IBT Staff Reporter

UAL Corp, parent of United Airlines, will buy Continental Airlines Inc for $3.2 billion, forming the world's largest carrier in a merger that further shrinks the embattled U.S. airline industry and could drive up air fares, sources said on Sunday.

Three greenfield International Exchanges of Financial Technologies Group, a leading global player in creating next-generation financial exchanges and ecosystem ventures, will be going live in 2010. SMX (Singapore Mercantile Exchange) will go live in August 2010, GBOT (Global Board of Trade, Mauritius) in September 2010 and BFX (Bahrain Financial Exchange) in October 2010.

The regulatory tussle between equities regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and commodities markets regulator, Futures Market Commission (FMC) over the launch of futures and options trading in gold ETF has come to a halt as the NSE had deferred its decision to introduce this investment product. FMC had raised objection to the SEBI's approval to an application filed by NSE to launch future and options (F&O) trading in gold ETFs on the regulatory grounds.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.31 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.16 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.3 percent.

Beautiful woman causes cortisol levels of men to rise leading them to numerous health risks.

The euro dropped on Monday and stocks fell on fears that a 110 billion euro bailout of Greece will face stiff political challenges, while fresh steps by China to cool its economy added to near-term uncertainty.

European nations aim to formally launch the biggest ever financial bailout of a country this week, hoping to calm markets wary that Greece's rescue may be the first of several, expensive measures to shore up other economies.

(Corrects fall in euro to more than 12 pct from 14 pct in paragraph 12)

World oil prices extended gains in the first day trade of this month mainly on possible US supply drop on Gulf of Mexico oil slick while Greek bailout deal also helped. Light sweet crude for June delivery was seen trading at $86.59 a barrel at 12.00 noon Singapore time while Brent crude was at $87.65 a barrel at the same time in London. Analysts said expectations that the huge oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico could lead to delays in the delivery of crude oil in the US helped the black gold.

Gold prices remained highly volatile in Asian trade Monday as bailout package for debt-laden Greece eased safe haven concerns. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $ 1177.64 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while June gold futures was at $ 1178.25 an ounce at the same time.

The euro sank nearly 1 percent on Monday and stocks fell on fears that a 110 billion euro bailout of Greece will face stiff political challenges, while fresh steps by China to cool its economy added to near-term uncertainty.

China on Sunday raised the proportion of deposits that lenders must keep in reserve at the central bank, another step in its months-old campaign to mop up excess cash in the economy at a time when inflation is on the rise. The People's Bank of China said it was lifting lenders' reserve requirement ratio by 50 basis points, effective May 10, its third increase of that magnitude this year.

Researchers from the University of Essex found that exposing five minutes of a green activity such as walking, gardening or cycling can boost mood and self esteem.

Perth - Under a new radical government policy, expectant mothers have to show that they are fit to care for their baby.

Australia's government girded on Monday for a battle with global miners over its plan to slap the industry with a new 40 percent profits tax, after two home-grown mining giants said the move would threaten investment.

The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission yesterday ordered the Queensland Teachers Union -- which has refused Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard's instructions to hold the NAPLAN tests -- to go ahead with the national aptitude test between May 11-13.

Australia: The Australian Dollar fell on Friday's trading again on the back of weaker equity markets and talk increased that US investment bank Goldman Sachs might be the subject of a criminal prosecution by the US Justice Department in addition to the civil case recently brought by the SEC.

April's jobs report and a slew of other economic indicators may bolster U.S. stocks this week, but jitters over Greece's debt and investigations into Goldman Sachs will test the market's resiliency.

Canberra - Tomorrow ACT government will announce an extra $15 million budget for elective surgery and cancer services.

April's jobs report and a slew of other economic indicators may bolster U.S. stocks this week, but jitters over Greece's debt and investigations into Goldman Sachs will test the market's resiliency.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein could support the Volcker Rule depending on its details, he said during an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria on Sunday.

Jeweler Zale Corp has entered into exclusive talks with Citibank to renew their private-label credit-card arrangement after it expires next year, and has won an extra month from Citibank to pay a penalty for low sales made on the cards.

European finance ministers triggered a record 110 billion euro ($147 billion) bailout for debt-stricken Greece on Sunday after Athens committed itself to years of painful austerity.

:: Australian Dollar: The Australian Dollar opens?the new week lower against a stronger greenback at 0.9225 after a steady local session last Friday.

Warren Buffett on Sunday stood by his feisty defense of a controversial mortgage transaction marketed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc, saying the investment bank's behavior did not warrant public opprobrium.

As thousands of shareholders from around the world crowded into Omaha this weekend to attend Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual meeting, many pondered the unthinkable -- life after Warren Buffett.

April's jobs report and a slew of other economic indicators may bolster U.S. stocks this week, but jitters over Greece's debt and investigations into Goldman Sachs will test the market's resiliency.

Hungarian central bank governor Andras Simor warned on Sunday that political attacks against the bank could hurt the economy which is still fragile, and confirmed in a statement that he would not resign.

Greece committed itself to years of painful sacrifices to secure a massive European Union and IMF financial bailout on Sunday, and Germany's chancellor finally threw her full support behind the rescue.