IBT Staff Reporter

Oman has no plans to block BlackBerry services, the small Gulf state said on Monday, as regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia worked with the device's maker on a solution that could avert a ban of some services.

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.

McDonald's Corp reported a 7 percent global increase in sales at its established restaurants last month, fueled by its beverage business, extended hours, and strong sales in Asia.

Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard would not be amused.

McDonald's Corp reported a better-than-expected 7 percent global increase in sales at established restaurants in July, fueled by new drinks like smoothies, extended hours in Europe and strength in Asia.

Exercising in your 40's, 50's and 60's is like saving for your retirement, experts say.

Dish Network Corp , the No. 2 U.S. satellite television operator, posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings and 9 percent growth in revenue.

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.

President Barack Obama reached out on Saturday to retired Americans, an important group of voters, touting a report that showed healthcare reform had brightened prospects for the Medicare hospital trust fund.

People over 50 with HIV are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease than younger adults, according to a British study.

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.

Foodmaker Sara Lee Corp's Chief Executive Brenda Barnes will step down permanently as CEO and chairman after being on a medical leave since May and the company said it has started a search for her successor.

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.

Mark Papermaster, the Apple executive in charge of iPhone engineering, has left the company weeks after the Antennagate controversy over complaints of poor reception on the company's latest smartphone.

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.

Chrysler Group LLC posted a second-quarter net loss on Monday and said it still had an extraordinary amount of work to complete, but its turnaround was on track and it could raise its financial outlook later this year.

Exporters canceled major contracts of drought-hit Black Sea wheat to Bangladesh on Monday, signaling the need for Asian millers to scramble for supplies from other key growers like Australia.

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.

Chrysler Group LLC posted a second-quarter net loss on Monday and said it still had an extraordinary amount of work to complete, but its restructuring was on track and it could raise its financial outlook later this year.

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.