CHINA

One month of improved data does not constitute an economic recovery and recession in the United States will last for at least a few more months, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Dennis Lockhart said on Thursday.

Dell Inc's China sales grew 28 percent in unit terms in the year to January, accounting for about 5 percent of the company's global business, Chief Executive Michael Dell said on Thursday.

Mining giant Rio Tinto said it could sell more assets and reschedule debt if a proposed $19.5 billion tie-up with China's state-owned aluminum firm Chinalco fails to go ahead.

Denmark boasts the world's most networked economy, putting it and its Nordic neighbors in a good position to rebound from the current global downturn, the World Economic Forum said on Thursday.

Most economic data suggest recession in the United States will last for at least a few more months, Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said on Thursday.

Asian stocks rose to their highest in nearly three months on Thursday, led by energy and financial shares, and oil climbed on hopes the U.S. economic slowdown may be easing.

Asian shares hit their highest level in 11 weeks on Thursday on hopes the U.S. economic downturn may be easing, while the dollar recovered after its latest wobble about its status as the main reserve currency.

The world has more than enough reserves to help restore financial stability, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday, but a way needs to be found of unlocking the funds.

IBM will cut about 5,000 jobs in the United States, adding to similarly large cuts in the past few months, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Corrects to end-2008, not 2009, paragraph 5

Stocks retreated on Wednesday as technology shares fell after news IBM is planning layoffs and a disappointing Treasury note auction raised concerns of flagging foreign interest in U.S. government debt, which could bode poorly for the economy.

Australia's competition watchdog cleared Rio Tinto Ltd's $19.5 billion tie-up with China's state-owned Chinalco, clearing one obstacle to a deal that still needs the approval of the finance minister.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday the U.S. dollar is still the world's reserve currency and will remain so for a long time, though he also expressed openess to expanded use of an IMF currency basket.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Wednesday said he is quite open to China's suggestion of moving toward a currency system linked to the International Monetary Fund's Strategic Drawing Rights.

Asian shares put in a mixed performance on Wednesday as a sharp rally in stock markets this week over a U.S. plan to deal with toxic debt ran out of steam.

Australia's competition watchdog cleared Rio Tinto Ltd's $19.5 billion tie-up with China's state-owned Chinalco, rejecting at least one key argument against a deal, which still needs the treasurer's approval.

U.S. President Barack Obama and his top two economic officials on Tuesday dismissed suggestions by emerging economic powers that the world move away from using the dollar as the world's main reserve currency.

T-Mobile USA plans to double its high-speed wireless network coverage to reach a potential 200 million wireless users by the end of 2009 as it looks to catch up with rival services.

China rejected Coca-Cola's bid to buy top local juice maker Huiyuan because it feared the U.S. multinational could abuse its position across the whole soft drinks market, an official said in remarks published on Wednesday.

China is not afraid of the Internet, its Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, even as access to the popular video sharing site YouTube was apparently blocked.

China is not afraid of the Internet, its Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, even as access to the popular video sharing site YouTube appeared to be blocked.