CHINA

On Tuesday, news agencies reported that London Metal Exchange copper rallied to a 20-month high above $8,000 a tonne. This rally is a hint for the things to come in the new financial year. If you take note of the new trend in copper market, the metal has jumped 165% from its low during the bad days of late 2008 and early 2009. Along with that, lead and nickel also climbed 150%, and zinc has jumped 125% .

The upbeat movement in steel prices in the last one month created much debate as the price rise in the key input to varied industries including automobile, real estate, consumer durables, has created ripples of turbulence across the sectors. But it is evident from the global coal scenario that steel prices may continue to dent the profitability of key sectors in India.

World's largest oil consumer, the US increased its crude oil price forecast for 2010 on projections of a speedy global economic recovery. In its monthly Short- Term Energy Outlook, the US Energy Department said the West Texas Intermediate oil, the US benchmark, will average $80.74 per barrel this year, up from last month's forecast of $80.06.

The world has been hit with recession, subprime crisis, bubbles, inflation, deflation and stock market crashes in the last 10 years. But one asset has withstood the economic turmoil and remained as the most robust investment vehicle for the poor and the rich alike in the world is, of course, gold.

A top U.S. trade official said on Wednesday he will raise industry concerns about China's indigenous innovation policies that threaten U.S. intellectual property rights when he visits Beijing next week. What we're trying to do with the Chinese is address the very serious concerns that have been raised, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis said in remarks to the Washington International Trade Association.

The house price bubble, the most prominent global bubble in generations, was caused by lower interest rates but...it was long-term mortgage rates that galvanized prices.

China Life , the world's top life insurer by market value, reported fourth quarter earnings more than double a year ago, helped by new accounting rules, a rebound in global markets and strong premium growth.

Asian stocks neared 22-month highs on Wednesday as regional investors largely shrugged off festering worries about fiscal problems in Europe and focused on a recovery in the world economy.

Asian stocks neared 22-month highs on Wednesday as regional investors largely shrugged off festering worries about fiscal problems in Europe and focused on a recovery in the world economy.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday that governments must work to bring more people into the banking system as part of efforts to improve the balance of economic growth.

China will ultimately decide more yuan flexibility would benefit it, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Tuesday as Beijing defended its currency policy and said any changes would be on its own terms.

A cyber-espionage group based in southwest China stole documents from the Indian Defense Ministry and emails from the Dalai Lama's office, Canadian researchers said in a report on Tuesday.

A cyber-espionage group based in southwest China stole documents from the Indian Defence Ministry and emails from the Dalai Lama's office, a group of Canadian researchers said in a report released Tuesday.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he was confident that China would see that it is in its own interest to make its currency more flexible, and said global economic recovery looks quite strong now.

Top U.S. coal miner Peabody Energy raised its offer for Australia's Macarthur Coal to $3.27 billion, but the new offer was below Macarthur's market price, suggesting the bidding could go higher.

Top U.S. coal miner Peabody Energy raised its offer for Australia's Macarthur Coal to $3.27 billion, but the new offer is at a discount to Macarthur's last trading price.

Asian stock markets rose to three-month highs on Tuesday, extending a two-week rally fueled by strong U.S. economic data and a seeming thaw in U.S.-China tensions over the yuan.

Asian stock markets rose to three-month highs on Tuesday, extending a two-week rally fueled by strong U.S. economic data and a seeming thaw in U.S.-China tensions over the yuan.

China - In Linlou village, Henan, a grandmother Zhang Ruifang,101 began developing a mysterious protusion on her forehead that looks like a horn last year.

The United States on Monday reiterated its call for China's currency to be market-based, as lawmakers warned they would act if there was no movement from China on revaluing the yuan.

The United States on Monday reiterated its call for China's currency to be market-based, as lawmakers warned they would act if there was no movement from China on revaluing the yuan.