Web companies begin releasing surveillance information after U.S. deal
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook and Microsoft have struck agreements with the U.S. government to release limited information about the number of surveillance requests they receive, a modest victory for the companies as they struggle with the fallout from disclosures about a secret government data-collection program. Facebook on Friday became the first to release aggregate numbers of requests, saying in a blog post that it received between 9,000 and 10,000 U.S. requests for user data in the second half of 2012, covering 18,000 to 19,000 of its users' accounts. Facebook has more than 1.1 billion users worldwide.
Exclusive: Deutsche Bank 'horribly undercapitalized' - U.S. regulator
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top U.S. banking regulator called Deutsche Bank's capital levels "horrible" and said it is the worst on a list of global banks based on one measurement of leverage ratios. "It's horrible, I mean they're horribly undercapitalized," said Federal Deposit Insurance Corp Vice Chairman Thomas Hoenig in an interview. "They have no margin of error."
Wal-Mart taps Cash as new presiding director, replacing Breyer
(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Saturday that its board has appointed James Cash Jr. as lead independent director. Cash, who joined Wal-Mart's board in 2006, replaces James Breyer, who served on the board for more than a decade, but was prevented from running again this year under the company's rules of corporate governance.
BOJ's REITs purchase to exceed previous estimate: paper
TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan will likely expand its purchase of Japanese real estate investment trusts (J-REITs) beyond its buying scheme announced earlier this year as part of the central bank's hyper easing steps, the Nikkei business daily said on Saturday. The BOJ said in April that it would boost the balance of its J-REITs holding by 30 billion yen ($317.18 million) a year, and forecast 140 billion yen in holding for the end of 2013.
Google's Project Loon explores balloon-powered Internet access
(Reuters) - Google Inc has launched a small network of balloons over the Southern Hemisphere in an experiment it hopes could bring reliable Internet access to the world's most remote regions, the company said late Friday. The pilot program, Project Loon, took off this month from New Zealand's South Island, using solar-powered, high-altitude balloons that ride the wind about 12.5 miles - twice as high as airplanes - above the ground, Google said.
Amplats workers end underground protest at South African mine
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Anglo American Platinum said on Saturday operations at its Thembelani mine in South Africa were back to normal after a "group of employees" on Friday prevented 2,400 workers from going above ground. "The situation at the mine is normal, people came above ground yesterday evening," Amplats spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said.
Mitsubishi Motors eyes new Indonesian plant
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp <7211.T> is considering boosting output capacity in Indonesia and possibly building a new plant there to capitalize on brisk demand in emerging Asian economies. "It is true that we are considering strengthening our operations in Indonesia, but nothing has been decided as of now," a company spokesman said on Saturday.
Facebook got 9,000-10,000 government data requests in second half 2012
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc received between 9,000 and 10,000 requests for user data from various U.S. government entities in 2012's second half, involving 18,000 to 19,000 of its users' accounts, the world's largest social network said in a Friday blogpost. The company said it released the information after reaching a deal about disclosures with U.S. national security authorities.
Fed fears pull TSX lower; banks lead retreat
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index retreated on Friday, ending its third-straight losing week as financials and materials stocks led a broad selloff. Bank shares were the biggest drag on the index as investors digested U.S. economic data and fretted about a possible rollback in central bank stimulus programs.
Exclusive: Hellman & Friedman plans IPO for Associated Materials - sources
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private equity firm Hellman & Friedman LLC is planning an initial public offering for Associated Materials, a maker of home-building products that it bought for $1.3 billion in 2010, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday. Associated Materials, a maker of products like vinyl and aluminum siding and vinyl fencing under brands including Gentek and Alpine Windows, was previously owned by Investcorp and Harvest Partners.
