TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese e-commerce and finance heavyweight Rakuten ( RKUNF ) is weighing an initial public offering in the United States of its credit card business, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Rakuten ( RKUNF ) began considering a potential U.S. listing of one of Japan's largest credit card businesses last month, the sources said. The considerations are...

ROME, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust regulator said on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into Philip Morris Italia for alleged unfair commercial practices. The tobacco giant allegedly promoted its so-called 'smoke-free' products in an incorrect way, using expressions like 'smoke-free', and slogans such as 'a future without smoke', the authority said in a statement. These expressions may be...

* New CEO under pressure to turn around Novo's fortunes quickly * Restructuring to cut 9,000 jobs globally, 5,000 in Denmark * CEO told Danish staff most cuts would be done by this week * Danish staff join 'Club 5,000' for laid-off workers * Research, manufacturing, IT, other areas hit by layoffs By Maggie Fick, Soren Jeppesen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen...

BEIJING, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) will boost investment in China and further step up cooperation there, Chief Executive Tim Cook told the industry minister during a meeting on Wednesday in the capital, Beijing, the ministry said in a summary of their remarks. The comments come as the iPhone maker looks to sidestep U.S. tariffs on shipments...