IBT Staff Reporter

India on Wednesday increased price of natural gas, produced by ONGC and Oil India Ltd, used for industrial purposes at par with the rate of Reliance. The cabinet approved an Oil Ministry proposal to raise the rate of gas sold to power and fertilizer firms from $1.79 per million British thermal unit to $4.20.

Gold prices moved up in Asian trade Thursday as euro recovers but stays below $1200 while silver, platinum and palladium bounced higher. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1196.45 an ounce at 11.30 a.m Singapore time while June delivery was at $1197.48 an ounce at the same time.

Old is Gold - going verbal on this well-known saying, it would surly fetch gold for you getting older. As gold prices are hovering at historic peak levels giving lucrative opportunity for investors to create wealth for their present, it has proved to be one of the best instruments for securing after-retirement life with gold coin investments.

European stocks rebounded on Thursday as investors sought bargains after the previous day's sharp sell-off but gains were limited by persistent euro zone fears, with the euro remaining under pressure.

Trading systems briefly broke down at hedge fund firm Citadel Investment Group and trading firm Knight Capital Group Inc when the stock markets plunged on May 6, the Wall Street Journal said.

Europe's debt crisis has laid bare the fragility of global finances and the United States, too, must tame its fiscal deficit, a senior Chinese official said on Thursday, spelling out Beijing's concerns before talks with Washington.

Worries over the euro zone's debt crisis hammered Asian stocks to their lowest in more than eight months and sent the euro down, struggling to stay above the previous day's four-year low as political divisions and fears of more market regulation kept investors on edge.

Bank creditors to Dubai World have accepted an offer from the indebted conglomerate to settle $14.2 billion in outstanding bank claims, according to a report in a UAE newspaper on Thursday.

The euro erased initial gains and edged lower on Thursday to trade above the previous day's four-year lows as political divisions in Europe and fears of more market regulation kept investors on edge and pressured stocks.

The euro erased initial gains and edged lower on Thursday to trade above the previous day's four-year lows as political divisions in Europe and fears of more market regulation kept investors on edge and pressured stocks.

Dubai World , the indebted state-owned conglomerate, has reached a deal in principal to restructure $23.5 billion, with its core bank creditors, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

The head of the Eurogroup said on Thursday financial markets were acting irrationally over the euro area's debt problems and while he was concerned about the fall in the euro, immediate action was not needed.

Japan's economy grew 1.2 percent in the first quarter, the biggest expansion in three quarters, on stimulus-driven consumption and solid exports to Asia, but market turmoil from the European debt crisis clouded the outlook.

Japan's economy grew 1.2 percent in the first quarter, the biggest expansion in three quarters, supported by solid exports to Asia and a stimulus-fueled recovery in consumption.

The euro struggled to retain gains on Thursday after a fragile rebound from the previous day's four-year lows as political divisions in Europe and fears of more regulations kept investors edgy and pressured stocks.

A grandad has saved the lives of more than two million babies by donating his blood.

Fake or substandard versions of medicines are often hidden in cargos taking circuitous routes to mask their country of origin as part of criminal activity worth billions, they add.

In a setback for the Obama administration, Senate Democrats failed to muster enough votes on Wednesday to end debate on the biggest overhaul of financial regulation since the 1930s, delaying a vote on passage.

MELBOURNE'S growth corridors will be hardest hit by an expected surge in dementia cases, projections show.

Mall owner General Growth said on Wednesday it has replaced some of its managers, in a sign that its focus has switched from exiting bankruptcy to beefing up operations.

Lifeline reported that the number of Queenslanders in financial crisis is growing and it will struggle to help them unless the state government provides extra funding.

A federal judge has dismissed a plaintiff's lawsuit against Apple Inc that accused company employees of waiting like vultures to spy on her every time she used an Apple laptop to access the Internet.

Eating together as a family during dinner time without the interruption from the television are important for the children to develop social skills and learn about nutrition, says a leading pediatrician.

Google showed off a new online store on Wednesday for consumers to purchase games, magazines and other applications through its Chrome browser, in a move to give the search giant a central role in the next generation of Web media and entertainment.

The AUD has been on a wild ride over the last 24 hours as risk aversion spurred another round of solid selling.

The United States will continue nudging China at top-level talks in Beijing next week to let its yuan currency appreciate but trade issues appeared to be higher on the U.S. agenda ahead of the sessions.

An eight year old girl with failed kidneys astounded doctors by growing two new kidneys.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority directed Internet service providers to block Facebook indefinitely on Wednesday because of an online competition to draw the Prophet Mohammad.

Germany stepped up its fight against speculators with a ban on some financial trades on Wednesday, triggering big market falls and wrong footing European governments that said they were not consulted.