CHINA

Annual iron ore prices should see a large increase in 2010, BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers said on Australian television and repeated suggestions to move towards a more flexible pricing mechanism.

The euro held near a nine-month low against the dollar on Tuesday, with all signs that euro zone policymakers will focus on making Greece fully implement budget cuts rather than gifting it swift financial aid.

Britain's top share index gained 0.8 percent by midday on Monday, as banks and commodities rallied following the previous session's falls and British Airways climbed on hopes of a global alliance.

Iran is studying proposals from the United States, Russia and France on a nuclear fuel swap, an Iranian news agency reported on Monday, but Paris said the only valid offer was an existing deal that Tehran has yet to accept.

The United States believes Iran may be heading toward a military dictatorship and that its Revolutionary Guard Corps is supplanting its government, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday.

China could be about to allow its currency to strengthen by as much as 5 percent to slow down the country's fast-growing economy

The Aussie dollar collapsed in early European exchange following the announcement from the PBOC to lift the reserve ratio required by banks by 0.5%, a move aimed at limiting asset bubbles which will also have the effect of slowing economic growth in China.

India and China are resisting requests to sign up for the Copenhagen Accord for fighting global warming that risks unravelling without clear support from major emitters.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao warned his people to keep a sober mind about the challenges ahead in the new year as the country welcomed the arrival of the Year of the Tiger with noisy celebrations on Saturday.

The trio of top executives at British bank Barclays , including Chief Executive John Varley and President Bob Diamond, will forgo a cash bonus for 2009, a person familiar with the matter said.

U.S. stocks finished slightly lower on Friday as China took another step towards monetary policy tightening and Europe reported a weaker than expected Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Dow and S&P 500 dipped on Friday as China's move to curb bank lending and U.S. and European economic data raised fears the global recovery might be in jeopardy.

The Dow and S&P 500 dipped on Friday as China's move to curb bank lending and U.S. and European economic data raised fears the global recovery might be in jeopardy.

Sales at retailers were unexpectedly strong last month, suggesting consumers were feeling a little more comfortable to spend and improving prospects for first-quarter economic growth.

The euro fell to a nearly nine-month low against the U.S. dollar on Friday as questions persisted about a rescue deal for debt-stricken Greece, while higher-yielding currencies weakened after China unexpectedly raised bank reserves. The euro headed for its fifth weekly drop versus the safe-haven greenback as a lack of details in Thursday's pledge by the European Union to help Greece fanned fears of a wider euro zone debt crisis.

The Vancouver Olympics kicks off tonight, and already more than 60,000 people are there to witness the Olympic cauldron being lit in BC Place stadium during the opening ceremony. Below is a breakdown of the Full Olympics Schedule of 2010:

The Dow and S&P edged lower on Friday after a surprise move by China to restrict bank lending, while the Nasdaq was little changed as strength in technology shares offset other losses.

U.S. consumer confidence slipped in February, but a stronger than expected rise in retail sales last month suggested households were feeling a bit more comfortable to spend and sustain the economic recovery.

U.S. stocks fell on Friday after a surprise move by China to restrict bank lending to cool its surging economy weighed on commodity prices and resource shares.

U.S. stocks fell on Friday as investors adjust to a more aggressive monetary policy from China, mixed data on U.S. consumers and disappointing reports of euro zone Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Stocks tumbled on Friday after a surprise move by China to increase bank reserve requirements raised worries about the impact of monetary tightening on global growth, weighing on commodity prices and resource shares.