Russia has signed a free-trade agreement with 7 other earlier Soviet republics, which will scrap import and export tariffs on various goods. The deal was declared following talks in St Petersburg. The other signature nations are Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Moldova.

Intel shares increased by four percent after the chipmaker registered a seventeen percent gain in 3rd quarter profits. Intel's net earnings for the 3 months to September was $3.47 billion compared with $2.96 billion previous year.

Wal-Mart's China processes have been dealt one more blow after its CEO Ed Chan and one more senior person resigned. The resignations come along with allegations that the firm mislabeled normal pork as organic for over 2 years. The accusations led to the shutting down of thirteen stores and detention of thirty seven Wal-Mart employees.

Kirin Japanese beermaker utters it has been cleared by a court to purchase most of the stakes in family-operated Brazilian brewer Schincariol. Kirin is going to expend $2.6 billion on purchasing 50.45 percent of the soft-drink and beer maker, after a ruling halting the agreement was overturned.