INVESTMENT

UK-based water supplier United Utilities Group Plc said current trading is in line with the group's expectations of delivering a solid underlying financial performance for the year ending March 31.

President Barack Obama said that the rules have changed in the global competition for jobs and said the U.S. must adapt by make investments for innovation and infrastructure.

China's test flight of a prototype stealth fighter will help insulate U.S. weapons spending against deeper cuts sought by deficit hawks and add momentum to efforts by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to redirect precious budget dollars to future threats.

The following table shows China's five major state-owned power generating groups' operational results in 2010, as reported by the companies or official media.

Speculation is simmering as to what, precisely, President Obama will say in tonight’s State of the Union address. The White House has been speaking in general terms about the speech, resulting in opinions flying about what, if anything, he may actually propose.

The president and the auditor of a Costa Rican company selling reinsurance bonds to life settlement companies have been arrested and charged for their role in a $670 million fraud scheme.

State Bank of Mauritius, the Indian Ocean island's second-largest bank, said on Tuesday first-half pretax profit rose 8.5 percent, boosted by dividend income, disposals, fees and commissions.

A presidential election in Niger aimed at returning the West African uranium exporter to civilian rule will go ahead as planned on January 31 after logistical problems were solved, the ruling junta said late on Monday.

Nine Chinese cities in the southern part of the nation around the Pearl River Delta are proposed to be merged to create world’s largest mega city at a cost of $300 billion with a population of 42 million.

Research by a UK-based independent property investment consultancy found that the property was considered a better investment than gold and shares for investors to invest their cash to make profit.

A faltering and uneven increase in jobs is holding back the overall economic recovery and unemployment is likely to continue at near record levels this year, the International Labour Organisation said on Tuesday.

Rules are needed to curb speculation in surging commodity prices as the world heads towards a food crisis that threatens political instability, the head of the U.N.'s food agency said.

The government of Greece said it will take legal action against German engineering and electronics giant Siemens AG for allegedly bribing Greek officials.

Canadian gold miner Greystar Resources said on Monday its gold and silver Angostura project in Colombia poses no threat to the ecosystem amid growing opposition from local authorities.

Gold turned weaker on technical selling on Monday, after the metal initially rose as a lower dollar and lingering worries about an European debt crisis helped recoup some lost ground from a two-month low last week.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating dealings between former Massachusetts Treasurer Timothy Cahill and a former top aide who now works at Goldman Sachs .

Lovers of chocolate probably have no clear idea where the Ivory Coast is located, but political turmoil in that West African nation will likely drive up the price of their favorite sweet treat.

Software and biotech startups once again got the msot money from U.S. venture capital funds in 2010.

Gold continues to form a long consolidation pattern which has lasted basically for the final quarter of 2010, says Phil Smith in his chart analysis for Reuters' clients. [On] the possible topping [head-and-shoulders] pattern I've been looking at...we have now broken the neckline. Watch for a decisive break below this line. The target for this topping pattern is $1230.

Gold rose on Monday as lower prices after the metal's third consecutive weekly loss attracted some buyers back to the market, but a more optimistic view of global growth still limited fresh investment.

The yellow and white precious metals have pared most of Monday's Asian gains in North American trading but the metals see strong supports at current levels as the sharp correction in recent days have already brought them to technically justified points of entry.