Business -- January 19, 2006

• American Express eyes mainland licence
• Boeing, Airbus both grab record orders in '05
• China pledges 10 mln USD in aid for global fight against avian flu
• China to encourage companies to introduce new techonology
• China to issue shareholding reform guidance for state-owned commercial banks

• China may end domestic share sales ban
• Crude oil processing rate slows
• EMI, leading Chinese entertainment media cooperate to offer digital music
• Five new nations added for Chinese outbound trips
• Fed says US economy continues to expand

• L'Oreal to smooth wrinkles for China expansion
• Merger rumours push up B shares
• PetroChina to build two oil pipelines
• Philips introduces licensing system
• Real estate industry expected to make soft landing

• Second-tier cities attract multinationals
• Two major Chinese steel makers join hands
• World oil prices retreat on profit-taking
• Zimbabwe receives MA60 aircraft from China