U.S. companies may bid for offshore projects in the South China Sea, state-run newspaper China Daily reported Wednesday, citing the chairman of China National Offshore Oil Corp., China's largest offshore oil and gas producer by capacity.

Whether they're seeking a job for financial reasons or want to stay busy and active, experts say older Americans have a lot to offer potential employers.

Average property prices in 70 Chinese cities covered in a government survey were flat in June from May, ending eight straight months of declines since October as prices rose on an increase in housing transactions in recent months following government efforts to boost sales.

Asian stocks were mixed early on Wednesday, as investors looked to central bankers in the U.S. and Asia to provide further monetary stimulus.

Three more upper house lawmakers from Japan's ruling party resigned late on Tuesday to protest government plans to restart nuclear reactors and double the country's consumption tax, according to reports.

Hong Kong stocks headed lower in early Wednesday moves, with home-price data hitting some real-estate names and losses for HSBC Holdings PLC helping lead the Hang Seng Index down 0.4% to 19,376.61.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will announce Wednesday his latest plans to stimulate the recession-hit U.K. economy that will see government guarantees provided on around GBP50 billion ($78 billion) of private investment in infrastructure projects and exports.

Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp. (AC.PH) said Wednesday it raised PHP6.45 billion ($155 million) from a private placement of 15 million common shares held in treasury.

China Steel Corp. (2002.TW), Taiwan's largest steelmaker by revenue, said Wednesday its second-quarter pretax profit was NT$2.91 billion (US$97 million), reversing from a pretax loss of NT$978 million in the first quarter.

Spanish oil company Repsol YPF SA (REP.MC, REPYY) secured a 1-billion-euro ($1.23 billion) credit with three banks at an interest rate below 3% and pledged a 10% stake in Gas Natural SDG SA (GAS.MC) as guarantee for it, reports ABC in its Wednesday Internet edition.