Ava M Pioker

Heineken NV (HEIA.AE) Friday made an offer to buy Singapore beverage maker Fraser And Neave Ltd.'s (F99.SG) entire stake in Asia Pacific Breweries for 5.1 billion Singapore dollars (US$4.06 billion), in a move that could trigger a takeover battle between the Dutch beer maker and suitors linked with

Japanese stocks ticked lower in early Friday trading after ending higher the previous session, as banks and steel makers helped lead the retreat.

Australian shares edged lower on Friday, retreating after recording their best one-day performance since early January in the previous session.

Two labor unions representing about 45,000 workers from Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) have requested federal mediation in their ongoing negotiations with the telecom company.

Spanish oil company Repsol YPF SA (REPYY, REP.MC) said Thursday it is studying the possible sale of its liquefied natural gas assets in an effort to improve its financial position and its liquidity.

Vivendi SA (VIVEF, VIV.FR) would be open to the sale of GVT, its Brazilian telecom unit, Reuters reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Riot police fired rubber bullets to disperse small groups of protesters in central Madrid early Friday at the end of a mass demonstration against economic crisis measures.

Sustained growth of Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) core Office and enterprise software businesses cheered investors even as the software giant swung to a fiscal fourth-quarter loss--its first quarterly loss in at least 20 years--after a write-down and increase in deferred revenue related to a Windows 8

China has told its local governments to keep a firm grip on the housing market to prevent property prices from rebounding, state media reported Friday, citing an urgent government notice.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd. (TWE.AU) said Friday non-executive director Paul Rayner will become its chairman, replacing the outgoing Max Ould.