SGS S.A. (SGSN.VX) Friday said it acquired the Sercovam Tests Laboratory Group headquartered in Cestas, France, for an undisclosed sum. MAIN FACTS: - Sercovam is a leading test laboratories group with state of the art facilities in Etupes and Cestas in France and sales offices in Spain and Italy. -

TAKING THE PULSE: Indian cement companies are expected to post higher net profits and sales in the quarter ended June 30 thanks to better product prices and increases in sales volumes.

A director of Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd. (4197.KU) has been arrested for alleged insider trading, a spokeswoman at the country's Securities Commission said Friday. Sreesanthan Eliathamby, an independent non-executive director of Sime Darby, will be charged at a session court later in

Chief Executive of Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (ANZ.AU), Mike Smith, said he will stay the course in his current role as he strives to turn Australia's third-largest lender by market value into a super-regional bank.

India's home ministry has denied permission to three Iranian banks to open branches in India, which could hurt oil refiners' plans in settling trade with Tehran, the Indian Express newspaper reported Friday, citing unnamed ministry officials.

QUITO, Ecuador--Ecuador's Minister Coordinator of Strategic Sectors Jorge Glas said Thursday that he has met with a delegation from the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. (601398.SH), which is interested in financing strategic projects in the Andean country.

The price of iron ore has dropped to its lowest level in more than eight months as weak sentiment and ample inventories damp demand from Chinese steelmakers.

Edinson Volquez continued his dominance of the Astros on Thursday, tossing a one-hit shutout in a 1-0 Padres victory.It was the first career shutout for Volquez (6-7), who improved to 6-0 in his career against Houston

Less than a year ago, Jeremy Lin was just hoping to make it on an NBA roster

Risky lending caused private student loan debt to balloon in the past decade, leaving many Americans struggling to pay off loans that they can't afford, a government study says.