CHINA

Wall Street stocks launched the new trading year with gains of 1 percent or more on Monday, extending the late-2010 rally on optimistic signs about a global economic recovery.

The manufacturing sector grew for a 17th straight month in December, adding to recent evidence that a recovery in the economy was picking up steam, according to an industry report released on Monday.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says continued improvement necessary to compete with Asian and European front runners

The prospects for cooperation between the United States and China in space are fading even as proponents say working together in the heavens could help build bridges in often-testy relations on Earth.

Chinese ambassador to Spain said on Monday China will contribute to efforts to secure Spain's financial stability and economic recovery as the debt-hit nation is trying to shore up investor confidence and avert any sovereign crisis.

U.S. stocks were set for a higher open on Monday as returning investors bet a 2010 rally would continue in the new year and Chinese factory inflation data tempered concerns over increased monetary tightening.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday on hopes the rally will continue in the new year as economic conditions continue to improve and as Chinese factory inflation tempered concerns of more monetary tightening.

Chinese officials have faith in Spain's financial system and will continue to take part in government debt auctions, China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang wrote in an editorial in El Pais on Monday.

Asian factory output powered ahead in December to underline emerging markets' lead in the global recovery although data showed an increasing inflation threat in the region even as growth is tepid in developed economies.

Hyundai Motor Group <005380.KS> and its affiliate Kia Motors <000270.KS> aim to boost vehicle sales by 10 percent this year after robust December sales, as the sector shows a gradual recovery, led by China and the United States. Hyundai Motor shares rose 2 percent on Monday, while shares in Kia Motors jumped 3.75 percent in a broader market <.KS11> up 0.9 percent, with Hyundai ex...

The entire precious metals complex had a stellar run in 2010, led by palladium's 97 percent rise and Silver's 83 percent gain. Gold yielded investors a 29.7 percent profit in 2010, the tenth consecutive annual gain in a row.

Many investment banks and commodity analysts have taken a highly bullish stance on crude oil prices for 2011, based largely on economic recovery in the U.S., continued money-printing by the Federal Reserve (thereby, weakening U.S. dollar) and persistent high demand from the emerging markets, particularly China and India.

Douglas C. Borthwick, Managing Director of Faros Trading, reviews the global currency markets from 2010 and provides some outlook and guidance for 2011

Wall Street appears to be almost universally bullish about U.S. stocks for 2011.

Predictions are, by their nature, uncertain. Politics is, as history teaches, full of surprises. So predictions about politics have to be taken with a good amount of salt.

Russian oil output rose by 2.2 percent in 2010 to a record 10.1 million barrels per day (505.193 million tonnes) as higher prices prompted the world's top oil exporter to ramp up production at its greenfield sites.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed again to step up efforts to keep consumer inflation in check in 2011, state media reported on Sunday.

S&P Equity Research predicts big developments for the Internet segment in 2011, including continuing challenges for Google, changes at Yahoo, and a cloud offering from Apple.

Hope, despair, promises and more promises. World leaders have spelled out their intent, or say an 'action plan' for the coming year. Note them all, some merely possible, some probably intricate others perhaps a bunch of lies.

Top Ten Predictions for U.S. Economy/Markets in 2011. These predictions come from Michael Yoshikami, president and chief investment strategist of YCMNET Advisors Inc. in Walnut Creek, Cal.

These predictions come from Richard Kang, Chief Investment Officer and Director of Research at Emerging Global Shares, an ETF company focused on the emerging markets.