Bloomberg Japan’s economy expanded more than first estimated in the fourth quarter, driven partly by stronger business investment. Yet more recent gauges of factory output and exports point to a gloomier outlook for this year. Gross domestic product grew at an annualised pace of 1.9% in the three months through December. That compared with an initial reading of 1.4% and ...

Bloomberg Taiwan’s three biggest financial firms plan to boost headcount by more than 10 percent this year as the local stock market rebounds. Cathay Financial Holding Co. and CTBC Financial Holding Co. plan to hire 5,000 people each, while Fubon Financial Holding Co. is looking to add more than 6,800 roles, the companies said this week. Taiwan’s benchmark equity index ...

Bloomberg Berry Global Group Inc. agreed to buy RPC Group Plc for 3.34 billion pounds ($4.4 billion) to create one of the world’s largest plastic-packaging companies, derailing a rival takeover plan by Apollo Global Management. Once a holding of Apollo, Berry boosted the cash part of its proposal to win backing from RPC’S board. Shareholders wou-ld get 793 pence a ...