McDonald's plans expansion of drinks lineup

McDonald's plan to expand the beverage lineup at its US restaurants with cappuccinos, lattes and other drinks is expected to add $1 billion to annual sales, a spokeswoman said.

India woos big firms as it frets about $150 oil

India wants global companies including Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp to explore for oil and gas in the South Asian nation on concern that crude prices may soar to $150 a barrel and curb record economic growth.

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Rising fuel costs to hit carriers hard

Rising fuel costs will be the main culprit cutting into US airlines' profits this year, with credit market turmoil and slowing passenger demand also expected to hamper the industry worldwide.

British business gloomy about '08

Companies are more pessimistic now about the British economy than at any other time in the past five years, according to a survey by Lloyds TSB.

Gulf stocks may remain robust

Gulf Arab stocks will probably hold their value this year as oil earnings boost the region's economies even after benchmarks jumped in 2007 leaving "few bargains" for investors, according to Nomura Holdings Inc.

Japan's ghosts of bubbles past haunt US in 2008

In early 2001, economist Stephen Roach raised a warning flag that enraged many peers: The US risks repeating Japan's mistakes of the 1990s.

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Business International

Business International

Beef goes off the menu for Argentina's farmers

Argentines are passionate about their beef - from cattle grazed on the sprawling pampas grasslands, it's a national staple, delivered inexpensively and received with religious fervor at Sunday barbecues nationwide.

Fed worried credit woes could hit growth

Federal Reserve policymakers worried that a credit crunch could sharply brake economic growth and require big interest rate cuts, according to minutes of the Fed's December 11 policy meeting, released on Wednesday.