A Chinese flag flutters outside the New York Stock Exchange in honour of the Beijing Olympics. But wags wonder if it merely confirms a trend in the ownership of Wall Street. Lehman Brothers appears to be holding out

Washington and Baghdad are close to a deal extending the presence of US troops beyond 2008, but any timetable for their withdrawal must be 'feasible', Condoleezza Rice says

The United States and Iraq are close to a deal extending the presence of US troops beyond 2008, but any timetable for their withdrawal must be "feasible", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said

Mizuho has agreed to invest in US-based Evercore Partners as it continues to expand its overseas operations amid a declining domestic market, while the latter hopes to build up its its asset management business

House of Fraser's solid half-year results have increased hopes that an improving performance could provide the launchpad for department store consolidation