Asia, Fourth Quarter Earnings | featured news

The China-based search engine Baidu this afternoon reported Q4 results that were a smidgen ahead of the Street consensus estimates.

China's gross domestic product in the fourth quarter grew 9.8% from a year earlier, faster than the third quarter's 9.6% rise, which may increase market expectations for further tightening on monetary policy.

Japan's economy grew at a faster than expected pace last quarter, as steady exports to Asia and support from government stimulus measures prevent another downturn in the region's largest economy.