UNITED STATES

U.S. retailers, including Limited Brands Inc and Children's Place , surprised Wall Street with small increases in September sales, suggesting that shoppers could be heading back for the crucial holiday season.

Stock futures rose on Thursday as the latest earnings season got off to a positive start after Alcoa posted a surprise profit and as surging commodity prices underpinned a global equity advance.

European shares were higher in early trade on Thursday as a surprise quarterly profit from U.S. aluminium group Alcoa (AA.N) boosted market sentiment, with banks and mining stocks the biggest gainers.

A review of Citigroup Inc's management team, demanded by U.S. regulators in the aftermath of the financial crisis, gave it satisfactory marks, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Gold prices rallied to record highs for a third successive session in Europe on Thursday, as persistent weakness in the dollar fueled fund buying of the metal as an alternative to the U.S. unit.

The University of Melbourne has jumped two places to No 36 - and again is the only Australian university to have all surveyed disciplines in the Top 30 in the world - in the Times Higher Education-QS (THE-QS) 2009 World University Rankings, released toda

There are some valuable lessons Americans can learn from Australia's health care system and vice versa, according to a Macquarie University academic and expert in the field.

Gold hit a fresh record high on Thursday as the dollar struggled, while emerging market stocks climbed to their highest level this year.

U.S. asset manager BlackRock Inc is in the running to help state regulators estimate risks in insurers' investments, the Wall Street Journal said, citing regulators and a National Association of Insurance Commissioners official.

Asian shares rose on Thursday as surprisingly strong Australian jobs data raised hopes for a stronger global economic recovery and pushed the Aussie and New Zealand currencies to fresh 14-month highs, while gold hit another record.

Spot gold topped $1,050 per ounce to mark a record high for the third session in a row on Thursday as the dollar's continued struggle made the precious metal more attractive to investors.

The top U.S. communications regulator praised recent moves by big wireless companies to open their networks and said he would work to overcome a looming shortage of airwaves used by the industry.

Dell Inc plans to launch a smartphone with Google's Android mobile software on carrier AT&T's network, a source said, marking the PC maker's first foray into a cut-throat U.S. cellphone arena.

U.S. marketers and consumer advocates are preparing for battle over the rules governing online advertising tailored to individual browsing habits, often tracked and collected without notice or permission.

GM on Track; Alcoa's Surprise; Regulator Pleased

Alcoa Inc posted a surprise profit on Wednesday through cost cutting and higher aluminum prices after three consecutive quarterly losses, sending its stock 6 percent higher.

General Motors Co is on track to complete a wrenching cost-cutting but faces risks from an uncertain U.S. economy and rising unemployment as it tries to win back consumers, the automaker said on Wednesday.

The world's biggest truckmaker, Daimler AG , is seeing evidence the U.S. truck market has bottomed, but it remains cautious about the pace of any recovery, the head of Daimler's truck division said on Wednesday.

BY Gabriel MadwayDell Inc plans to launch a smartphone with Google's Android mobile software on carrier AT&T's network as soon as early 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported, marking the PC maker's first foray into a cut-throat U.S. cellphone arena.

A U.S. District Court dismissed a lawsuit of former employees of Washington Mutual against JPMorgan Chase & Co to recover their retirement account losses after the collapse of the thrift.

Bank of America Corp should look for a new chief executive outside of the company, a shareholder that has criticized the current management in the past said on Wednesday.