPANESE stocks declined for the first time in seven days yesterday, led by brokerages such as Daiwa Securities Group, after the nation’s securities watchdog recommended Nikko Cordial be fined because of false earnings statements.

NEW YORK: the Dow Jones closed unchanged at 10717.5.

NEW YORK: the Dow Jones closed down 11.4 at 10784.8.

The London market continued its good run today as mining and leisure stocks lifted the FTSE 100 Index to a fresh four-and-a-half year high.

NEW YORK: the Dow Jones closed up 18.5 at 10796.3.

NEW YORK: the Dow Jones closed down 105.5 at 10777.8.

NEW YORK: the Dow Jones closed down 6.2 at 10883.3.