UNITED STATES

U.S. consumer spending rebounded in January, snapping six months of declines, and incomes rose unexpectedly, boosted by salary increases for government employees, a government report showed on Monday.

President Barack Obama's targets for cutting the budget deficit remain in reach, a top aide said on Sunday, despite an alarmingly steep U.S. economic decline that could throw off revenue collections.

Citigroup Inc may need to raise additional capital despite the U.S. government's move to bolster its capital base, said an analyst at Deutsche Bank, who sees a 2009 loss of about $4.5 billion for the company excluding any preferred share dividend payments.

Stock index futures slid on Monday, putting Wall Street on track to extend a global rout as embattled insurer American International Group's report of a $61.7 billion quarterly loss suggested the financial crisis is worsening.

American International Group Inc posted a $61.7 billion fourth-quarter loss -- the biggest quarterly loss in corporate history -- after reaching a revised rescue deal with the U.S. government that wards off for now the prospect of crippling credit rating downgrades.

HSBC launched Britain's biggest rights issue on Monday, to raise 12.85 billion pounds ($18.3 billion) to help it overcome big losses in the United States and exploit the woes of weaker rivals.

The Treasury and Federal Reserve said on Monday that ailing insurer American International Group will get up to $30 billion more from U.S. taxpayers as part of a new government rescue bid.

American International Group Inc reported a $61.7 billion fourth-quarter loss on Monday, the largest quarterly loss in U.S. corporate history, after a revised rescue plan from the U.S. government.

When it comes to money, women really are more responsible then men, with an international survey finding that they're less likely to get into debt and strive harder to become financially independent.

North Korean generals met the U.S.-led U.N. military command in South Korea for the first time in about seven years on Monday after Pyongyang warned at the weekend arrogant acts by U.S. troops could spark a war.

Britain's leading share index fell 3.6 percent early on Monday, extending the previous session's sharp fall, with HSBC leading banks lower after it offered a deep discount rights issue.

HSBC launched a 12.5 billion pound ($17.7 billion) rights issue on Monday to shore up its balance sheet after annual profit more than halved and as bad debts soared in the United States.

HSBC launched a 12.5 billion pound ($17.7 billion) rights issue on Monday to shore up its balance sheet after annual profit more than halved and as bad debts soared in the United States.

HSBC launched a 12.5 billion pound ($17.75 billion) rights issue on Monday to shore up its balance sheet after annual profit fell and as bad debts soared in the United States.

Insurer AIG is set to take a $30 billion lifeline from the U.S. government and HSBC plans to raise up to $18 billion to counter a crisis that is punishing companies and crippling international trade.

HSBC will be cutting back its US consumer finance operations, the U.K. bank will announce on Monday, according to a report.

Insurer AIG is set to report a $60 billion (42 billion pound) fourth quarter loss and take a $30 billion lifeline from the U.S. government to survive a crisis threatening some of the world's largest companies and crippling international trade.

The $8 billion fraud allegations against Stanford Financial Group will have to be cleared up without the cooperation of the firm's chief financial officer, after he asserted his rights to not incriminate himself, according to a report.

Abu Dhabi is assessing it's $7.5 billion investment in troubled U.S. banking giant Citigroup through convertible bonds that pay 11 percent interest but nothing has changed from its perspective, a source told Reuters on Sunday.

The U.S. government will commit another $30 billion to prop up American International Group Inc as the embattled insurer prepares to report the biggest loss in history and struggles to sell assets.

The U.S. government will commit another $30 billion to prop up American International Group Inc as the embattled insurer prepares to report the biggest loss in history and struggles to sell assets.