CA-BUSINESS Summary

TSX clocks sixth day of gains on U.S. data, Potash results

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index advanced for a sixth straight session on Thursday, helped by resources sectors as U.S. economic data and a stronger-than-expected earnings performance from fertilizer producer Potash Corp buoyed sentiment. Investors were encouraged by data showing the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, offering reassurance that the bottom is not falling out of the U.S. labor market.

Microsoft gets upper hand in first Google patent trial

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp came out on top in the first of two patent trials versus Google Inc's Motorola Mobility unit on Thursday, as a federal judge in Seattle ruled largely in its favor. U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle said Microsoft owed only a fraction of the royalties Motorola had claimed for use of its technology in Microsoft's Xbox console.

Euro zone sees light at end of tunnel, pitfalls remain

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - There are no calls for celebration, no desire to relax in the corridors of Brussels but some officials believe the euro zone has turned a corner, sharpening the focus on longer-term reforms and structures. Despite a messy bailout of Cyprus, markets are calm, Ireland's rescue program is on track and Greece and Portugal, while still in recession, hope for a slow recovery next year.

Japan to issue approval at 1000 GMT for Boeing's 787 return to flight

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese government will issue approval at 1900 Japan time (1000 GMT) for Boeing Co's 787 Dreamliner to resume flight, according to a notice posted at the transport ministry's press club. Earlier in the day, Akihiro Ota, Japan's transport minister, told reporters that Tokyo would give the green light later on Friday.

BOJ projects to meet CPI target by 2015/16, analysts have doubts

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan forecast on Friday that inflation will rise to around 2 percent towards the latter half of the next three years due to its massive stimulus plan, a projection analysts say may be too optimistic. In a reminder of the task ahead, data on Friday showed core consumer prices marked their fifth straight month of annual declines in March even as the yen's recent falls pushed up import costs.

Samsung Electronics profit jumps ahead of Galaxy S4 debut

SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd reported on Friday its sixth straight quarter of profit growth ahead of the debut of its latest Galaxy smartphone, the South Korean IT giant's biggest assault on rival Apple Inc yet. By launching the Galaxy S4 in the United States on Saturday, Samsung is taking aim at Apple's home market at a time when the iPhone maker appears to have hit a snag. Earlier this week, Apple reported its first profit decline in more than a decade and indicated no major product releases until the fall.

Amazon's success formula: move bits instead of boxes

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc appears to have figured out the secret to being more profitable: sell less physical stuff. The company reported slowing revenue growth and offered a disappointing outlook for this quarter on Thursday, exacerbating uncertainty about the health of its business beyond the United States.

Monte Paschi committed to avoid state becoming majority shareholder: CEO

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is committed to avoiding the state becoming a majority shareholder in the bank, chief executive Fabrizio Viola said on Friday. "One thing is having the state as minority shareholder another is imagining the majority becomes public: this latter is a scenario certainly possible but the bank is committed to avoid it," Fabrizio Viola said in an interview in Il Sole 24 Ore.

Global shares, oil dip but head for best week since November

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares and oil prices dipped on Friday at the end of what looked set to be their best week since November, while the dollar eased on caution ahead of first quarter growth data from the world's biggest economy. A growing expectation that the European Central Bank will react to the recent slide in economic data by shaving another 0.25 percent off its already record low interest rates next Thursday has seen European stocks jump 4 percent this week.

New York drops damages claim in suit against ex-AIG chief

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's attorney general is dropping a claim for damages in a high-profile civil lawsuit accusing the former chief executive of American International Group Inc , Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, of defrauding investors, according to a letter sent by the attorney general's office on Thursday. The 2005 lawsuit filed by then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer against Greenberg and former AIG chief financial officer Howard Smith sought as much as $6 billion in damages.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ca-business-summary-004019720--finance.html

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