South Korea’s exports fell 19% in April, suggesting export-oriented Asian countries are still being hit hard by the economic downturn, but a record trade surplus should relieve pressure on Seoul’s external debt.

Banks in Taiwan that distributed securities from PEMGroup are working on plans to compensate clients who bought the products.

China Zhongwang raised $1.26 billion in the world’s biggest initial public offering this year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Riding a crest of populist anger, the House on Thursday approved a bill to restrict credit card practices and eliminate sudden increases in interest rates and late fees that have entangled millions of consumers. The legislation, dubbed the Credit Card Holders’ Bill of Rights, passed by a bipartisan vote of 357-70 following lobbying by President Barack Obama and members of his administration….

WASHINGTON (AP) — A congressionally backed panel said Friday that religious freedoms were deteriorating in Russia, Turkey and four other nations that were added to a watch list of countries where people’s rights to worship as they please or not to worship at all are at risk….

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Senate on Thursday defeated a plan to spare hundreds of thousands of homeowners from foreclosure through bankruptcy, a proposal that President Barack Obama embraced but did little to see through….

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans enjoying their small windfall from President Barack Obama’s “Making Work Pay” tax credit are in for an unpleasant surprise next spring….

Softbank said it swung to a net loss in its fiscal fourth quarter on expenses related to redemption of bonds a unit inherited during an acquisition from Vodafone.

Canon’s net profit fell 83% in the fiscal first-quarter due to a recession-driven drop in demand for electronics.

Citic Securities said its first-quarter net profit fell 40% on weak demand for brokerage services, a sharp drop in investment income and an impairment charge for financial assets.