MARKETS / FINANCE

Sluggish markets and the May 6 flash crash pinched even highflier Goldman Sachs Group Inc in the second quarter, according to the company's quarterly report filed on Monday.

Stocks gained on Monday, lifted by expectations the Federal Reserve will add liquidity to strengthen the economy when it meets on Tuesday, while shares of Hewlett-Packard fell after the chief executive's resignation.

Skype, a provider of Internet telephone services, plans to raise up to $100 million in an initial U.S. public offering of its shares, according to filings made to regulators on Monday.

U.S. stocks gained on Monday, lifted by expectations the Federal Reserve will add liquidity to the economy when it meets on Tuesday amid worries of a slowing recovery.

A gauge of the U.S. job market rose in July for the 14th straight month although its pace of increase slowed, suggesting job growth would struggle to keep up with growth in the working-age population, a research group said on Monday.

Stocks edged higher on Monday, lifted by forecasts one day ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy making meeting that the Fed will resort once more to some mild quantitative easing.

U.S. and British regulators are investigating the timing of Goldman Sachs Group Inc's disclosure to them that the bank was the subject of a federal civil fraud probe, Goldman said on Monday.

Sluggish markets and the May 6 flash crash pinched even trading highflier Goldman Sachs Group Inc in the second quarter, according to the company's quarterly report filed on Monday.

World stocks edged up toward last week's three-month peak on Monday while the dollar held near a 15-year low versus the yen on rising expectations the Federal Reserve could soon buy bonds to support the economy.

Stocks were set for a higher open on Monday as investors shrugged off last week's dismal employment data and shifted focus to the Federal Reserve's assessment of the economy following a meeting of its policymakers later this week.

Stock index futures rose on Monday as investors shrugged off last week's dismal employment data and shifted focus to technology shares, including Hewlett-Packard Co after its chief executive resigned.

Problems at the mines in South Africa, increasing demand due to the rise in auto sales and emerging markets like India and China will ensure that platinum and palladium outperform gold in the coming years.

Following China's decision to open up the gold sector by allowing more banks to trade in bullion, Indian banks have also decided to approach the Reserve Bank of India for permission to trade in gold. Several banks have moved the RBI seeking permission to trade in gold in the domestic market and even hedge their requirements on futures exchanges.

Stock index futures rose on Monday as investors shrugged off last week's dismal employment data and shifted focus to technology shares, including Hewlett-Packard Co after its chief executive resigned.

Stock index futures rose on Monday as investors shrugged off last week's dismal employment data and shifted focus to technology shares, including Hewlett-Packard after its chief executive resigned.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.42 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.17 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.16 percent at 3:55 a.m. ET.

The dollar was on the defensive against major currencies on Monday, as disappointing U.S. jobs data on Friday highlighted a weakening U.S. economic outlook and added to speculation about further monetary easing. Market players refrained from chasing prices aggressively, having already priced in some form of modest easing at the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting on Tuesday.

Oil prices rose to above $81 a barrel on Monday, as a weaker dollar supported prices that had fallen for three straight days last week, in part on poor U.S. economic data. Analysts said the dollar, which is slipping toward a 15-year low against the yen, could, along with rumblings of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, continue to bolster oil prices that last week ended above $80 for the first since May.

The dollar was on the defensive against major currencies on Monday, as disappointing U.S. jobs data on Friday highlighted a weakening U.S. economic outlook. Market players were wary of chasing prices aggressively ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting on Tuesday, with expectations mounting for some form of additional monetary easing.

Asian stocks edged higher on Monday on growing speculation the Federal Reserve will have to buy bonds sooner rather than later to bolster the sagging economy, which is keeping the U.S. dollar under pressure.

Asian stocks edged higher on Monday on growing speculation the Federal Reserve will have to buy bonds sooner rather than later to bolster the sagging economy, which is keeping the U.S. dollar under pressure.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc has informed the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission that 25 percent to 35 percent of its revenue was derived from the derivatives businesses, the Wall Street Journal said, citing a person familiar with the situation.

Gold prices remained steady in Asian trade Monday as the dollar dropped further amid safe haven buying by investor's. Gold for immediate delivery was at $1203.45 an ounce while U.S. gold futures for December delivery were hardly changed at $1,205.5 an ounce.

U.S. wheat futures fell 4.3 percent on Monday, extending their losses to nearly 12 percent in two sessions as traders take profits from a near-doubling in prices in just over a month. With a key U.S. Department of Agriculture stocks and production report out on Thursday and the impact of a Russian decision last week to ban exports still to be felt, the market looks set for another volatile week.

The dollar dipped against the yen on Monday, slipping towards a 15-year low, after a disappointing U.S. July payrolls report boosted talk the Federal Reserve could consider further easing monetary policy as early as this week.

Allied World Assurance Holdings Ltd said it bought back $250 million worth of stock from funds affiliated to Goldman Sachs Group Inc that are its founding shareholders.

South American OPEC member Venezuela will begin a widely expected $3 billion new debt issue from Monday, Economy Minister Jorge Giordani said.

The Bank of Japan hopes to avoid having to dig into its depleted policy arsenal next week, but may ease monetary policy if the yen soars toward an all-time high against the dollar and threatens a fragile economic recovery.

Friday's release of the RBA Monetary Policy statement swayed little from the recent central bank rhetoric with a relatively neutral document.