VENTURE CAPITAL POST

General Electric Co projects revenue growth in the high single digits for Latin American in 2015 despite difficulties in major markets such as Brazil and Venezuela, the company's chief executive for the region said on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia's move to slash the price it charges in Asia for its oil this week to the lowest in more than a decade is the latest aggressive action by Gulf states to defend market share in the world's top oil consuming region.

Spanish renewable energy firm Abengoa (ABG.MC) (ABGek.MC), which is selling assets to cut debt, said it had raised $328 million from selling shares in its U.S. unit after banks underwriting the offer bought more of the stock.

Volkswagen's latest push to become more than just a niche player in the United States builds on a truism the German carmaker has long ignored: tune in to U.S. customers.

The London auction scene is gearing up for another big season, with the two biggest auction houses targeting buyers around the world for evening sales in February expected to generate several hundred million pounds.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged on Thursday $250 billion in investment in Latin America over the next 10 years as part of a drive to boost resource-hungry China's influence in a region long dominated by the United States.

Oil fell to just above $59 a barrel for the first time since May 2009 on Tuesday, extending a six-month selloff as slowing Chinese factory activity and weakening emerging-market currencies added to concerns about demand.

Sliding oil prices and a downbeat China factory survey weighed on Asian shares on Tuesday, while the ruble jumped against the dollar after Russia sharply increased its benchmark interest rate in a bid to halt a collapse in its currency.

AT&T Inc is "intrigued" by Latin America and especially Mexico and would not rule out an opportunistic deal there even as it seeks to complete its $48.5 billion planned takeover of DirecTV, an AT&T executive said at a conference on Tuesday.

German venture capital firm Rocket Internet and Zalando, Europe's biggest specialist online fashion retailer, are both on the brink of announcing plans to list on the Frankfurt stock exchange, several sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Twitter Inc's messaging service will have close to 400 million global users by 2018, mostly in Asia, Latin American and the Middle East, consulting firm eMarketer estimated on Tuesday, far short of the 1 billion once expected.

Dalia, Israel-based water measurement solutions and services provider Arad Group picked up a controlling stake in Mexico-based water meter manufacturer Cicasa for $2.04 million to gain access to the Latin American market.

Mars Inc. announced on Wednesday that it would acquire the pet care brand names of Procter&Gamble in a deal valued USD2.9 billion, reported Reuters.

Ireland-based same-day hotel booking startup Hot Hotels bagged $1 million (€730,000) in funding from private investors and accelerator funds to fuel its expansion into Europe and South America.

San Francisco, US-based venture capital firm Rise Capital is set to raise $146 million to back startups in Africa, South America, and other emerging markets.