IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. homebuilder sentiment in August rose to its highest level in over a year, a private survey showed on Monday, adding to mounting evidence that the housing market and economic recession were leveling out.

Oil fell nearly $2 to below $66 a barrel on Monday as investors became more cautious about the pace of global economic recovery and a potential revival in energy demand.

The euro hit a two-week low against the dollar and neared a one-month trough against the yen on Monday as world stock markets fell and doubts about a U.S. recovery prompted investors to cut exposure to risk.

China reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasury debt in June by the biggest percentage in nearly nine years, according to Reuters historical data and a Treasury Department report issued on Monday.

ABC unveiled Monday the full cast for the ninth season of its TV Show Dancing With the Stars on Good Morning America.

U.S. stocks slid on Monday, dropping after a bleak outlook from home improvement giant Lowe's and weak economic figures from Japan reignited concerns about world demand.

German carmakers Porsche (PSHG_p.DE) and Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) might merge in 2010 already instead of 2011 as currently planned, German newspaper Die Welt reported, citing VW's finance chief.

Southeast regional bank BB&T Corp , which on Friday agreed to buy assets of lender Colonial Bank, said it is making an offering of $750 million of its common stock.

South Korean Yang Yong-eun became Asia's first male major winner after overhauling Tiger Woods in stunning fashion to clinch the U.S. PGA Championship by three shots on Sunday.

Toyota Motor Corp said on Monday it has no plans to build a hybrid car at its Valenciennes factory in northern France, denying a report in La Tribune.

Wall Street tumbles on global recovery concerns, Fed, Treasury extend TALF to mid-2010 for CMBS; CIT completes debt tender, buys time to restructure

Heavy subsidies shelled out by telecom operators around the world to lure consumers to buy an Apple iPhone have done nothing to increase profits, and have even dented them in some cases, a research report showed on Monday.

Oil fell over 3 percent to below $66 a barrel on Monday, its lowest this month, as investors became more cautious about the pace of global economic recovery and a potential revival in energy demand.

A gauge of the New York state factory sector showed growth for the first time since April 2008, signaling manufacturers could lead the U.S. economy out of the worst downturn in 70 years.

The competitors of Dancing With The Stars were announced on Good Morning America earlier on Monday.

Stocks fell broadly on Monday as ongoing concerns about the speed of a global economic recovery were compounded by data from Japan, which showed that while the world's No.2 economy returned to growth, the recovery may be shaky.

CIT Group Inc said on Monday it completed its tender offer for $1 billion in debt maturing today, buying the company more time to attempt to restructure its debt and stave off bankruptcy.

The world must remain on its guard against H1N1 influenza, which has been mild so far but could become more serious as the northern hemisphere heads into winter, the head of the World Health Organization said on Sunday.

The government-run health insurance option favored by President Barack Obama is not essential to a healthcare overhaul as long as the final measure boosts competition, a top U.S. health official said on Sunday.

Russia has found a missing merchant ship, whose disappearance baffled European maritime authorities, near the Cape Verde islands and the crew are alive, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Monday.

More than 20,000 supporters of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra rallied in the historic heart of Bangkok on Monday, seeking a royal pardon for the fugitive billionaire and illustrating a deep political divide.

Just weeks after quitting smoking, women show major reductions in several markers of inflammation associated with heart disease risk, new research shows.

A suicide bomber rammed a truckload of explosives into the local police headquarters in Russia's Ingushetia region on Monday killing 20 people, the deadliest attack in the North Caucasus region since 2005.

Lowe's Cos posted a 19 percent drop in quarterly profit on Monday and forecast current-quarter earnings below Wall Street estimates as consumers put off big home projects, sending its shares down more than 8 percent.

Older adults in developing countries who regularly eat fish seem to have a lower risk of dementia, a new study suggests.

Language training software maker Rosetta Stone Inc cut its third-quarter earnings outlook and scrapped a proposed stock offering barely a week after announcing it, sending shares down more than 25 percent.

An Iranian prosecutor said on Monday a French teaching assistant charged with spying was freed on bail of about $300,000, media reported on Monday.

A slight difference in a person's genetic code could determine whether they respond to a grueling round of treatment for hepatitis C infection or not, U.S. researchers said on Sunday.

India's prime minister said on Monday there was credible information that Pakistan-based militant groups were planning fresh attacks on India.