Business news with words key+plans. 42 news.

GUANHZHOU Toyota Motor Co Ltd plans to raise its sales target by 17 percent next year as it launches new models and on an expanded output capacity. The second Chinese joint venture of Toyota Motor Corp aims to sell 210,000 vehicles next year, including 175,000 units of Camry premier sedan and 35,000 Yaris hatchback which is scheduled to sell domestically in the middle of next year, the company said yesterday. Guangzhou Toyota has pinned high hopes on the Yaris, one of the Japanese car maker's global models, to tap the nation's fast growing economy car segment amid rising demand for fuel-efficient models. "The competition in the premier class segment will be more intense next year," said Yuan Zhongrong, executive vice president of Guangzhou Toyota. "The launch of Yaris meets local demand and will be key to fulfill our target." Guangzhou Toyota raised its sales target twice to 170,000 units this year fueled by high demand for the Camry sedan as its only

NANYANG Commercial Bank plans to at least double its network on the Chinese mainland in two years, after it opened its local incorporation yesterday to fully tap the mainland market. The bank said in Shanghai yesterday it would offer unlimited yuan services. The Hong Kong-based bank gained the approval to set up the local incorporation with a registered capital of 2.5 billion yuan (US$341 million) from the China Banking Regulatory Commission on December 4. The local incorporation was set up on December 14. Nanyang Commercial Bank has six branches and one sub-branch on the Chinese mainland in cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dalian and Haikou. "Network expansion is a key part of the local incorporation's business development," a bank spokesman said. He said the bank would first focus on major cities in the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and coastal areas in the geographic expansion. It will also seek opportunities to open outlets in

NANYANG Commercial Bank plans to at least double its network on the Chinese mainland in two years after it opened its local incorporation today. Nanyang Commercial Bank (China) Ltd opened in Shanghai yesterday to offer unlimited yuan services to Chinese. The Hong Kong-based bank gained approval to set up the local incorporation with a registered capital of 2.5 billion yuan (US$341 million) from the China Banking Regulatory Commission on December 4. Nanyang Commercial Bank has six branches and one sub-branch on the Chinese mainland in Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dalian, Haikou and Shanghai. "Network expansion is a key part of the local incorporation's business development," the bank said. The bank will first focus on major cities in the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and the coastal area. It will also seek other opportunities in other areas. The bank will focus on personal financial planning products and services in retail banking. In corporate banking,

In Germany, shoppers are enjoying a novelty this year: pre-Christmas sales. In contrast to the U.S., where such price cuts play a key part in retailers' strategies -- and shoppers' buying plans -- holiday sales mark a small revolution in European retailing.

We need intelligence of what is going on in key parts of the economy, and contingency plans covering the worst and best that could happen, writes Samuel Brittan

But the European ministers still agreed to implement key measures within five years - raising the stakes in a battle with the United States.

Donald Trump says he will make a second attempt to get a key approval that would allow him to move ahead with his proposed restaurant and catering facility at Jones Beach.

I'm really not sure about this, you know? Plans by ministers to wrest key powers from the Bank of England for use during any future crisis in the banking system emerged yesterday amid fresh signs of tensions with the Treasury. Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, is considering reforms that would allow him to take control of all decisions during an emergency such as the one that triggered the run on Northern Rock. Treasury sources confirmed that this would include injecting extra funds into the money markets, traditionally an operational matter for the Bank, as well

ALISTAIR DARLING plans to make himself the key decision-maker in any future financial crisis, overruling the Bank of England and Financial Services Authority if necessary.

JAPAN'S Ajinomoto Co Inc expects the sales revenue of its food division will rocket by nearly eightfold in China within three years as it diversifies its products and broadens its sales network. Asia's largest food company aims to generate one billion yuan (US$135 million) revenue from its food products in China by 2010, said Maeda Koichi, chairman and president of Ajinomoto (China) Co Ltd. This compares to nearly 130 million yuan for this year. As a latecomer to the Chinese market, Ajinomoto is widening distribution channels and developing more products that cater to local demand as key strategies to quickly catch up with Nestle's Totole and Unilever's Jia Le, which have a dominant market share in China's flavoring market. Ajinomoto launched its first Chicken Broth products this year in addition to more than 50 kinds of monosodium glutamate, seasonings, and instant soups. Ajinomoto plans to win more customers through direct sales to wet markets and restaurants.

CHINA electronics giant Suning Appliance Co ended its plan on acquiring Beijing Dazhong Electrical Appliance Co because the two sides failed to reach agreement in some areas, the Shenzhen-listed company announced yesterday. "The company and its financial adviser have negotiated with Dazhong and it has estimated the acquisition costs and risks, but the two sides can't reach agreement on key terms," the country's second-largest home appliance retailer told Shenzhen Stock Exchange. "Since Suning insists on a stable operation it decided to scrap the acquisition plan," the Nanjing-based retailer said. Suning spokesman Zhu Jiagui said he had yet to get details about the statement. Suning's shares dropped 8.13 percent to 62.80 yuan (US$8.52) in Shenzhen yesterday. The company announced in April that it was in talks with Dazhong after its major rivals - China Paradise Electronics Retail Ltd and Gome Electrical Appliances Holdings Ltd - formed alliance. Suning

Businesses in energy-intensive sectors such as cement, steel and aluminium will be asked to sign up to pacts on cutting their greenhouse gas emissions, under plans due to be agreed at the Bali climate change talks

GlaxoSmithKline, the UK-based drugmaker, plans to channel $100m into a new neuroscience research centre in Shanghai seen as key to its global drug development efforts

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Drug stocks cruised into positive territory early Wednesday, with many of the blue chip pharmaceutical issues gaining as much as two percentage points. The Amex Pharmaceutical Index hopped 1.4% to 357.24 and the Amex Biotechnology Index edged up 1.9% to 822.95. Schering-Plough Corp. was a notable exception, with shares down 4% to $27.77. A Congressional committee announced on Tuesday that it plans to investigate the integrity of a key study for it and partner Merck & Co.'s popular cholesterol-lowering drug, Vytorin. Merck investors appeared to be largely unfazed by the news, pushing shares up 1% to $18.26.

Despite challenges ahead, Boeing does not see further delays in its 787 Dreamliner, officials said Tuesday. The company is on track to deliver the plane in late 2008, they said. Officials also reaffirmed plans to deliver 109 Dreamliners by 2009. In October, Boeing delayed its first delivery by six months because of parts shortages and incomplete work by suppliers. Boeing has 762 orders for the new plane valued at more than $120 billion. Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita is a key supplier for the program. "We are immersed in the hard work of building the first airplanes with our partners, completing the remaining systems development activities that need to be finished before we can fly, and preparing for production rate increases with our partners," said Scott Carson, Boeing commercial airplanes president and chief executive.

A Senate panel grilled a key government energy expert Tuesday over why the Bush administration plans to continue adding to the nation's oil reserve as the price of crude spikes near $100 a barrel.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Energy shares rose in early action Tuesday ahead of a key meeting by the Federal Reserve. With an interest rate cut expected, Wall Street sees brighter prospects for energy firms that will help provide the fuel for economic growth. The Amex Oil Index rose 0.8% to 1,490. The Amex Natural Gas Index rose 0.7% to 573. Transocean advanced 1% to $138.67. PetroChina rose 0.6% to $201.24 on plans by the company to expand refinery operations in China. Valero rose 1.2% $66.77 after CEO Bill Klesse told the Wall Street Journal the company's planning to restructure its refinery portfolio. Oil futures advanced $1.29 to $89.15.

China plans to triple its quota for purchases of local shares by foreign institutional investors, the government said Monday, just ahead of key trade talks with the United States.

SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- China plans to triple the limit for purchases of local shares by foreign institutional investors, the government said Monday, just ahead of key trade talks with the United States....

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - The U.S. urged OPEC on Tuesday to boost output, but oil ministers appeared undecided on the eve of a key meeting that could help decide whether consumers worldwide will pay more or less at the gas pump and for their heating bills.