Reuters Business Today: December 28, 2016

Click to View in Browser Wednesday, December 28, 2016 Dollar stirs from slumber as yield gap yawns LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar, oil and world stocks all rose on Wednesday following upbeat U.S. data that saw the gap between Treasuries and other benchmark global government bonds hit new highs. The BOJ, QQE, YCC - explaining Japan's struggle with stagnation TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan has led Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's effort to stimulate the world's third-biggest economy, but its often innovative steps have yet to end decades of falling prices and feeble growth. South Korea fines Qualcomm $854 million for violating competition laws SEJONG, South Korea/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - South Korea's antitrust regulator fined Qualcomm Inc 1.03 trillion won ($854 million) for what it called unfair business practices in patent licensing and modem chip sales, a decision the U.S. chipmaker said it will challenge in court. Writedown fears wipe $5 billion off Toshiba's value as it weighs options TOKYO (Reuters) - A looming writedown at Japanese conglomerate Toshiba Corp has wiped almost $5 billion off its value in two days and prompted a credit rating downgrade on Wednesday, as the company grapples to plug a potential multi-billion dollar hole. Abbott gets U.S. antitrust approval to buy St. Jude Medical WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Healthcare company Abbott Laboratories has won U.S. antitrust approval for its proposed $25 billion acquisition of medical device maker St. Jude Medical Inc , the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday. Oil holds near annual peaks, awaiting OPEC cuts LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up for a fourth consecutive session on Wednesday, close to their peaks since mid-2015, with the market awaiting evidence of OPEC supply reductions in the new year. Alibaba entertainment affiliate to invest over $7.2 billion over next three years BEIJING (Reuters) - Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, the entertainment affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd , plans to invest more than 50 billion yuan ($7.2 billion) over the next three years, the affiliate's chief executive said. Last-minute spending surge lifts U.S. holiday shopping season CHICAGO (Reuters) - A jump in consumer spending in the final stretch of December significantly offset a slow start to the U.S. holiday shopping season, and is likely to help many retailers beat sales forecasts, industry research groups said on Tuesday. Delta to cancel order for 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc said on Tuesday that in agreement with Boeing Co it would cancel an order for 18 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which it assumed as a part of its merger with Northwest Airlines. Japan Inc could claim edge in overseas deals as China faces restraints TOKYO/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Japan Inc may become a more important force in dealmaking next year as its cashed-up companies seek to buy growth prospects elsewhere in the world and as Beijing's crackdown on capital outflows prevents some Chinese companies from making foreign acquisitions, bankers and lawyers said. Related Video Qualcomm fined $854 million by South Korea Monte Paschi rescue fund rises-sources Counterparties is a curated snapshot of the best finance news and commentary around the web. Register Today News you can use with actionable, timely advice for managing your financial life, including retirement, taxes, real estate, education and more. Register Today » » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2016 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add newsletters@email.reuters.com to your address book. Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook