IBT Staff Reporter

Technology stocks ended lower on Monday as many of the sector's major players tumbled giving the Nasdaq its seventh consecutive day fall, its longest losing streak since June 2006.

Copper fell on Monday as the demand for the red metal was weakened by concerns over the U.S. economic slowdown.

Oil fell more than $2 per barrel on Monday more after a report of the U.S. Labor department raised concerns that the world's top oil consumer may fall into an economic recession.

Wheat futures fell the most in a week on Monday on speculation the U.S. government will predict bigger harvests than in December for some major exporting countries.

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas kicked off with Panasonic unveiling its latest technology as it envisions at having a wireless and digitalized world.

Players in Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming community can soon watch television shows and movies on demand in addition to playing games, the world's largest software maker said.

The international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) opened on Monday with a call for improved trade policies in the United States and open global market engagement as well as improving immigration conditions.

At the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas, Panasonic unveiled new High Definition (HD) flat screen televisions with enhanced picture quality, and a new slot for SD memory.

Gold futures dropped on Monday, weighed down by a dip in crude oil prices and a strengthening U.S. dampening investors demand for the precious metal.

Consumer electronics sales in the U.S are likely to slow in the upcoming year according to an industry trade group, however the industry will still see growth above 5 percent driven by television and audio products.

Intel Corporation, the world's largest chip maker, unveiled 16 products in International CES 2008 on Monday, including the company's first 45 nanometer (nm) processors chip for laptops.

U.S. Stocks gained momentum during Monday's morning trading as bargain hunters bought beaten-down shares amidst expectations that Friday's jobless report will cause the Fed to further cut interest rates to ward off an economic recession.

Sony Corp.'s computer division, off to a weak start last year versus the highly popular Nintendo Wii game system, got a boost over the U.S. holiday period, selling 1.2 million Playstation 3 video game in a seven week span. The November 23 to December 31 sales were two-thirds as much as the company had sold during the rest of 2007, according to company figures.

CITIC Securities, China's largest listed brokerage, said on Monday its net profit more than quintupled last year.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei average hit a new 17-month low on Monday, beaten down by fresh worries about the U.S. economy that sent Wall Street tumbling and prompted investors to sell chip shares.

Gold drifted further away from its recent record highs on weaker oil prices and a rebound in the dollar, but analysts said on Monday that sentiment was positive.

The dollar rose on Monday after losses the previous session, as investors trimmed bets against the currency given persistent U.S. inflation pressures that may prevent the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates aggressively.

Oil prices at $100 a barrel mean little to Chinese consumers insulated from the global rally by cheap fuel prices, but the latest market peak should sound a warning to Beijing over its disjointed energy policy.

The U.S. economy needs $100 oil like a hole in the head. The spike in oil to a fresh record on Wednesday is not single-handedly going to tip the United States into a recession. But on top of a housing slump and lingering credit crisis, it increases the head winds facing the battered U.S. consumer.

McDonald's Corp is set to launch coffee bars with baristas serving cappuccinos and lattes, moving into direct competition with global coffee chain Starbucks Corp., The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates at the world's largest technology show predicts that his industry is on the cusp of the next digital decade.

Democrat Barack Obama rocketed to a 10-point lead over Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire one day before their showdown in the state's presidential primary, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Monday.

Electronics makers considering the strain on the U.S. economy are hoping consumers will cut other expenses first, but many see some worrying signs ahead. Gathered in Las Vegas this week for the Consumer Electronics Show, gadget, cell phone and television makers are placing their bets on whether U.S. economic troubles from rising unemployment to mortgage market problems will stop consumer spending.

Toshiba Corp said on Sunday its HD DVD high-definition video format is not dead despite being dealt a big setback by Warner Bros studio's decision to exclusively back Sony Corp's rival Blu-ray technology. Akiyo Ozaka, president of Toshiba America Consumer Products, told a briefing at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that HD DVD has not lost.

Pakistan will not allow any country to conduct military operations on its territory, officials said on Monday, rejecting a report that said the United States was considering authorizing its forces to act in Pakistan. The New York Times said on Sunday the U.S. government was considering expanding the authority of the CIA and the military to conduct far more aggressive covert operations in Pakistan....

Philips and crystal Jewelry Swarovski announce new luxurious color enhanced USB memory keys and headphones for 2008 during the International CES 2008 on Sunday.

Philips on Sunday at International CES 2008 unveiled striking new design identity across its complete home entertainment range, including its latest blu-ray disc player and 7000 Flat tv series.

A group promoting the new video media format, HD-DVD, cancelled a scheduled press-conference at this years Consumer Electronics Show in the wake of media giant Time Warner moving to support its rival, Blu-Ray.

Toshiba Corporation on Sunday at International CES 2008 announced diverse line-up of technologies, including its newly enhanced LCD flat panel line and second generation HD DVD players.