UNITED STATES

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Monday that Group of Seven finance ministers will meet in Washington on April 24 and follow that gathering up with a Group of 20 ministerial session.

In a move to ensure that all of the personal assets of jailed swindler Bernard Madoff are used to pay his defrauded customers, some investors filed court papers on Monday to force him into involuntary bankruptcy.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer SPX Corp slashed its 2009 profit forecast by about 18 percent, warning that it expects revenue to be weaker than forecast as a global downturn hurts demand for its products.

Stocks fell on Monday as energy stocks retreated on falling oil prices and Boeing Co slid after it issued a profit warning, giving investors jitters ahead of key earnings reports this week.

Sudan's leader welcomed on Monday positive signs sent by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Islamic world, striking a more conciliatory tone toward Washington, seen as an enemy of Khartoum in the past.

Iran said on Monday it would welcome constructive dialogue with six world powers, including the United States, in its clearest signal yet it will accept an invitation for talks on its disputed nuclear work.

President Barack Obama will try to establish a cooperative new relationship with Latin America this week, but U.S. resistance to change on highly symbolic issues like Cuba and immigration could undercut the effort, analysts said.

Oil fell toward $49 a barrel on Monday after the International Energy Agency cut deeply its forecast for oil demand, offsetting the impact of data showing Chinese crude imports rose to their second highest ever.

King Abdullah of Jordan will meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on April 21 to lobby on behalf of Arab states for a stronger U.S. role in Middle East peacemaking, palace officials said on Sunday.

The crew of a U.S. ship attacked off Somalia called on President Barack Obama to lead the battle to stamp out piracy on Monday, after U.S. forces freed the ship's captain to end a five-day hostage drama.

Oil fell below $50 a barrel on Monday after the International Energy Agency cut deeply its forecast for oil demand, offsetting the impact of data showing Chinese crude imports rose to their second highest ever.

South Korean flat screen maker LG Display and two Taiwanese rivals are expected to report another quarter in the red, but losses in January-March likely narrowed from the previous quarter, driven by booming sales in China.

EBay Inc has agreed to buy a controlling stake in South Korean online retailer Gmarket Inc for $413 million, at a 32.5 percent premium, news service eDaily reported on Monday.

U.S. congressman Donald Payne flew into Mogadishu flanked by six bodyguards on Monday, making what is believed to be the first visit to the Somali capital by a senior American politician since 1994.

Oil fell to around $51 a barrel on Monday after the International Energy Agency cut deeply its forecast for oil demand, offsetting the impact of data showing Chinese crude imports rose to their second highest ever.

Europe's largest bank, HSBC Holdings , confirmed on Monday it was considering selling three of its major office buildings and said it had received interest from potential buyers.

U.S. Navy special forces freed an American ship's captain and killed three Somali pirates holding him hostage in a lifeboat, ending a five-day standoff but drawing vows of revenge from pirates.

Oil fell to around $51 a barrel on Monday after the International Energy Agency cut deeply its forecast for oil demand, offsetting the impact of data showing Chinese crude imports rose to their second highest ever.

Asian stocks rose on Monday on hopes for the global economy, with Taiwan shares hitting a near 7-month closing high, while oil prices slipped below $52 after a dramatic oil demand downgrade by the International Energy Agency.

(Corrects in paragraph 8 KOSPI's closing level to 1,338.26, not 1338.16)

Oil fell to around $51 a barrel on Monday after the International Energy Agency cut its forecast for oil demand, overshadowing data showing Chinese crude imports rose to their second highest ever.