UNITED KINGDOM

State-owned Northern Rock shrank its losses in 2009, helped by a lower bad debt charge in the second half as house prices stabilized, but arrears rose and the lender warned loan impairments would stay high in 2010.

Concerns over Europe's fiscal problems hit the euro and sterling on Wednesday, while world stocks hovered near their recent six-week highs, though they were still up 66 percent from a low hit one year ago.

The euro and sterling were under pressure on Wednesday after renewed concerns about Europe's fiscal problems but oil, copper and the Australian dollar were supported by China's strong export and import data.

Asian stocks hovered near six-week highs on Wednesday as Chinese data showed exports and imports in February were better than expected, while the euro and the pound suffered on renewed concerns about Europe's fiscal problems.

Positive Australian economic data keeps on rolling in with yesterdays better than expected NAB Business Confidence and the ANZ Job advertisements surveys adding some support to the Aussie dollar.

Fueled by leftover chocolate and with components made from carrots, potato starch and flax, the world's first sustainable Formula 3 racing car has a top speed of 135 miles per hour and can go from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds.

Chevron Corp , the second-largest U.S. oil company, put several of its downstream operations up for sale, including its Pembroke refinery in the UK, and said it would eliminate 2,000 jobs this year.

The European Commission said on Tuesday it will consider banning the naked selling of derivatives contracts some EU politicians say were used by speculators to bet on a Greek bond default.

Chevron Corp, the second-largest U.S. oil company, said it planned to put several downstream operations up for sale, including its Pembroke refinery in the UK, and eliminate 2,000 jobs this year.

Britain risks decades of slow economic decline unless it invests heavily in research, which at the moment is one of the country's few genuine areas of economic competitive advantage, leading scientists said on Tuesday.

No political party has enough support to win outright control of parliament in the forthcoming election, raising the prospect of a period of unstable minority government, opinion polls showed on Tuesday.

At a time when jewellery retailers and gold buyers are crying foul over the increase in import duty on gold and silver, there is a surprise element for jewellery makers which will make them happy. While presenting the Budget, India's finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said import duty on gold and platinum will go up from Rs 100 to Rs 300 per 10 gm.

The U.S. stock market is slightly down Tuesday morning as rating agencies published concerns about Portugal and the U.K.

Chevron Corp , the second-largest U.S. oil company, said it planned to put several downstream operations up for sale, including its Pembroke refinery in the UK, and eliminate 2,000 jobs this year.

World stocks slipped on Tuesday from the previous day's six-week high and oil fell nearly 2 percent, while the yen rose broadly as investors grew cautious after a recent rally in riskier assets.

Oil and higher-yielding currencies pulled back from multi-week highs on Tuesday and Asian stocks drifted lower as investors paused in their recent chase for riskier assets.

The Aussie dollar began the week on a positive note rising in Asia amidst optimism of a global economic recovery and speculation Greece will be supported financially by other European nations.

MetLife Inc pursued AIG's foreign life insurance business for two years before finally clinching a $15.5 billion purchase that will give it beachheads in 47 nations from Peru to Bangladesh.

The stock market is struggling on Monday despite reassuring news from China, Europe, and AIG.

A Web application that alerts wine grape farmers when their vines are thirsty has won first place in a competition to spur entrepreneurs in the investment-starved water sector, organizers said on Monday.

AIG is selling its foreign life insurance unit to MetLife Inc for about $15.5 billion, its second major asset sale in a week as it raises funds to repay a $182.3 billion U.S. government bailout.