UNITED STATES

Losses in European shares offset gains in Asia on Thursday to drag down world stocks while the euro gained in part because of supportive comments from the influential head of China's national pension fund.

Asian stocks rose on Thursday on higher-than-expected Chinese exports and assurances from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the U.S. economic recovery was on solid footing, but European stocks were expected to open lower, tracking Wall Street's fall overnight.

Oil remained lower in Asian trade Thursday despite a positive Chinese data which shows increase in overall exports of the country. Light sweet crude for July was seen trading at $74.23 a barrel at 12.00 noon Singapore time while Brent crude was at $ 74.01 a barrel in London.

Gold prices pared some of its overnight losses in Asian trade Thursday but remained under pressure on firmer currencies and stocks. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1232.74 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while U.S. gold futures for August delivery was at $1235.17 an ounce.

There is a good chance that a sweeping U.S. financial reform bill will be passed in a reasonable form, White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said on Wednesday, adding the bill could provide a basis for international coordination on coherent legislation.

New strategic brinkmanship by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK); a now-clear determination by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to more aggressively assert its territorial claims in regional waters; the near-collapse of Japanese strategic cohesion during 2010; and the increasing signs of US political caution in North-East Asia, all point to a period of strategic concern for the Republic of China, particularly in its maritime responsibilities.

Violent videogames can increase aggression and hostility in some players but they can also benefit others by honing their visual/spatial skills and improving social networking ability, scientists said.

The Australian dollar found some support from the release of strong Chinese trade data yesterday. The unofficial report served to support the view that the Chinese economy is still performing very strongly, in contrast to the current situation in Europe.

BP Plc shares tumbled nearly 16 percent on U.S. exchanges to a 14-year low on Wednesday on rising fears about how the wounded company will cope with the massive costs of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.

BP Plc shares tumbled nearly 16 percent on U.S. exchanges to a 14-year low on Wednesday on rising fears about how the wounded company will cope with the massive costs of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.

The world's leading gaming hardware makers, hoping to reignite the slumping $60 billion industry, will unveil at E3 next week a range of futuristic gadgets designed to pull in a new generation of players.

BP Plc has bought terms such as oil spill from search engine providers including Google Inc to help direct Internet users to its website as it attempts to control the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

There is a good chance that the sweeping U.S. financial reform bill will be passed in a reasonable form, White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said on Wednesday, adding the bill could provide a basis for international coordination on coherent legislation.

BP shares trading on U.S. exchanges fell more than 15 percent to a 14-year low on Wednesday on growing worries about the costs the oil company will incur after the Gulf of Mexico oil leak.

Motorola Inc is seeing strong demand for its Droid phone at Verizon Wireless despite the popularity of rival HTC Corp's Droid Incredible, co-Chief Executive Sanjay Jha said on Wednesday.

Stocks fell on Wednesday in another late-day roller-coaster ride, dragged lower by BP and other energy shares as the U.S. probe of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico deepened.

CVS Caremark Corp will remove Walgreen Co from its pharmacy benefits management network in retaliation for Walgreen's decision to stop filling prescriptions for new CVS Caremark business.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday the U.S. economic recovery was on a solid footing but cautioned it could be years before the jobs lost during the deep recession of 2008-2009 are restored.

U.S. economic activity improved nationwide last month, but worries about Europe's debt crisis dented confidence, the Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book collection of anecdotal reports.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday the U.S. economic recovery was on a solid footing but cautioned it could be years before the jobs lost during the deep recession of 2008-2009 are restored.

BP shares trading on U.S. exchanges fell 14 percent in New York on Wednesday on growing worries about the costs the oil company will incur as a result of the Gulf of Mexico oil leak.