Nissan-Renault alliance in sales record in tough year

The Renault-Nissan partnership's global vehicle sales increased 10% last year to a record high. Deliveries by the two car companies and their Russian partner AvtoVaz rose to 8.03 million vehicles, up from 7.28 million in 2010. Renault-Nissan chief…

Fannie Mae CEO to resign

Fannie Mae CEO Michael Williams plans to resign, the government-controlled mortgage giant said Tuesday. Williams, who took over as president and CEO of the troubled company in 2009, will continue as CEO until Fannie Mae's board names a successor.…

China export growth slows on weak demand from Europe

Growth in China's exports slowed in December because of sluggish demand from the US and Europe. Exports rose by 13.4% from a year earlier, the customs agency said, down from 13.8% in November. Import growth also slowed, rising 11.8% compared with…

Gov’t accused of ‘enslaving’ CLICO policyholders

Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj has accused the coalition People's Partnership government of seeking to "enslave" policyholders even as the High Court is being asked to enforce their right to full compensation on the Executive…

French industrial output rises more than expected

French industrial output rose by a greater-than-expected 1.1% in November, lifted by production of electronic equipment and refinery output. Manufacturing output increased by 1.3%, said national statistics office Insee. Year-on-year, manufacturing…

Key tax deductions left hanging

It may be a new year, but when Congress returns from its winter break it will be all old business that lawmakers failed to finish before Christmas. The fight over a temporary extension of the payroll tax cut and long-term federal unemployment…

Swiss National Bank chairman Philipp Hildebrand resigns

The chairman of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), Philipp Hildebrand, has resigned with immediate effect. It follows revelations his wife Kashya bought $504,000 (£323,024) in August, three weeks before the central bank intervened to cap the Swiss…

New loans beat forecast, as authorities ease credit

China's lending and money supply grew at a faster pace than expected as the country relaxed its credit restrictions. New loans worth 640.5bn yuan ($101bn; £65.6bn) were issued in December, up from 562.2bn yuan in November. Last month, the central…

Rolls-Royce car sales hit new record

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has reported a 31% rise in sales during 2011 to 3,538 cars. The growth rate was weaker than that seen last year, when sales rose 150%. The year's sales nevertheless marked a fresh record for the BMW luxury marque.…

Hong Kong Airlines places $3.8bn Airbus A380 order

Hong Kong Airlines (HKA) has placed an order for 10 Airbus A380 aircraft worth about $3.8bn (£2.5bn) at list prices. The contract will be a relief for the European planemaker, as the order risked being derailed by a dispute between the European…