BEIJING, CHINA: For Guo Jian, chairman of Yufu Group, a medium-sized woolen sweater exporter in Jiangsu province, the business environment has become harsher than ever as the global economy weakens. Now he has to figure out how to cut costs and add value

LONDON (Dow Jones)--U.K. retail sales stayed weak and house prices plunged in May, but rising prices suggested the Bank of England won't be able cut interest rates anytime soon to give the economy some relief from the credit crunch.

Is China about to collapse or rising higher? Is global financial crisis impacting China? Is a runaway government corruption destroying Chinese economy and peace? What is really behind Chinese finance, politics, trade, politics and society?

BRUSSELS -(Dow Jones)- The Portuguese economy will return to growth in the second quarter of this year, Portuguese Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos said Friday.

DOHA • Microsoft Gulf, in collaboration with Qatar's Ministry of Economy and Commerce recently conducted anti-piracy raids on two groups that sold pirated versions of Microsoft software in Qatar.