IBT Staff Reporter

Japan's economy returned to growth in the second quarter, pulling out of its longest recession since World War Two, but analysts warned of a rocky road ahead as the nascent recovery was based on short-term stimulus efforts around the world.

Egypt has signed agreements for oil and natural gas exploration that are expected to bring in new investments of $2.3 billion, an official at the Oil Ministry said on Monday.

Israel's Oil Refineries (ORL.TA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Monday swung to a year-on-year second-quarter loss, hurt by a near doubling of crude oil prices and lower end-product prices.

Britain's Hardy Oil and Gas Plc (HAOG.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted an operating loss for the first half on lower crude oil prices and higher costs, and cut its 2009 production forecast as its only producing field was shut for repairs.

Straw fences and tin roofs: the homes in Pritomoddi village are typical of millions of others across rural Bangladesh, except for one thing: the shiny solar panels that provide electricity, all the time.

China should set firm targets to limit greenhouse gas emissions so they peak around 2030, a study by some of the nation's top climate change policy advisers has proposed ahead of contentious talks on a new global warming pact.

Pakistan has told the United States it hopes to ease power shortages by renting electricity-generating plants over the next three to five years but wants Washington's backing in a longer-term upgrade and diversification of the country's antiquated power sector.

Kenneth Feinberg, the Obama administration's pay czar, said on Sunday he has broad and binding authority over executive compensation, including the ability to claw back money already paid, and he is weighing how and whether to use that power.

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

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, probing illegal marketing and sales of auction rate securities , is likely to file a lawsuit on Monday against Charles Schwab Corp for civil fraud, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The week to 11 August saw the first weakness on world equity markets in more than a month. The setback in risk appetite is also visible in the IMM data, which show that speculative investors reduced their aggregated short USD positions by almost one third.

Gold slipped to its lowest since late July in Europe on Monday as the dollar firmed against a basket of currencies and as a 2 percent decline in crude prices dented the precious metal's appeal as an inflation hedge.

The euro hit a two-week low against the yen on Monday and struggled versus the dollar as weak global shares and oil prices ruined traders' appetite for risk and battered currencies seen to be high-risk.

Oil fell to a two-week low below $66 a barrel on Monday as investors became more cautious about the pace of global economic recovery and any revival in energy demand.

Hennes & Mauritz , the world's third-biggest clothing retailer, reported on Monday a bigger-than-expected 3 percent drop in year-on-year sales at established stores in July.

Stock index futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Wall Street on Monday, mirroring a selloff in Asian and European stocks on mounting worries equities' recent surge had run ahead of the global economic recovery.

Stock index futures extended their losses early on Monday, mirroring a selloff in Asian and European stocks on mounting worries the equities' recent surge had run ahead of the global economic recovery.

World stocks fell by more than 1 percent on Monday, led by sharp drops in Asia, while government bonds and the dollar rose as doubts about the strength of a global economic recovery triggered a risk asset sell-off.

Asian stocks tumbled to their lowest level in over two weeks on Monday as investors raked in profits amid gloomy U.S. consumer data and a growing belief that market valuations had overtaken economic fundamentals.

Swedish fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz reported on Monday a bigger-than-expected 3 percent drop in year-on-year sales at established stores in July.

U.S. stocks fell broadly on Friday, as the major indexes snapped a four-week streak of gains after weak consumer sentiment data fueled concerns about the strength of an economic recovery.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, probing illegal marketing and sales of auction rate securities , is likely to file a lawsuit on Monday against Charles Schwab Corp for civil fraud, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Australia's No.3 iron ore miner, Fortescue Metals Group , has agreed to supply China at a 3 percent discount to prices offered by its bigger rivals, in a deal that will allow Chinese steel mills to claim a partial victory in their quest for a better iron ore settlement.

Japan's economy grew 0.9 percent in the three months to June, marking the first expansion in five quarters on the back of exports and government stimulus spending, but analysts say it will be a long road to a sustained recovery.

U.S. banking regulators have asked prospective buyers of struggling Texas bank Guaranty Financial Group to submit bids by Monday, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

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Toyota Motor Corp is looking to end production at a joint venture factory in California that it had held with General Motors in March 2010, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported on its website.

The yen was broadly firmer on Monday after weak economic data out of the U.S. clouded the outlook for a quick global recovery, prompting further profit taking in commodity-linked currencies after their sizzling rally.

Oil prices fell below $67 a barrel on Monday, extending the previous session's 4.3 percent decline, as poor U.S. economic data clouded the outlook for a quick global recovery and prompted further profit taking.