China Kidnap Outcome Plays Out Online

Encana Attracts Chinese Partner

Encana said it entered into a $5.43 billion deal with PetroChina to develop hard-to-reach natural-gas reserves, further deepening the energy ties between Canada and China.

ZTE Executive Calls for Less Government Interference

An executive at China's ZTE said the U.S. should promote a fair business environment, after the company encountered political obstacles when trying to supply network equipment to Sprint Nextel.

Australia Shares Rise on Exchange-Merger Talk

Asian stock markets were mostly lower Thursday, as investors traded on local cues. In Australia, stock exchange operator ASX surged after news of stock market consolidations offshore. The Nikkei was off 0.4%.

• Dow Ekes Out a Gain, Eighth in a Row

Esprit Reports 21% Profit Drop, Chairman Out

Esprit Holdings's fiscal first-half net profit fell 21% from a year earlier, weighed by its struggling wholesale business and European operations, while its chairman resigned.

Core Market Growth Fuels SingTel's Net

Higher revenue in its core markets of Singapore and Australia led Singapore Telecommunications to post a small but better-than-expected increase in its fiscal third-quarter net profit.

Canon Expects Dollar to Strengthen in Second Half

Canon Inc.'s chief financial officer said the Japanese electronics maker expects the dollar to rebound somewhat and average around 87 yen in the second half of 2011, on a recovery in the U.S. economy during the period.

Reliance Group Shares Rise

Shares of Reliance Group companies, controlled by Indian billionaire Anil Ambani, rose on bargain buying after they plunged 9%-19% Wednesday.

• Shares of Reliance Group Firms Slide

TPG Capital's Mary Ma Leaving to Start New Fund

Suicide Bomb Kills Pakistani Soldiers

Korean Talks End Without Agreement

Cambodia Conflict Clouds Thai Vote

Korea Trade Deal to Reach Congress Soon

Nissan Profit Rises 78%

India Fighter Jet Order Likely by March 2012

Yuan Rate Hits Record, Fueling Asian Currencies

Three Die in Fire at Tata Headquarters

India Car Sales Hit Record

Inflation Worries Spread

Carlyle China Deal Faces Trouble

Morgan Stanley Puts Mongolian Princeling to Work

U.S. Faults Drivers, Not Toyota

U.N. Cites Risk to China's Wheat Crop

Facebook Opens Hong Kong Office

Hong Kong Regulator Seeks to Freeze CEO's Assets

Australian Consumer Sentiment Rebuilds Slowly

Asia Fights Inflation With Stronger Currencies

U.S. Pakistan Aid Shows Little Progress

Death Follows Philippine Graft Probe