INVESTMENT

China's manufacturing activity contracted to a five-month low in January, indicating that the Chinese government measures to control prices caused a decline in manufacturing.

A survey by London-based Brand Finance Plc of banks, based on the notional amount that a company would have to pay for the brand, has ranked the Bank of America as the most valuable banking brand with an estimated price of $30.6 billion.

Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim said on Monday he plans to boost his investment in Mexico this year by about 20 percent to $3.6 billion, with telecoms, mining and infrastructure taking center stage.

Gold fell on Monday, notching its first monthly decline in six months, as strong U.S. factory and spending data coupled with fading worries about the euro zone debt crisis put a damper on the metal's rally.

CNOOC Ltd will pay $1.3 billion in its second shale deal with America's Chesapeake Energy Corp , the latest move by China's top offshore oil producer in its aggressive drive for overseas acquisitions.

China's central bank, more hawkish on inflation than other parts of the government, has gained more policy-making power in recent months by outmaneuvering pro-growth factions in wrangling over the economic outlook and bank loans.

China Construction Bank (CCB) (601939.SS) (0939.HK) has won approval to buy a combined 51 percent stake in Pacific Antai Life Insurance, the official Financial News reported on Monday.

A new Egyptian cabinet took office on Monday but the protest movement calling for the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak said the changes were irrelevant.

Prime office rents in key Chinese and Brazilian cities will continue their economic growth-fuelled rise in 2011, a survey said, prompting global property investors to chase deals in those emerging markets.

[Gold] buying continued on fears the unrest in Egypt will spread across the Middle East, says Richcomm Global Services in Dubai. But Asia's gold market is less sensitive to what happened in Middle East compared to New York, said a Hong Kong dealer in a note this morning.

Investors have pulled out hundreds of millions of dollars out of riot-torn Egypt since the uprising began last week, leading to fears that if the crisis continues, Egypt may not have enough in currency reserves to prevent a longer-term economic and financial crisis.

ndia's environment ministry has conditionally approved an application by Pohang Iron and Steel Co. (POSCO), the South Korean conglomerate to construct a steel plant in the eastern state of Orissa.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: NPS Pharmaceuticals, DepoMed, Xenoport, Sohu.com, and Glu Mobile. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Mattson Technology, Partner Communications, Savient Pharmaceuticals, Silicom, and CIENA.

The White House will announce an effort on Monday to encourage job-creating start-up businesses in hopes of reducing the country's stubbornly high unemployment rate.

Gold eased on Monday after posting its largest daily gain in eight weeks on Friday and while the market did encounter some safe-haven buying on the back of the unrest in Egypt, this was expected to be temporary.

European banks' total exposure to turmoil-ridden Egypt stands at around $40.3 billion, with banks in France and the United Kingdom being at greatest risk.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to lower opening on Monday amid continuing political unrest in Egypt.

For pick pockets here's a dare, London's luxury goods firm Dunhill has launched a virtually indestructible biometric wallet, that no one can steal and if by chance they steal, they can't open.

Fundamentals and nasty surprises are on investors minds heading into February, with big tests in the coming week about jobs and inflation and increasing worries over Egypt and its region.

Gold futures are likely to recover from their 13-week low this quarter and extend their rise further to breach 21,000 rupees by the end of the third quarter, analysts and importers said.

The number of U.S. companies filing for bankruptcy has plunged and financing is easier to get, but restructuring experts see plenty of trouble ahead in corporate America.