Tokyo—Tucked in a shabby alley of Shibuya, Japan’s Silicon Valley, is a startup that’s done the almost impossible: win funding from the country’s notoriously conservative banks. 

New York—Coco-Cola’s profit fell in the third quarter as the world’s biggest drink-maker booked charges related to its push to slash costs and reposition its business. The strong dollar also ate into its results. The maker of Sprite, Fanta and Dasani water said that global sales volume rose 3 percent in the period. That reflected a 6-percent increase in non-carbonated …

  Washington—United States Vice President Joe Biden said he won’t be a candidate in the 2016 White House campaign, solidifying Hillary Rodham Clinton’s status as the Democratic front-runner and the party’s likely heir to President Barack Obama’s legacy. 

Longmont, Colorado—In an anonymous office building in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, in a part of Colorado where cattle ranches fade into strip malls, a gravel-voiced man with a Brooklyn accent is moving through the streets of Pyongyang. 

By Riza Lozada The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) said it would rather have no extended holidays during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum that the country will host next month, since the long layoff may affect the current uptrend in the bourse.

Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) recently unveiled plans for a new commercial, mixed-use development that will transform the entrance of Ayala Center Makati into a modern gateway, with a first-of-its-kind intermodal transport facility designed especially for the commuting public. 

By Riza Lozada Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) acquired 84,012 common shares in Indra Philippines, Inc. (Indra) from the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) for P365.525 million.Meralco reported to the stock exchange it completed the sale to MPIC noting “the said sale represents 24.95 percent of the outstanding capital stock of Indra and reduces Meralco’s stake therein to 24.95 percent.”The Board of …

By Jerry Maglunog Investing in the power sector is one that has the fewest risks if one can get the huge capital required. 

Beijing—China’s imports fell by an unexpectedly wide margin in September, in a new sign of weakness in the world’s second-largest economy. 

Frankfurt, Germany—Volkswagen’s (VW) flagship brand plans to change its diesel technology in Europe and North America, as well as develop new hybrid and electric vehicles in response to its emissions scandal.