GERMANY

Even as the rest of Europe remains on an edge about its economic recovery, Germany continues to post strong growth, as shown by the German investor confidence indicator on Tuesday.

Investors showed growing scepticism on Tuesday that euro zone finance ministers will thrash out an agreement soon to beef up a rescue fund as part of measures to end the region's sovereign debt crisis.

Investors showed growing skepticism on Tuesday that euro zone finance ministers will thrash out an agreement soon to beef up a rescue fund as part of measures to end the region's sovereign debt crisis.

The future of the United Auto Workers likely depends on whether it can unionize factories in the United States run mainly by Asian carmakers, the group's president said on Sunday.

The euro was on shaky ground on Tuesday with no imminent decision in sight on how to beef up the euro zone's rescue fund, while Asian tech shares outperformed despite news that Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs is taking medical leave.

Euro zone finance ministers discussed on Monday having more money in their rescue fund and cheaper emergency loans as part of a package of measures to end the sovereign debt crisis, but they made no firm decisions.

Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) shares plunged on German stock exchanges today after it was reported that Chairman Steve Jobs would take another leave of absence, fuelling worries about the potential length of his absence and the extent of his health issues.

Algeria bought 600,000 tonnes of wheat, traders said on Monday, snapping up grain at a time of high prices and tight supply even as neighbouring countries take measures to head off Tunisia-style unrest over food inflation.

Euro zone finance ministers called on Monday for an increase in the effective lending capacity of the currency bloc's rescue fund, but EU paymaster Germany said there was no urgency and it would be March before a firm plan was in place.

A former Swiss private banker says he plans to hand over data on hundreds of offshore bank account holders to the WikiLeaks website at a London news conference on Monday.

Gold rebounded slightly on Monday from a one-percent fall in the previous session, after China further tightened its monetary policy to curb inflation, and holdings in the gold-backed exchange-traded fund continued falling.

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet urged Ireland and Greece to live up to commitments made in return for financial help and said a broader European safety fund should be beefed up.

Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and other top tennis players hammed it up in exhibition matches on the eve of the Australian Open to raise money for victims of the country's devastating floods Sunday.

A former Swiss private banker who was one of the first whistleblowers to use WikiLeaks by publishing internal bank documents on the site has pledged to hand over new data on offshore bank account holders on Monday, a newspaper said.

The offshore bank account details of 2,000 high net worth individuals and corporations - detailing massive potential tax evasion - will be handed over to the WikiLeaks organisation in London on Monday by the most important and boldest whistleblower in Swiss banking history, Rudolf Elmer, two days before he goes on trial in his native Switzerland.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo rebuked Formula One champions Red Bull Friday for lack of respect toward the sport's most successful team.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday any measure to stabilize the euro should come within a complete strategic package, dampening hopes for a quick decision on moves to tackle the euro zone debt crisis.

Thousands of people protested against Hungary's new media law on Friday, demanding the government withdraw the legislation which has drawn fire from several EU member states.

Howrey is struggling with its European intellectual property (IP) practice following the departure of its London-based managing partner Mark Hodgson, who has joined Field Fisher Waterhouse.

French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis would not confirm a report in daily Le Figaro on Friday saying it hoped to reach a takeover deal that would value U.S. target Genzyme at around $76 per share, or some $20 billion.

Inflation risks in the euro zone could well move to the upside and the 17-country region's economic outlook has clearly improved, European Central Bank Governing Council Axel Weber said on Friday.