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• Can a Rimless Blackberry Avoid Extinction?

  

  Even after Canada-based Blackberry launched it's anticipated line-up of revamped smartphones and their surprise name change, investors were unimpressed as its stock slumped 12 percent.

• Beijing's Housing Market Surges in January

  

  Some 11,156 homes were sold in the capital from the beginning of the year to January 28, a 570 percent increase compared to the same period in 2012, a property agency says. However, supply could become a problem. CaiXin Online reports.

• Japan's PM Wows Voters with 'Abenomics'

  

  Shinzo Abe, Japan's political Lazarus, has burst from his grave at an almighty sprint. In the month since the nationalist prime minister reclaimed the office he lost in 2007 amid scandals, an election defeat and a debilitating bowel ailment, Mr Abe has been unstoppable. The Financial Times reports.

• Gold or Platinum—Which Will Get to $2,000 First?

  

  Gold and platinum have been locked in a tight race for the past month, with both trading currently around $1,680 an ounce, prompting the question – which precious metal will win the race to $2,000?

• Austerity in India: Defense and Welfare Spending to Be Slashed

  

  India's finance minister is putting welfare, defense and road projects on the chopping block in a last-ditch attempt to hit a tough fiscal deficit target by March, risking short-term economic growth and angering cabinet colleagues.

• Japan Factory Output Rises at Fastest Pace in a Year

  

  Japan's December factory output rose at the fastest pace in a year and a half and firms expect further gains, raising hopes that stabilizing global demand and exports will help pull the economy from its slump.

• Hackers in China Attacked The Times for Last 4 Months

  

  For the last four months, Chinese hackers have persistently attacked The New York Times, infiltrating its computer systems and getting passwords for its reporters and other employees. The New York Times reports.

• Nintendo to Post Unexpected Loss as Wii Successor Falters

  

  Nintendo, the world's leading gaming company by machines sold, said it will post an operating loss for a second straight year as the sales of its Wii U, successor to the 100-million selling Wii, faltered.

• Thai Tycoon Wins Control of Fraser and Neave

  

  Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi has raised his stake in Fraser and Neave (F&N) to more than 50 percent, turning his offer to buy the rest of the Singapore property and drinks conglomerate unconditional.

• Lenovo Logs Record Quarterly Profit, Beats Forecasts

  

  China's Lenovo Group, on track to become the world's top maker of personal computers, reported a record quarterly profit, up by a third from a year earlier, as it gained more share in the PC market and made inroads in the smartphone business.

• Beijing Shuts Factories as Smog Levels Surge

  

  Beijing temporarily shut down 103 heavily polluting factories and took 30 percent of government vehicles off roads to combat dangerously high air pollution, state media reported on Tuesday, but the capital's air remained hazardous despite the measures.

• LG Misses Forecasts as TV Profits Tumble

  

  LG Electronics fell short of consensus forecasts in quarterly earnings on Wednesday, with profits in its TV division tumbling to around one tenth of year-earlier levels as the world's No.2 TV maker bumped up promotional spending in the year-end holiday season.

• China's Used Car Market Outpaces New Sales Growth

  

  Used car sales in China grew faster than new car sales for a second straight year in 2012, and should account for half of all sales within seven years as the world's biggest autos market matures.

• China May End Ban on Videogames, but So What?

  

  Hints at a removal of the Chinese government's decade long ban on video-gaming have excited technology investors over potential gains for the industry, but analysts have warned the impact could be muted.

• POSCO Profit Slumps, Warns of 10% Cut in 2013 Sales

  

  POSCO, the world's No.5 steelmaker by output, reported a 51 percent slump in quarterly operating profit as tepid demand and falling prices offset lower raw material costs helped by a firmer local currency.

• Triple-Digit Oil in Sight as Global Economy Heals

  

  U.S. benchmark crude oil prices are expected to resume their march towards triple digits as stock markets respond to improved economic data in the U.S. and China, according to CNBC's latest oil market sentiment survey.

• Battery May Not be Source of Boeing's Dreamliner Woes

  

  The joint investigation into the Boeing 787's battery problems has shifted from the battery-maker to the manufacturer of a monitoring system.

• Toyota Regains Top Spot in Car Sales, Toppling GM

  

  Toyota Motors regained the crown as the world's top selling automaker in 2012, posting record-high sales and beating rivals General Motors and Volkswagen.

• Thai Takeover Opens Exit Door for Coveted F&N Chairman Lee

  

  Lee Hsien Yang, the brother of Singapore's prime minister and chairman of Fraser and Neave (F&N), will enter a new chapter in his corporate life - and could well leave F&N - as the group looks set to be taken over by Thailand's third-richest man.

• China December Industrial Profits Up 17% on Year

  

  Profits earned by China's industrial companies rose 17.3 percent in December from a year earlier to 895.2 billion yuan ($143.91 billion), official data showed on Sunday, as a fourth-quarter recovery helped offset poorer corporate results in the third.