Apple Inc's plea to avoid paying $440 million in damages to VirnetX Inc for using the patent licensing firm's security technology without permission in features such as FaceTime video calling was denied by the US Supreme Court.

Apple appeals rejected by US Supreme Court in legal battle with VirnetX

New microprocessors have been launched by Intel Corp, a device which includes a second-generation Xeon processor for data centres and a 10nm chip for wireless 5G base stations.

Intel unveils new Xeon chip, COVID-19 delays product

PepsiCo Inc has agreed to buy Chinese snack brand Be & Cheery from local jujube maker Haoxiangni Health Food Co Ltd for $705 million, the companies said. The US multinational food and beverage maker said the acquisition of Be & Cheery, which sells snacks from nuts to dried fruits mainly on Chinese e-commerce platforms, was an important step in its goal to become China's leading consumer-focused food and beverage company.

Chinese snack brand Be & Cheery sold to Pepsico for $705 million

German sportswear makers Adidas and Puma both said on Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak was hurting their business in China due to store closures and fewer Chinese tourists travelling and shopping in other markets.

Puma, Adidas fear impacts of COVID-19 on China business

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, with Brent gaining for a seventh straight day after a slowing of new coronavirus cases in China eased demand worries and supply was curtailed by a US move to cut more Venezuelan crude from the market.

Oil up on slowing pace of coronavirus, Venezuela sanctions

Samsung Electronics has launched smartphone delivery services for customers to test its new products, as the spread of the coronavirus has prompted the tech giant to cancel promotional events and brace for weak store sales.

Samsung offers phone delivery service for test use to ride out COVID-19 impact

Though the tech giant Amazon, after much pressure, admitted that conversations recorded by virtual assistant Alexa and transcribed by humans were to check for accuracy and the information is made anonymous beforehand, Robert Frederick revealed that he always turns off his Alexa smart speaker during personal and particularly sensitive conversations.

Former Amazon executive says he turns off Alexa when he needs privacy

Google is seeking to overturn the first of three hefty European Union antitrust fines at Europe's second-highest court in a landmark case that could determine how EU enforcers take on US tech giants for abuse of market power.

Google goes to court over EU antitrust fines

Oil prices jumped about 2 per cent on Wednesday on media reports that suggested scientists were developing a vaccine for the fast-spreading coronavirus, even as world health experts said treatments have not yet been found.

Oil prices jump 2 per cent as virus vaccine reports spur hope

Financial markets rebounded outside Asia on Tuesday following a global sell-off fueled by the deadly virus outbreak in China. Wall Street stocks were up, with the broad-based S&P 500 gaining 1.

World markets gain as data reassures nervous investors

Oil prices sank about 1 per cent on Tuesday as fears that energy demand would take a long-term hit from the growing coronavirus outbreak outweighed hopes for more production cuts from OPEC and its allies.

Oil falls 1% as demand fears outweigh hopes for bigger OPEC+ cuts