THE world’s leading provider of business software solutions has selected Belfast as the location for its first research centre in Ireland or Britain, it was announced yesterday.

Invest Northern Ireland have announced that software firm, SAP AG, is to set up a research centre in Belfast.

THE European Parliament has rejected a law on patents for software, ending a three-year effort by companies including Nokia Oyj and Siemens AG to counter US domination of Europe’s $60 billion (€50.3bn) market.

Wall Street showed some resilience today, closing mixed even as oil prices settled at a new high and raised more concerns about inflation.

SAP AG and Intel today announced a joint effort that aims to make radio frequency identification (RFID) technology easier to use.

The European Commission has opened an in-depth inquiry into the US tech giant Oracle's recent acquisition of software company PeopleSoft, which could last up to four months.

SAP AG - the German maker of business-management software, posted higher fourth-quarter earnings Thursday and gave an upbeat outlook for 2003 despite market uncertainties.