IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday, as investors digested a new batch of corporate earnings for signals about the potency of an economic recovery.

Expected strong quarterly earnings at Credit Suisse and a return to profit at Morgan Stanley will set the pace for the global wealth management sector as consolidation among private banks heats up.

The dollar remained near a 14-month low against the euro on Monday as investors bet the Federal Reserve will hold U.S. interest rates near zero well into next year. The euro traded within half a cent of $1.50, a level not seen since August 2008, though analysts said investors would be on alert for any comments about excessive euro strength from a euro zone finance ministers' meeting later in the day.

A Sri Lankan-born billionaire's arrest in the largest U.S. hedge fund insider trading case triggered new scrutiny on Monday in his native country over the possibility his money found its way to the Tamil Tiger rebels.

American Express Co will keep its 0.19 percent stake in China's largest bank, ICBC, after the lock-up period on the shares expires on Tuesday, the credit card company said.

Britain urged world leaders on Monday to turn up in person to salvage a U.N. climate deal in Copenhagen in December, as Australia and India outlined steps to rein in their greenhouse gas emissions.

The flight of a home-made helium balloon that touched off a frantic rescue attempt for the young boy thought to be aboard was a publicity-seeking hoax, a Colorado sheriff said on Sunday.

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors said on Monday Sudanese Darfur rebel leader Bahr Idriss Abu Garda deliberately ordered the killing of 12 African Union peacekeepers, leaving civilians unprotected.

The European Commission will make a quick decision to authorise three varieties of GM maize so as to relieve pressure on the livestock sector if EU ministers fail to agree, the EU farm chief said on Monday.

Britain urged world leaders on Monday to turn up in person to salvage a U.N. climate deal in Copenhagen in December, as Australia and India outlined steps to rein in their greenhouse gas emissions.

Sprint Nextel Corp plans to buy wireless affiliate iPCS Inc (IPCS.O) for about $426 million excluding debt, and the two companies have agreed suspend all litigation between them.

The German trust set up to oversee Opel said on Monday it saw no reason to re-open the sale of the carmaker despite EU concerns that Berlin's promises of state aid had skewed the bidding process.

Afghanistan remained locked in political crisis on Monday as President Hamid Karzai's campaign sharply criticized the U.N.-led fraud investigation into August's disputed presidential election.

The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Monday vowed to retaliate against the United States and Britain after accusing them of backing the perpetrators of a suicide bombing that killed six Guards commanders.

Hasbro Inc posted a quarterly profit that beat Wall Street expectations and gave an upbeat outlook for the full-year, fueling hopes for better toy sales during the holidays.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Monday, as the outlook for corporate earnings lifted investor optimism about the potency of an economic recovery.

A Sri Lankan-born billionaire's arrest in the largest U.S. hedge fund insider trading case triggered new scrutiny on Monday in his native country over the possibility his money found its way to the Tamil Tiger rebels.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Monday, as the outlook for corporate earnings lifted investor optimism about the potency of an economic recovery.

Canadians dumped C$2.71 billion ($2.61 billion) of foreign bonds in August, mostly two-year U.S. government issues, and bought the same amount in foreign stocks, Statistics Canada said on Monday.

U.S. federal investigators are gearing up to file charges against a wider array of insider-trading networks, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Independent oil and natural gas company GMX Resources Inc (GMXR.O) backed its third-quarter production forecast, and announced a stock and notes offering to repay debt.

The Obama administration said on Monday its economic stimulus had saved or created 250,000 education jobs, as it sought to push back against Republicans who contend the package was wasteful and had not worked.

Gannett Co Inc (GCI.N), the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, reported a lower quarterly profit on Monday and revenue fell because of a 28 percent drop in publishing advertising sales.

Bernanke's Imbalances; $5 billion Derivatives Takeover Deal; Google's App Boast

Epic swindler Bernard Madoff's former beach home off the eastern-most point of New York's Long Island sold for $9.41 million, money that will go toward a fund for defrauded investors, the U.S. Marshals Service said on Friday.

For the fourth time this year, the 3D animated feature Up claimed the No. 1 spot on the overseas circuit, bagging $27.9 million from 4,500 screens in 24 territories during the weekend.

Oil and natural gas company Brigham Exploration Co (BEXP.O) said it commenced offering of 14 million common shares, mainly to boost its Williston Basin drilling program.

Keep up the faith, Southland fans.

Bill Cosby doesn't rap or sing on his latest project, but he gathered together people who do. Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency is a socially conscious hip-hop CD that focuses on the critical issues affecting young people. The independent project will launch Monday (October 19) during a virtual town hall meeting in New York.