Aston Martin on strong footing: Ford
Ford Motor Co, while reviewing a short list of buyers for the business of Aston Martin has said the brand is on solid financial footing.

Aston Martin's sales rose last year by around half to some 6,500 units. The company last year said it planned to sell all or part of Aston Martin to raise funds for other group businesses.
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Russia shuts down pipeline to West
Russia has shut down oil supplies to western Europe as its feud with neighbouring countries erupted again last night. The closure of the crucial pipeline from Siberian oil and gas fields through Belarus has led to a rise in global oil prices, as the markets feared a sharp drop in crude destined for the West.

Although Russia controls one fifth of global oil reserves, Russia's latest row with Belarus will increase fears about the security of supplies and follows the recent production disputes with Shell and BP.

Normally, the pipe can carry up to 1.2 million barrels of crude per day.

Officials in both Germany and Poland were mystified by the shutdown, which came without any explanation. In Germany, the plants most affected are in the former East, such as Total's Leuna refinery. Polish authorities said the country had 80 days of reserves.
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China Life Insurance Co soars on debut
Shanghai: Shares of China Life Insurance Co., China's top life insurer, soared 96 per cent in its Shanghai debut. The shares were bought heavily by new mutual funds.

China Life opened at 37.00 yuan compared to the initial public offer price of 18.88 yuan for its local currency A shares. The offer was nearly 30 times oversubscribed.

The rise brought the A shares to a 38 percent premium to the HK$26.85 last close of China Life's Hong Kong-listed H shares (2628.HK: Quote, Profile, Research).
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