MARKETS / FINANCE

Has Morgan Stanley finally turned the corner? It's starting to look that way.

(Corrects number of firm plane orders in bullet point, lead and 6th paragraph)

Amaya Gaming Group, a Montreal-based developer of technologies for online gambling, said on Wednesday it raised C$5 million ($4.81 million) in an initial public offering it made to finance growth.

Senate Republicans on Wednesday delayed action to restore U.S. unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work the longest, prolonging a partisan standoff even though the measure is certain to pass.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Wednesday as caution before comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy and interest rates offset optimism over solid earnings news.

If you haven't paid due attention to the movements of copper prices in the market, this is the right time to do so. Copper inventories fell further as measured by the London Metals Exchange, by 0.8 per cent to 423,850 tonnes, the lowest level since November 20. Copper supplies are down a staggering 16 per cent this year.

China's experiment with oil eating bacteria to help clean oil spill areas in its northeast coast near Dalian city was proved to be a success, said country's Maritime Safety Administration. It's the first time that China is making use of bio-technology and bio-oil-absorbing products to solve an environmental pollution issue.

World's second largest rice exporter Vietnam is facing one of the toughest periods in its farming history. According to Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, the country may lose one million tons of the grain this season as surpluses, the beginning of the wet season, and a shortage of places for drying wet rice are adding up to heavy potential losses.

In order to ease the burden of enhancing food grains stocks and facilitating space for new crops, India is planning to clear off buffer stocks by selling around 3 million metric tons to states.

Gold prices have fallen sharply from all-time high of $1265 on June 21st on reassessment of US economic prospects by some gold traders and investors, and an abatement in perceived European sovereign risk, accoridng to Jeffrey Nichols, Senior Economic Advisor to Rosland Capital. However, he has maintained a bullish view on gold on loss of confidence in dollar and inflation.

Wells Fargo & Co and US Bancorp, two of the largest banks in the United States, said rising loan demand helped lift their earnings more than analysts had expected.

At a time gold is glittering at above $1,200 per ounce level, nobody is interested in its poor cousin silver. But, the truth is different. Those who want to invest in precious metals should now keep a close watch on silver.

Britain has pulled an interactive website asking the public to suggest ways of cutting government spending citing attacks after it attracted a range of bizarre proposals and rants against minorities.

Brazilian state prosecutors in Rio de Janeiro opened a formal investigation into Google over pedophilia, defamation and false identity on its social networking site Orkut, O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Wells Fargo & Co , the fourth-largest U.S. bank, posted higher-than-expected quarterly earnings, helped by declining losses on commercial and consumer loans.

Stocks were little changed on Wednesday as uncertainty over what Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would tell a Senate committee blunted optimism after a stream of solid earnings.

Wells Fargo & Co , the fourth-largest U.S. bank, reported lower second-quarter profit, but losses on commercial and consumer loans declined from the first quarter.

Wells Fargo & Co , the fourth-largest U.S. bank, reported lower second-quarter profit, but losses on commercial and consumer loans declined from the first quarter.

Stocks trimmed early gains on Wednesday to trade little changed as enthusiasm over earnings from the financial sector and Apple were tempered by caution ahead of testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Stocks rose on Wednesday as solid earnings from technology giant Apple as well as financials Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo tempered growth worries.

Stocks were poised for a higher open on Wednesday as solid earnings from technology giant Apple as well as financials Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo tempered growth worries.

American International Group Inc is set to elevate Goldman Sachs Group Inc to the top role for handling the initial public offering of its Asian life insurance unit, sources said on Wednesday, a deal that could raise around $15 billion.

Morgan Stanley reported higher-than-expected second-quarter profit on Wednesday despite weak industry trends.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday as solid earnings from technology giant Apple along with financials Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo eased growth concerns.

Gold continued its slide on Wednesday with a fall of 1% to hit a near two-month low as prices broke below a major upward trend, but the metal could rebound on near-term technical support. Weak US housing sentiment and competition from other asset classes such as government bonds, equities and industrial commodities pressured the metal, which is used as an inflation hedge.

American International Group Inc is set to appoint Deutsche Bank AG, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley as joint global coordinators for the planned initial public offering of its Asian life insurance business, AIA, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

More than $12 billion in airplane orders from lessors and Asia-Pacific carriers dominated the third day of the Farnborough Airshow, as manufacturers stood ready to raise their forecasts for the year on the back of strong demand.

The U.S. securities regulator was aware of Wall Street's potentially questionable accounting practice of classifying repurchase agreements as sales instead of borrowings long before the collapse of Lehman Brothers raised the issue, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for Wall Street on Wednesday, boosted by upbeat earnings from technology firm Apple .