UNITED KINGDOM

Constellation Brands Inc reported a quarterly profit that just missed Wall Street estimates, hurt by disappointing demand for alcohol in Europe and Australia during Christmas and New Year's, and gave a cautious forecast for the current year.

The U.S. government has launched an unprecedented array of actions to salvage the economy and stabilize the financial sector that could put up to $10.903 trillion of taxpayers' money at risk.

Australian Dollar: The local market remained on tender hooks leading into yesterdays RBA rate decision with analysts seemingly split on the outcome.

Partly nationalized British lender Royal Bank of Scotland may cut more than 9,000 jobs in the next two years, or about 5 percent of its total workforce.

Part-nationalized British lender Royal Bank of Scotland said it could shed up to 9,000 jobs over the next 2 years, including 4,500 in the UK, as part of a shake-up of its back-office operations.

Part-nationalized British lender Royal Bank of Scotland said the state's holding in the group will rise to 70.3 percent from 58 percent after its private sector investors largely shunned a sale of new shares.

World stocks turned lower and European currencies fell on Tuesday after data showed the euro zone economy shrank more than previously thought, fanning concerns about the impact on corporate profits from the economy.

Asian stocks slipped on Tuesday, snuffing a five-day rally as uncertainty about U.S. banks pushed dealers to take profits on recent gains, while investors' reduced willingness to take risks lifted the U.S. dollar and yen.

Russia called on other leading powers on Monday to stay focused on nuclear talks with North Korea as Washington pushed for a strong response from a divided U.N. Security Council to Pyongyang's rocket launch.

General Motors Corp has attracted 20 potential buyers for its struggling Saab brand and could complete a sale by June as it rushes to offload unprofitable units in a sweeping restructuring.

Western nations and lending agencies have agreed a financing package of more than $1 billion to improve infrastructure in southern and central Africa at an investment conference meant to expand transport links and trade.

London bankers' mighty pay has fallen from the highest level among global financial centers to the lowest, with Wall Street financiers grabbing the top spot, a poll showed on Sunday.

World stocks rose for a fifth straight session on Monday as investors sought bargains against a background of increasing optimism about the global economy.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has drawn up contingency plans to raise $8 billion in a rights issue underwritten by JP Morgan Cazenove and Credit Suisse, the Sunday Times reported without citing sources.

The NATO nations have agreed to boost 5,000 extra troops and $100 million to secure the Afghan presidential election in August and to fight against the Taliban.

President Barack Obama won NATO backing on Saturday for his new approach to Afghanistan but his European allies stopped short of offering long-term troop deployments for the war effort.

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife gave the Queen of England a personalized iPod during his visit to the UK this week for the G-20 summit.

Internet calling companies such as eBay unit Skype have called on European policymakers to adopt policies that let consumers access their services through smart phones on any public network.

Rupert Murdoch, whose media company News Corp owns one of the few U.S. newspapers that makes people pay to read its news on the Web, said more papers will have to start doing the same to survive.

Royal Bank of Scotland will cut more jobs, Chairman Philip Hampton warned on Friday as he called for an end to the public flogging of the state-rescued bank over its past mistakes.

Royal Bank of Scotland will cut more jobs, Chairman Philip Hampton warned on Friday as he called for an end to public flogging of the state-rescued bank over its past mistakes.