IBT Staff Reporter

Japan's trade minister apologized on Monday for disclosing market sensitive third-quarter GDP figures to oil industry executives ahead of its official release, in an embarrassing slip for a government that took power two months ago.

Sparring Over Exchange Rates; Exxon's Poise; Sony's Dark Forecast

Japanese Trade Minister Masayuki Naoshima apologized for speaking about third-quarter GDP data to oil industry executives on Monday ahead of its official release.

China on Monday made a fresh, thinly veiled criticism of the United States for running lax monetary and fiscal policies that risk undermining the dollar.

Shares in Exxon Mobil Corp, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, could rise more than 20 percent to $90 next year if energy prices increase as expected, Barron's reported on Sunday.

Japan's Sony Corp has seen no sign of a recovery in the consumer electronics market, Chief Executive Howard Stringer said in an interview published on Sunday.

Japan's trade minister disclosed market sensitive third-quarter GDP figures to oil industry executives on Monday ahead of its official release, a source within the ministry said, in an embarrassment for a government that took power two months ago.

China's economy is expected to grow by a modest 8.5 percent next year while inflation will be subdued at about 2.5 percent, indicating that monetary policy should remain appropriately loose to solidify the basis of the recovery, a key government think-tank said on Monday. The State Information Center added that the risks of rapid credit growth could be contained and that a tightening of monetary ...

U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders on Sunday supported delaying a legally binding climate pact until 2010 or even later, but European negotiators said the move did not imply weaker action.

President Barack Obama's Democrats and his Republican opponents enter the 2010 election season facing voters in an anti-incumbent mood over the sour U.S. economy, increasing the political pressure on both sides.

Central banks will be net buyers of gold this year as they diversify away from the U.S. dollar, global commodities investment fund BlackRock said on Monday in comments that helped drive bullion to fresh record highs.

Singer Justin Bieber performed his hit song One Time at the New York studios of ABC's Good Morning America ahead of the release of his new album My World on November 17.

ECB governing council member Christian Noyer said on Monday that he didn't believe monetary policy played a central role in causing the global financial crisis, and that price stability should remain the main objective of central banks.

A stronger Chinese yuan is part of the reforms that Beijing needs to implement to increase domestic consumption and help ease global imbalances, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.

A stronger Chinese yuan is part of the reforms that Beijing needs to implement to increase domestic consumption and help ease global imbalances, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.

After its U.S. debut, apocalyptic film 2012 made history becoming the highest worldwide opening ever for an original movie (not based on a franchise, brand or hit novel), according to Sony Entertainment.

The United States and China sparred over exchange rates at a meeting of Asia Pacific leaders on Sunday, pointing to tricky talks ahead for President Barack Obama when he flies to China to address economic tensions.

Hitachi Ltd , Japan's biggest electronics firm by revenues, plans to raise up to 400 billion yen ($4.5 billion) by issuing new shares and convertible bonds to shore up its battered capital base, two sources familiar with the matter said.

NASA said Sunday that the weather is expected to be conducive for the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis to launch toward the International Space Station on Monday on a delivery mission.

The Aussie dollar shrugged off weak European GDP data to hold on to support at 0.9260 and rally on Friday night. Greenback weakness emerged following disappointing University of Michigan and Trade Balance data which assisted the Aussie in its rally to finish the week on its highs at 0.9340. The week ahead sees the release of several key figures with the RBA's minutes to the recent meeting kicking off proceedings on Tuesday to be followed by more RBA speak on Wednesday and the release of Q3 Wage ...

FedEx Corp shares, which have more than doubled since a low in March, may climb further given the delivery company's growing exposure to overseas markets such as China, Barron's reported on Sunday.

U.S. stocks could face difficulty gaining traction this week as the S&P 500 bumps against the 1,100 mark and investors become content to cool their heels rather than risk losing gains made for the year.

U.S. President Barack Obama called for the release of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi when he met the country's prime minister at a meeting with other Southeast Asian leaders in Singapore on Sunday.

French Budget Minister Eric Woerth said on Sunday he was horrified by a publicity stunt that attracted huge crowds hoping for a cash handout and led to serious violence when it was canceled for safety reasons.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise said on Sunday it has reached a $340 million agreement with International Aero Engines, a consortium led by Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney , for A320 Airbus aircraft engines.

The United States and China sparred over exchange rates at a meeting of Asia Pacific leaders on Sunday, pointing to tricky talks ahead for President Barack Obama when he flies to China to address economic tensions.

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Sunday the world economy was on a path to recovery but warned that failure to re-balance the global economic system would lead to further crises.

Spanish oil group Repsol expects to invest $12 billion in oil exploration activities in Brazil in the next 10 years, including in newly discovered subsalt areas, its president said on Saturday.

Japan's Honda Motor Co will halt output of motorcycles in Spain at the end of March reflecting steep downturn in Europe, with bike output in Europe to move to Italy, the Nikkei business daily said on Sunday.