VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Playing down the threat to his business from the world's most valuable company, the founder of music streaming service Spotify said the industry was big enough for several players and his firm did not have to be number one.

The New Zealand dollar slumped 2.5 percent against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, hitting a five-year low after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised some by cutting interest rates and flagging the chance of more easing.

Apple Inc said it was driving vehicles around the world to collect data that will be used to improve Apple Maps. The company has given driving locations on its website for June 15-30 which include Ireland, England and several cites in the United States.

Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is aiming to more than double its transaction volumes to more than $1 trillion in five years, Executive Chairman Jack Ma told a conference in Chicago on Wednesday.

When construction of four 6.5 billion euro toll roads across Greece resumed last year, Greek and foreign businesses rejoiced.

The World Bank on Wednesday cut its global growth outlook for this year and urged countries to "fasten their seat belts" as they adjust to lower commodity prices and a looming rise in U.S. interest rates.

U.S. stocks jumped on Wednesday, helped by gains in technology and financial shares and optimism that Greece may be closer to reaching a deal with creditors.

Vehicle sales in China fell for a second straight month in May, the first such consecutive drop since late 2011, highlighting the weakness in the world's second biggest economy.

The yen surged to a two-week high against the dollar on Wednesday, after the head of the Bank of Japan said the currency was unlikely to fall further because it was already "very weak", prompting investors to trim huge bets against the yen.

German bond yields hit 1 percent for the first time since September on Wednesday as long-term inflation expectations rose, although recent rollercoaster moves in fixed-income markets kept stock markets flat.

Campbell Soup Co (CPB.N) said on Tuesday that it would buy salsa maker Garden Fresh Gourmet for $231 million to expand in the fresh and organic packaged foods business.

Germans need to overcome their traditional fear of the large-scale collection of personal data by companies and instead embrace its opportunities or risk being marginalized in the global economy, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday.

Target Corp (TGT.N) did not release any information pertaining to its dividend and share buyback plans, company spokeswoman Molly Snyder said.

Overseas markets bring in more advertising revenue than the United States for Facebook Inc, amounting to 51 percent of global ad sales in the first quarter, with growth in Asia the fastest in the world at 57 percent, company executives told Reuters.

U.S. stocks ended flat on Tuesday though the S&P 500 snapped three days of losses as financial and consumer staples shares bounced.