Free Financial Today

BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) – China’s economic growth looks set to accelerate into the new year, with booming factories driving a December manufacturing survey to a 20-month high while South Korea’s exports to the country surged on strong demand.

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s manufacturing sector steamed ahead in December as strong rises in new orders and output drove a key economic survey to a 20-month high.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese airline All Nippon Airways is considering taking over the international routes of struggling rival Japan Airlines Corp, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said on Friday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks ended 2009 on Thursday with their best gains since 2003, driven by optimism about the economy’s recovery and a brighter outlook for profits.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks closed out 2009 with the best performance in six years, but monthly employment figures in the first week of the new year will keep investors focused on what is likely to be 2010′s reality — the economy’s struggle to recover.