IMPACT: Multinationals operating in Sichuan, including Toyota, Yamaha and Intel, were forced to halt production as they inspected potential damage from the quake
Toyota, Intel, Wal-Mart and other multinationals with operations in China's Sichuan Province have temporarily halted business in the region following Monday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake.

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The huge earthquake in southwest China could drive up food prices even more and set back efforts to tame inflation, experts warned yesterday as stocks slid in Shanghai in the wake of the deadly tremor.

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3G UPGRADE: A shortage of the smartphone has fueled speculation that Apple is planning to announce an upgraded model at its meet in June
Apple Inc said on Monday that its online stores in the US and the UK were sold out of the iPhone, a sign supplies were being winnowed ahead of the launch of the device's next generation featuring faster Internet surfing speeds.<

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Record oil prices and a slowdown in advanced economies are set to curb global oil demand despite growth in China and the Middle East, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast yesterday, saying stockpiling was a key factor.

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Hyundai Motor Co has shelved a plan to make pickup trucks in the US as demand declines amid high oil prices, a company official said yesterday.

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Hewlett-Packard Co (HP) said on Monday it was in "advanced discussions" with Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS) regarding a possible tie-up involving the two companies.

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■ ELECTRONICS