Beijing - Bayer Schering Pharma AG said Thursday that it plans to invest 100 million euros (129 million dollars) over the next five years to open a pharmaceutical research and development centre in Beijing as it seeks to expand its presence in the world's most populous country.

The research centre would be the fourth in the world for the pharmaceutical division of the German drug and chemical company Bayer AG. The others are in Germany and the United States.

Andreas Fibig, chief executive of Bayer Schering, said China is the "key growth driver" for the company in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hong Kong - The head of HSBC bank in Asia Thursday warned of the dangers of "financial nationalism" by banks because of the recent crop of stimulus packages by governments worldwide.

Sandy Flockhart, chief executive officer for the bank's Asia-Pacific banking operations, also warned of bail-out funds being swallowed up by "fringe projects."

Singapore - Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) extended its regional mobile customer base by 35 per cent, or 61 million, to 232 million subscribers, the company said Monday.

Despite stiff competition and the global economic crisis, SingTel mobile subscribers in the region reached 232 million on December 31, 2008, the company said in a statement.

Dhaka, Feb 9: External Affairs Minster Pranab Mukherjee has revealed that India and Bangladesh would be signing two agreements, one on promotion of bilateral trade and the other on investment promotion.

Mukherjee, who reached Dhaka on Monday, is expected to hold discussions with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and with Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Home and Water Resources.

Mukherjee was received at Dhaka Airport by his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr. Dipu Mony and Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty.

Tokyo - Nomura Holdings Inc on Tuesday reported a record net loss of 492.36 billion yen (5.53 billion dollars) for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2008, which ends in March.

It was the largest loss Nomura incurred since 2001, when Japan's top brokerage house began using the US accounting standard.

It was also the first time Nomura reported losses in four quarters in a row, according to the Jiji Press news agency.

Bangkok - Erratic price fluctuations on the international market have forced gold shops in Bangkok's Chinatown district to shut their doors Monday, the start of the Chinese New Year.

Jitti Tangsitpakdi, president of the Gold Traders' Association of Thailand, said gold jewellery shops in Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, will stay closed until Wednesday to weather out the wild fluctuations in gold prices.