Hewlett-Packard on Tuesday said that it is combining its computer and printer units to free up more cash for innovation in the rapidly evolving technology market.

HP will combine its Imaging and Printing Group and its Personal Systems Group (PSG) into an entity headed by Tom Bradley, who has been PSG executive vice president since 2005.

China Wednesday sought to defuse a trade row with the United States after the latter imposed duties on Chinese solar products, saying it would not hurt ties, even as state media cried protectionism.

The United States said Tuesday it would collect duties of between 2.9 and 4.7 percent on Chinese solar cells and panels, in a preliminary ruling after an investigation over whether companies received unfair financial support.

Royal Dutch Shell on Wednesday signed an agreement with Chinese state-run energy company CNPC to explore, develop and produce shale gas in southwest China, the Anglo-Dutch company said.

The production-sharing contract with China National Petroleum Corporation centers on a 3,500 square-kilometer (2,170 square-mile) area in Sichuan province, Shell said in a statement.

The Greek parliament formally ratified early Wednesday a second Eurozone bailout scheme worth up to 130 billion Euros ($170 billion) to save it from defaulting on its national debts.

The text was approved overnight by 213 socialist and conservative parliamentary deputies and opposed by just 79 members from the communist left and far-right.

The World Bank said Tuesday it would fund two projects totaling $1.09 billion, in energy and irrigation, aimed at supporting Pakistan's growth agenda for reducing poverty.

The World Bank's executive board approved the projects Tuesday, the development lender said in a statement.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Tuesday the global economy has moved back from the "abyss" but that there is still serious weakness in the world financial system.

Lagarde, visiting New Delhi for a two-day trip to attend a conference and meet leaders, said the world financial situation is not as grave as at the start of this year.

Oil prices fell to near $107 a barrel Tuesday in Asia, slipping from close to 10-month highs ahead of new data on the U.S. economy.

Benchmark oil for April delivery was down 80 cents to $107.29 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.03 to settle at $108.09 in New York on Monday.

Iran's supreme leader said Tuesday that more support for domestic industrial production can counter Western sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program.

The statement by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marking the Iranian new year is the latest in a series of displays of defiance by the country's senior leadership against the pressures — ranging from sanctions to the option of future military strikes — placed on Iran by the U.S. and the West.

Industry group IATA on Tuesday cut its 2012 profit forecast for the airline sector to $3.0 billion from $3.5 billion as tensions in the Gulf push fuel prices higher.

If fuel prices were to soar to $150 a barrel from about $120 at the moment, some airlines could even go bankrupt, warned International Air Transport Association chief Tony Tyler.

Oil prices rose slightly to near $107 a barrel Monday in Asia amid mixed signs about U.S. economic strength.

Benchmark oil for April delivery was up 34 cents to $107.40 at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.95 to settle at $107.06 per barrel in New York on Friday.