BRUSSELS, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - The European Commission said on Wednesday that the EU will connect its carbon trading market to the United Nations version by December at the latest.

WASHINGTON, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Troubled mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac on Wednesday reported an 821-million-dollar net loss in the second quarter as the US housing collapse further dug a hole in the company's finances.

At 1.63 dollars per share, the loss was more than triple most analysts' forecasts of 53 cents per share.

PARIS, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - French bank BNP Paribas reported a 34-percent fall in second-quarter profit on Wednesday, citing the impact of the US subprime meltdown, but said it remaind in better shape than most of its competitors.

TOKYO, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - All Nippon Airways, Japan's second largest carrier, said Wednesday it was scrapping routes and flights due to high fuel costs, as bigger rival Japan Airlines also considers further downsizing.

ANA will axe two international routes, one from central Chubu airport to Taipei in October and another from Kansai in western Japan to Guam by January.

FRANKFURT, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Commerzbank, the second-biggest German bank, posted on Wednesday a gain in second-quarter net profit, owing to a favourable tax effect, along with a plunge in operating earnings.

It warned that banking sector turbulence would probably persist until at least the beginning of 2009.

BEIJING, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - China is likely to remove next year a ban blocking HIV/AIDS carriers from entering the country, state media reported Wednesday, citing a top health official.

'HIV/AIDS restrictions will be lifted in 2009,' the China Daily said, citing Hao Yang, deputy director of the health ministry's disease control and prevention bureau.

FRANKFURT, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Commerzbank, the second biggest German bank, posted on Wednesday a gain in second-quarter net profit, owing to a favourable tax effect, along with a plunge in operating earnings.

FRANKFURT, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Commerzbank, the second biggest German bank, on Wednesday posted a gain in second-quarter net profit, owing to a favourable tax effect, but a plunge in operating earnings.

HONG KONG, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific said Wednesday it had plunged to a loss of 663 million Hong Kong dollars (85 million US) in the first half of 2008 due to soaring fuel prices.

The figure is 125.7 percent lower than the profit of 2.58 billion dollars over the same period last year, Cathay said in a statement.

PARIS, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - French banking giant BNP Paribas reported second quarter profits of 1.5 billion euros (2.3 billion dollars) Wednesday, down 34 percent on the same period last year but nevertheless better than forecast.