MARKETS / FINANCE

The European Union postponed a crucial summit to allow time for a broader solution to Greece's debt crisis on Monday after Athens said it had concluded talks with international lenders on an aid payment it needs to hold off default.

Swiss structured products exchange Scoach has become the world's first exchange to allow trading in gold-denominated structured products and might also allow exchange traded funds (ETFs) with gold as the trading currency.

Gold prices surged Monday and the dollar plunged as investors piled into stocks in the hope that Europe's sovereign debt crisis may finally be ending and the continent's financial system is beginning to stabilize.

Hedge funds took in $6.1 billion in August as the industry outperformed slumping markets, according to data released on Monday.

Stocks rallied on Monday as investor sentiment got a lift from a pledge by German and French leaders to tackle the euro-zone debt crisis.

The outlook for the world's major economies is continuing to darken according to the latest data from the OECD published on Monday, which showed sharp falls in leading indicators for all countries except Japan.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Monday after a renewed pledge by France and Germany to come up with a plan to resolve the euro zone debt crisis by month's end lifted sentiment.

On issues ranging from racial prejudice to economic inequity, Cain has invoked his own ascendance as a template for success -- and suggested that those who fall short have only themselves to blame.

Europe's banks expect to be told to raise more capital under a Franco-German effort to solve the euro zone debt crisis after the state rescue of Franco-Belgian lender Dexia SA.

The daily deal industry has jolted a formerly sleepy corner of the $30 billion online advertising market as Groupon battles with rivals to attract new customers.

The European Commission will exclude the over-the-counter derivatives market from its antitrust review of Deutsche Boerse's takeover of NYSE Euronext, undermining a key rationale to gain approval for the deal, three people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

When China announced a nearly $600 billion package to ward off the 2008 global financial crisis, city planners across the country happily embarked on a frenzy of infrastructure projects, some of them of arguable need.

Gold rose more than 2 percent on Monday, lifted by weakness in the dollar versus the euro after France and Germany pledged to come up with a proposal to recapitalize euro zone banks, while traders remained cautious ahead of further details of the plan.

Stocks rallied on Monday as investor sentiment was buoyed by a pledge by German and French leaders to tackle the euro zone debt crisis.

India gold rose nearly a percent on Monday afternoon, extending gains for another session, following a similar trend in overseas markets, although a rising rupee checked gains, dealers said.

Zambians striking over poor pay at Chinese mines went back to work on Monday after winning a nearly 100 percent pay rise, just over two weeks after a new president took office on the promise of improving mining conditions.

Palladium prices rocketed higher Monday as rising optimism about Europe's economy boosted stocks on both sides of the Atlantic and lifted commodities that rise with increased business activity.

Stocks rose sharply in early trading on Monday after a renewed pledge by France and Germany to come up with a plan to resolve the euro zone debt crisis by month's end lifted sentiment.

Mexican mobile phone giant America Movil, owned by billionaire Carlos Slim, is set to launch a bid on Tuesday to buy the 40.04 percent of fixed-line phone unit Telefonos de Mexico it does not already own.

Gold, silver, platinum and palladium, as well as other commodities, generally stand a better chance of handling a global economic downturn than other types of investments, Barclays Capital said Monday.

Stocks rose sharply on Monday as investor sentiment was buoyed by a renewed pledge by France and Germany to come up with a plan to tackle the euro zone debt crisis by month's end.

India gold futures are likely to extend gains this week helped by the weakness in the U.S. dollar, which enhances appeal of the yellow metal as an alternative investment, and after France and Germany pledged to strike a proposal to recapitalize euro zone banks.

China's Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has talked with Temasek Holdings Pte about providing financing to buy the 40 percent stake in itself held by Yahoo Inc, Bloomberg said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The price of gold in the fourth quarter will rise to an average of $1,875 per ounce, a nearly 15 percent increase from gold's closing price Friday, Barclays Capital said.

Several brokerages lowered their ratings on Sprint Nextel Corp after the wireless provider said on Friday it needs to raise more money to upgrade its network, sparking concerns about its financial stability.

On the heels of the French-Belgian bank Dexia breakup, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a promise to come up with a plan by month-end to recapitalize European banks and deal with Greece's debt burden

The former chief executive of the Godfather Pizza chain now poses a serious challenge to front-runner Mitt Romney.

Australian gold mining company Hill End Gold Ltd. said Monday that the estimated amount of gold at one of its projects has risen by 140 percent.

Stock index futures rose on Monday as a renewed pledge by France and Germany to come up with a plan to tackle the euro zone debt crisis by month's end lifted sentiment.