HUTCHISON WHAMPOA SAYS IN EXCLUSIVE TALKS TO BUY U.K.'S O2 FOR POTENTIALLY MORE THAN $15 BILLION 

Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa said it has agreed to entered into exclusive talks to buy U.K. mobile-phone operator O2 for potentially more than GBP10 billion in what would be the latest big consolidation move in that country's fast-changing wireless market. (published 0507 GMT)

 
 
CHINA INSURANCE PREMIUM GROWTH AT 17.5% IN 2014 

Chinese insurance companies recorded 17.5% growth in premiums last year to 2.02 trillion yuan, a vice chairman of China's insurance regulator said on Friday. (published 0540 GMT)

 
 
KIA MOTORS TO RAISE END-2014 DIVIDEND BY 43% TO 1,000 WON A SHARE 

Kia Motors Corp. said Friday it would increase its dividend for last year by 43% as part of its shareholder-friendly policy. (published 0559 GMT)

 
 
UBER RESTARTS OPERATIONS IN NEW DELHI -- UPDATE 

Uber Technologies said Friday that it had restarted operations in New Delhi after the car-hailing service was barred from India's capital in December. (published 0520 GMT)

 
 
INVESTORS BET BOX INC. CAN GROW BEYOND STORAGE BUSINESS--UPDATE 

Investors in Box Inc.'s initial public offering Thursday are betting the software maker can grow beyond the commodity business of online storage and into a suite of tools tailored for industries such as health care and retail. (published 0120 GMT)

 
 
SANY HEAVY EQUIPMENT INTERNATIONAL EXPECTS 50%-60% DROP IN 2014 NET PROFIT 

Chinese heavy-machinery maker Sany Heavy Equipment International Holdings Co. said late Thursday it expects a 50%-60% drop in net profit for last year, as weak demand for coal hurt sales of coal-mining equipment. (published 0145 GMT)

 
 
CAPITAMALL TRUST FY 2014 DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME S$375.3 MLN; UP 5.4% 

Singapore's largest real-estate investment trust CapitaMall Trust said Friday its distributable income for the 2014 financial year rose 5.4% partly buoyed by the high occupancy rate of its shopping malls due to the proximity of transportation hubs and large population catchment areas. (published 0052 GMT)

 
 
TENAGA NASIONAL SHARES SURGE ON 1Q PROFIT 

Shares of Tenaga Nasional Bhd surged Friday following a sharp rise in net profit in the first fiscal quarter. (published 0143 GMT)

 
 
T-MOBILE TO TAP SUBPRIME CUSTOMERS 

T-Mobile US Inc. is giving subprime subscribers another chance amid an escalating battle for customers in the wireless business. (published 0028 GMT)

 
 
QUALCOMM GRANTS MORE STOCK TO RETAIN TOP EXECUTIVES 

Qualcomm Inc., citing aggressive attempts by rivals to recruit its senior managers, moved to retain them with compensation that included two stock grants valued at a total of $50 million for its chief executive. (published 0017 GMT)

 
 
DIMON, BLANKFEIN GET LUCRATIVE PAY PACKAGES -- 3RD UPDATE 

Two Wall Street giants are putting more cash in their CEOs' pockets this year. (published 0048 GMT)

 
 
SANDS CHINA: CHAIRMAN SHELDON ADELSON WILL BE APPOINTED AS CEO EFFECTIVE MARCH 6 

Hong Kong-listed Sands China Ltd., a casino operator in Macau, said Friday its chairman Sheldon Adelson will be appointed as chief executive officer with effect from March 6. (published 0455 GMT)

 
 
CHAIRMAN OF CREDIT SUISSE'S CHINA PARTNER BROKERAGE OUT OF CONTACT SINCE JAN. 19 

Lei Jie, the chairman of Founder Securities Co., has been out of contact since Jan. 19, the company said in a statement. (published 0422 GMT)

 
 
STARBUCKS PICKS A PRESIDENT FROM TECH INDUSTRY-- 2ND UPDATE 

Starbucks Corp. tapped a longtime technology-industry leader as its No. 2 executive, reflecting the coffee giant's increasing emphasis on digital payments and other innovations to drive its growth. (published 0014 GMT)