Most Nordic banks have so far outperformed market expectations in the second-quarter as earnings benefit from the region's strong fiscal position and perceived safe-haven status.

Keppel Land Ltd. (K17.SG) said Wednesday its second-quarter net profit climbed 87.5% from a year earlier mainly due to higher contributions from the completion of deferred-payment sales at a high-end residential project in Singapore.

PT Bank Danamon's (BDMN.JK) first-half net profit rose 36% to IDR2.0 trillion from IDR1.47 trillion in the same period a year earlier because of higher net interest income and fee-based income, its chief executive said Wednesday.

HALFAYA, Iraq--PetroChina Co Ltd. (PTR) and its partners Total SA (TOT) and Petronas Calgari, said Wednesday it has commenced first oil production at Iraq's giant Halfaya oil field in southern Iraq.

General Motors Co.'s (GM) troubled European Opel unit Wednesday replaced both its Chief Financial Officer and the head of its research and development operations, marking the next step in a broad management shake-up to stem hefty losses amid sagging sales.

Credit Suisse moved Wednesday to stanch recent concerns about its financial strength, saying it is raising capital through the sale of shares, more divestments and the launch of another cost savings program.

The central bank of the United Arab Emirates is looking for an international bank to replace Barclays PLC (BCS) on the 12-lender panel that sets benchmark interbank interest rates in the country, but may face difficulties in finding a suitable candidate, according to a person familiar with the

Singapore public transit operator SBS Transit Ltd (S61.SG) placed an order for an additional 450 buses from Daimler AG's (DAI.XE) bus unit, the German car maker said Wednesday.

The former head of foreign-exchange products at the exchanges firm CME Group (CME) in London, Roger Rutherford, has been appointed to the management team at trading system TraFXpure, the firm said in a statement Wednesday.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (500124.BY) Wednesday said it has launched a generic version of Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) Lipitor cholesterol-lowering drug in the U.S.