CHINA

U.S. stock index futures climbed on Tuesday ahead of an expected higher reading on U.S. consumer confidence, as Japanese production rose, indicating the global economic recovery was on track and adding fuel to a year-end rally.

Exposure to fluoride may lower children's intelligence, says a study pre-published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a publication of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Fluoride is added to 70 percent of U.S. public drinking water supplies.

Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.08 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.02 percent at 1000 GMT (5 a.m. ET).

China's central bank took aim at inflation once again on Monday by saying it will control lending and money growth in the world's second-biggest economy to head off price pressures and asset bubbles.

Shares in Japan and China eased on Tuesday as concerns that further Chinese monetary tightening will cool the engine of world economic growth overshadowed Japanese data that pointed to improving demand.

It is essential for China to maintain a trade surplus and expand its share of global trade, a senior official said in comments reported on Tuesday that appeared to cut against the government's pledge to seek more balanced trade ties.

Stocks finished narrowly mixed in very light trading as a monstrous snow storm on the East Coast likely kept many traders home and a rate hike over the weekend by China dampened some investor sentiment.

U.S. stocks closed little changed and the dollar lost ground to the euro in thin trade on Monday, buffeted by China's Christmas Day interest rate hike and a blizzard that pounded the northeastern United States.

Wall Street erased earlier losses and ended little changed on Monday as investors shrugged off a surprise weekend interest rate hike from China's central bank.

China’s decision over the weekend to raise interest rates could turn out to be positive development for Japan, according to a Tokyo-based economist.

U.S. stocks were slightly lower on Monday in a thinly traded session after a surprise interest rate hike from China's central bank over the weekend.

China's Christmas Day interest rate rise and a severe blizzard that blanketed the northeastern United States left U.S. share prices weak and the U.S. dollar lower in thinly traded markets on Monday.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to lower opening on Monday after China's central bank raised one-year lending and deposit interest rates for the second time in 2010 on Saturday.

China was Grinch-like in raising interest rates on Christmas Day, but in fact investors have good reasons to be grateful.

U.S. stocks slipped on Monday as a surprise interest rate hike from China's central bank over the weekend prompted investors, worried about demand, to sell equities.

China's central bank raised one-year lending and deposit interest rates for the second time in 2010 on Saturday, leading Chinese stocks to rise sharply on Monday before falling.

Wall Street was set for a lower open on Monday as shares fell globally following a surprise interest rate increase from China's central bank.

U.S. stock index futures were lower on Monday as shares fell globally following a surprise interest rate increase from China's central bank.

Iran's OPEC governor said that that the oil market is balanced and is likely touch $100 per barrel , the Oil Ministry's website SHANA said in a statement

Chinese shares slid and European stocks followed suit on Monday as the impact of China's Christmas Day interest rate rise sunk in to thin markets.

Asian shares edged up while the Australian dollar and commodities pared early losses as investors bet China's latest interest rate hike would not change the optimistic outlook for the global economy in 2011.