CHINA

Even with Middle Eastern tumult tearing down governments and pushing up oil prices, China will stay a restrained regional player, reluctant to gamble a growing pile of economic chips for uncertain political gains.

Allianz Global Investment (AGI), the funds arm of one of Europe's largest insurers, see growth opportunities in China's burgeoning pensions market, where ageing residents are battling to fund their retirements.

India will quadruple export duty on iron ore fines as it seeks to curb exports, mostly to China, in a budget move announced on Monday that hit domestic producer shares and could push spot prices to new record levels.

Rosneft (ROSN.MM) is set to take on Gazprom (GAZP.MM) when Russia puts the Kovykta gas field on the block on Tuesday as the country's top crude producer aims to muscle in on the gas export monopoly's plans to supply China.

The U.S. ambassador to China, who is considering a run for the White House, on Monday condemned the harassment and beating of some foreign reporters who went to cover a planned protest gathering against the government.

The U.S. government owes nearly a third more money to China than previously thought, the Treasury Department said on Monday as it revised Beijing's December holdings of U.S. Treasury debt sharply higher to $1.160 trillion.

China faces acute environmental and resource strains that threaten to choke growth unless the world's second-biggest economy cleans up, the nation's environment minister said in an unusually blunt warning.

East Asia's economy may need to slow to address inflationary pressures but the region will likely continue to lead the globe in economic activity, World Bank Chief Economist Justin Yifu Lin said on Monday.

The United States is taking financial action to block Lybia's leader and his family from using $30 billion-worth of assets in the country.

Tanzania is close to concluding a $400 million loan to finance a 200 megawatts coal-fired power project amidst chronic energy shortages in east Africa's second largest economy, the president said on Monday.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that that the United States is reaching out different Libyans as the Obama administration calls for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to leave the country.

The proportion of total gold demand accounted for by jewelry fell to just over 50 percent in 2009 from 75 percent in 2004. In the same period investment demand nearly tripled. But jewelry buyers still have a key role to play in the gold market, which they are likely to keep despite any slight fall-off in demand.

Gold rose to $1,413 an ounce in Europe on Monday as turmoil in the Middle East region lifted safe-haven buying and fueled a fresh spike in oil prices, stoking concerns over U.S. growth and knocking the dollar.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced on Monday a food security bill for 2011/12, a budget measure that would provide cheap grains for millions of India's poor but which has sparked worries over its huge cost.

Hutchison Whampoa's ports unit is looking to raise as much as $5.8 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) in Singapore, allowing investors to tap into China's booming infrastructure business.

New Zealand's earthquake-shattered city of Christchurch prepared to bury the first victim on Monday of last week's devastating tremor that killed at least 148 people as aftershocks forced the evacuation of scores of people in hillside suburbs.

Chinese shares rose on Monday, reversing early losses as Asian markets edged up after last week's dip, with investors gearing up for earnings results from big hitters including banking giant HSBC.

Reporters were among those assaulted in an aggressive crack down launched by Chinese security personnel in Beijing during the weekend to thwart a call for public rallies.

Based on a survey by Harvard Business School publication Working Knowledge, conducted among reputed faculty at the School, here are five areas or trends which are emerging as key influencers of business and management in the 21st century.

China will not cut its orders for Boeing (BA.N) and Airbus (EAD.PA) jets since its self-developed commercial jets not yet able to meet demand, China's top aviation regulator said on Monday.

Daily-deals website Groupon goes live in China on Monday, bringing its popular brand of Internet retail to the world's most populous nation.