Robust China
China’s factory output and retail sales topped forecasts last month in signs that an economic recovery is accelerating, improvements that may pare a jobless rate newly estimated at almost double the official figure. Industrial production climbed 10.1 percent in November and retail sales jumped 14.9 percent.
Euro furor
Europe’s banks are calling for a review of tougher financial regulations on the eve of their adoption as the region sinks into a recession, dimming prospects of raising $621 billion in capital needed to meet the rules. Meanwhile, Greece is reported to be near a buyback of sovereign debt that will unlock aid from the IMF and the EU, a Greek official said.
Set-top set-to
Arris Group of Suwanee, Ga., and UK-based Pace Plc have made the most compelling bids for Google’s Motorola Home Business, which sells set-top boxes and equipment to cable-television providers, a source said.
Cheaper gas
The average price for regular gasoline fell 9.62 cents in the past three weeks to $3.3766 a gallon, according to a national survey.