TOKYO (AP) — European stocks were higher and Asian markets meandered today after China’s third quarter growth report pointed to a gradual rather than sharp economic slowdown. Futures point to opening bell gains on Wall Street today. Benchmark U.S. crude oil rose above $82.50 a barrel. The dollar fell against the euro and the yen.
BEIJING (AP) — China’s economic growth waned to a five-year low of 7.3 percent last quarter, raising concerns of a spillover effect on the global economy but falling roughly in line with Chinese leaders’ plans for a controlled slowdown. The third quarter figures, released today, put China on course for annual growth somewhat lower than the 7.5 percent targeted by leaders, though they have indicated there is wiggle-room in their plan.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Samsung Electronics is getting a boost from the U.S. in its effort to expand in the security-conscious business market. Samsung says some of its Galaxy mobile devices have been approved for use with classified U.S. government networks and data. The Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 4 and seven other smartphones or tablets are the first consumer devices validated by a partnership between the National Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
TOKYO (AP) — Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker is urging Japan to be bolder in opening its markets to help reach a deal on a pan-Pacific trade agreement. Pritzker is leading the Commerce Department’s first trade mission to Japan in two decades. She says U.S. and Japanese negotiators are closing the gap on trade in farm goods and vehicles, but that there are still “tough issues” to work on.
MOSCOW (AP) — The CEO of French oil giant Total SA has been killed in a plane crash. The company says Christophe de Margerie (krihs-TOF’ day mahr-jer-EE’) died Monday night when his private plane crashed into a snow removal machine at a Moscow airport. The three crewmembers also were killed. Paris-based Total is the fifth-largest publicly-traded integrated international oil and gas company in the world.
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