PORTUGAL

Consumer goods giants Unilever and Procter & Gamble were fined 315.2 million euros ($456 million) by EU regulators on Wednesday for fixing washing powder prices in eight EU countries.

The world's banks face a $3.6 trillion wall of maturing debt in the next two years and must compete with debt-laden governments to secure financing, the IMF warned on Wednesday.

Consumer goods giants Unilever and Procter & Gamble were fined 315.2 million euros ($456 million) by EU regulators on Wednesday for fixing washing powder prices in eight EU countries.

Consumer goods giants Unilever and Procter & Gamble were fined 315.2 million euros ($456 million) by EU regulators on Wednesday for fixing washing powder prices in eight EU countries.

Investors retreated from stocks, oil and other risky assets as a worsening nuclear situation in Japan and a lackluster start to the U.S.'s corporate earnings season cast doubt over the global economic recovery. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 117.53 points, or 0.95%, to 12263.58, while the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index lost 10.30 points, or 0.78%, at 1314.16, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 26.72 points, or 0.96%, to 2744.79.

Soaring oil prices and inflation in emerging economies pose new risks to global recovery but are not yet strong enough to derail it, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.

Soaring oil prices and inflation in emerging economies pose new risks to global recovery but are not yet strong enough to derail it, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.

Officials from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund will discuss the technical details of Portugal's bailout aid next week, the European Commission said on Sunday.

EU finance ministers on Saturday urged Portugal to commit to reforms and defended the region's austerity steps as tens of thousands of European workers protested in Budapest against spending cuts.

EU finance ministers Saturday urged Portugal to commit to structural reform and defended the region's austerity steps, as thousands of European workers gathered in Budapest to protest against spending cuts.

Hitting $1472.50 for US investors today, the Gold Price also rose sharply against the British Pound - hitting its best level since New Year at £900 per ounce - but was in flat against most other major currencies. Silver Prices, in contrast, rose to new multi-decade highs across the board.

Americans still expect inflation to remain stable, making it unlikely that recent spikes in commodity costs will lead to runaway increases in prices, a top Federal Reserve official said on Friday.

Brent crude jumped to a 32-month high above $125 on Friday as commodities climbed in unison on a weaker dollar after attacks on Libyan oil fields made long-term supply cuts more likely.

Oil hit a 32-month high above $124 Friday after attacks on Libyan oil fields raised the prospect of long-term supply cuts, with commodities in general rising on optimism global economic recovery will fuel demand.

Oil hit a 32-month high near $125 on Friday after attacks on Libyan oil fields raised the prospect of long-term supply cuts, with commodities in general rising on optimism global economic recovery will fuel demand.

Euro zone finance ministers told Portugal on Friday that it would have to implement new economic reforms that went beyond those proposed by its outgoing government if it hoped to secure aid from the EU and IMF.

U.S. stocks posted modest losses Thursday after another major earthquake rattled Japan's northeastern coast, but retailers climbed following surprisingly strong March sales.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.3-0.4 percent.

U.S. stocks declined on Thursday after reports of another earthquake hitting Japan in less than a month, but markets were off their lows after a tsunami warning was lifted.

Oil prices ended at 2-1/2-year highs on Thursday as supply worries tied to fighting in Libya and Middle East turmoil overshadowed demand concerns spurred by a boost in euro zone interest rates and as a major aftershock struck Japan.

The European Central Bank raised interest rates for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis on Thursday and signaled it was ready to tighten policy further if needed to check rising prices.