Bloomberg Samsung Electronics Co. underscored the resilience of its business when it reported its best operating profit in three years, weathering the death of its fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 with the help of its workmanlike chip and display divisions and cheaper smartphones. The world’s largest maker of mobile devices posted a 50 percent surge in quarterly operating profit after …

  Bloomberg Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing expects property prices in the city will rise “a little bit” this year, even as the government takes steps to cool the world’s costliest real estate market. The government in November increased the stamp duty to 15 percent for all residential purchases, excluding first-time buyers who are permanent residents. The curbs initially …

  Bloomberg Australia recorded its first trade surplus in almost three years as Chinese demand stoked prices for its two biggest exports, iron ore and coal. First trade surplus since March 2014. Exports climbed 8% from month earlier; imports were little changed. Most iron ore exports since August 2014 in local currency terms; most coal exports since January 2012 October …