Despite banks' nudging toward online tools, many US customers are not ready to give up regular visits to their nearest branch, complicating the industry's efforts to slim down.

State Bank of India (SBI), the nation's biggest lender by assets, will gain $120 billion in assets following its merger with associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank, the lender said in a statement on Saturday.

Retail sales in Britain, a key driver of the economy, rebounded 1.4 percent in July from June's drop, official data showed Thursday, indicating no immediate fallout from Brexit but analysts warn of a tough year ahead. Sales by volume rose far higher than expected following a 0.9-percent drop in June that had been caused by wet summer weather, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Online retailer Amazon said it would create 1,500 new jobs in 2017 when it opens a new distribution centre in Tilbury, south east England, maintaining its surge of investment in Britain.

Europe's low-cost airlines once mocked the air miles programmes run by flag carriers as expensive relics of a bygone era. But after watching wide-eyed as customer databases were valued at billions of dollars, they are scrambling to catch up.

Japan's exports tumbled in July at the fastest pace since the global financial crisis with a resurgent yen adding to the challenge of weak external markets - leaving the economy and the government more reliant on shaky domestic demand to drive growth.

Wal-Mart Stores reported higher second-quarter earnings and lifted its profit forecast Thursday after notching higher sales in the US. Earnings for the quarter ending July 31 were $3.8 billion, up 8.6 percent from the year-ago period.

Singapore Telecommunications is investing S$2.47 billion ($1.8 billion) for bigger slices of the top mobile operators of Thailand and India, as Southeast Asia's largest telecoms firm raises its bet on emerging markets to spur growth.

Nestle, the world's largest packaged foods maker, is counting on new products and price increases in the second half of the year to meet its full-year sales growth target after a weaker than expected first half, the company said on Thursday.

As returns on traditional assets have nosedived or turned more volatile in Asia, conservative investors such as pension funds and insurers have been pouring cash into alternative investments that bring the yield they need, but at significantly higher risk.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Bangladesh's central bank have agreed to withdraw additional payment security measures put in place after one of the world's biggest cyber heists, the theft of $81 million from Bangladesh Bank's account at the Fed, two sources said.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Britain unexpectedly fell in July despite the shock decision by voters to leave the European Union, suggesting little immediate impact from Brexit on the labour market.

Cheap instant "bubble tea" has become one of Taiwan's best-known culinary exports -- now a new wave of entrepreneurs hopes a high-end modern take on traditional brews will also be sipped worldwide.

The share of palm oil in India's growing edible oil imports is likely to plunge to a record low this marketing year as a rally in prices slashes its discount over rival soyoil.

Philippine food giant Universal Robina Corp said Wednesday it would buy Snack Brands Australia for US$460 million, the latest big deal in a global shopping spree by Filipino firms reflecting the nation's economic rise.

A venture backed by eight major banks and financial institutions has begun beta testing a peer-to-peer network that aims to use blockchain distributed ledger technology to slash billions off the cost of processing foreign exchange transactions.

The Chittagong Port Authority yesterday appointed a consultant to conduct feasibility study for constructing the much-awaited Bay Terminal along Halishahar coast.

It is crucial for Bangladesh to ensure quality education for the youth, develop their skills and promote young entrepreneurship to achieve the sustainable development goals, analysts said yesterday.

Chinese police have busted underground banks that handled 200 billion yuan ($30.2 billion) in illegal money transfers this year, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said on Wednesday.

Budget airline AirAsia India said on Wednesday that it planned to gradually expand its fleet and network in India as it seeks to boost its small market share in the fast expanding domestic market.