Dubai / Emirates Business There is an alarming disparity between people’s desired retirement lifestyle and the amount they are currently saving, according to a survey by the Dubai-based financial planning company Guardian Wealth Management (GWM). GWM conducted a survey of its 3,000 Gulf-based clients asking them about the type of lifestyle they hope to lead upon retirement and the percentage …

Beijing / Bloomberg China is stepping up support for the economy by ramping up spending and considering new measures to boost bank lending. The nation’s chief planning agency is making more money available to local governments to fund new infrastructure projects, according to people familiar with the matter. Meantime, China’s cabinet has discussed lowering the minimum ratio of provisions that …

New Delhi / AFP A little-known Indian company has launched a smartphone believed to be the cheapest in the world, targeting a market already dominated by low-cost handsets. Set to be priced at under 500 rupees ($7.30), domestic handset maker Ringing Bells’ Freedom 251 smartphone is about one percent of the price of the latest Apple iPhone. Ringing Bells was …