* Tycoon Slim's retail arm to raise $720 million with share offer - Financial Times (blog)

* Japan unveils Y10.3tn stimulus package

* Fitch downgrades S Africa's rating to BBB

* Brazil inflation rate prompts concerns

* Doha aid fails to stem Egypt currency woes

* Saudi oil cut propels Brent higher

* Tycoon Slim's retail arm to raise $720 million with share offer

* Infosys Q3 profit beats estimates, shares surge 13 percent

* Mali asks for help after Islamists capture strategic town

Markets: mixed

Japan unveils Y10.3tn stimulus package
Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, unveiled a Y10.3tn ($116bn) economic stimulus package that the government expects will lift the country's gross domestic product by 2 per cent and create 600,000 jobs.
http://on.ft.com/VNO68Q

Fitch downgrades S Africa's rating to BBB
Fitch, the rating agency, has downgraded South Africa's sovereign credit rating, citing a deterioration of the country's economic prospects, which it said had affected public finances and exacerbated social and political tensions.
http://on.ft.com/Vpk9OM

Brazil inflation rate prompts concerns
Brazilian consumer prices ended 2012 near the top of the central bank's target range for the third year running, prompting concern from economists that the country is stuck in a phase of low growth and high inflation.
http://on.ft.com/WHcNBX

Doha aid fails to stem Egypt currency woes
An extra $2.5bn in Qatari financial assistance to Egypt has failed to stem the decline of the country's currency or alleviate the pressure on the government of President Mohamed Morsi.
http://on.ft.com/TNlfTC

Saudi oil cut propels Brent higher
Brent crude hit a 12-week high on Thursday, rising above $113 a barrel as Saudi Arabia cut its oil production to the lowest since May 2011, when it increased output amid escalating violence in Libya.
http://on.ft.com/UQZDs8

Tycoon Slim's retail arm to raise $720 million with share offer
Tycoon Carlos Slim's retail unit said it plans to relist on the Mexican stock exchange, offering a 15.2 percent stake to raise some $720 million to fund expansion plans, including possible acquisitions.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/11/us-mexico-sanborns-idUSBRE90A03I20130111

Infosys Q3 profit beats estimates, shares surge 13 percent
Infosys Ltd, India's No.2 software services provider, posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit and raised its annual revenue forecast after its client base expanded and the firm signed more deals, sending its shares 13 percent higher.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/01/11/infosys-results-idINDEE90A02020130111

Mali asks for help after Islamists capture strategic town
Mali asked for military help from Franceafter residents of the strategic northern town of Konna said Islamist rebels drove out the Malian army on Thursday, the fiercest fighting since militants took control of the country's north nine months ago.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/11/us-mali-rebels-idUSBRE90912Q20130111

Emerging Markets
MSCI Emerging Market Index down -0.01% at 1,077

Americas
DJIA up +0.60% at 13,471
S&P 500 up +0.76% at 1,472
Bovespa up +0.16% at 61,678

Asia
Nikkei 225 up +1.45% at 10,808
Topix up +1.13% at 899.05
Hang Seng down -0.29% at 23,287
Shanghai Composite down -0.87% at 2,264
MSCI Asia ex-Japan down -0.16% at 558.86
S&P CNX Nifty Index up +0.26% at 5,984

Currencies
€/$ 1.33 (1.33)
$/¥ 89.08 (88.78)

Commodities
Brent Crude (ICE) down -0.33 at 111.56
Light Crude (Nymex) up +0.06 at 93.88
100 Oz Gold (Comex) unchanged 0.00 at 1,677