Reuters - China is on course to become the world's second-largest consumer market by 2015, but foreign firms looking to tap the retail boom must brace for a bumpy ride and possible price wars, Credit Suisse said on Friday.

AP - Japanese stocks rose Friday for a fourth straight session, climbing to their highest in nearly a month, led by autos, banking and oil issues.

AP - Nike Inc. won't say where, how or when — but it wants to change the way consumers shop. "Consumers want a more compelling and relevant experience wherever and whenever they shop," Nike President and Chief Executive Mark Parker said Thursday as the company released its third-quarter results and said it had a soft year with some specialty mall retailers.

AP - Blackstone Group LP, one of the world's biggest private equity firms, on Thursday said it seeks to raise up to $4 billion in a highly anticipated initial public offering. The New York-based firm, known for multibillion dollar takeovers such as February's buyout of Equity Office Properties, announced its intentions to go public in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange.

AP - Blackstone Group LP, one of the world's biggest private equity firms, on Thursday said it seeks to raise up to $4 billion in a highly anticipated initial public offering. The New York-based firm, known for multibillion dollar takeovers such as February's buyout of Equity Office Properties, announced its intentions to go public in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange.