UNITED STATES

Gold dropped more than 2 percent on Monday, hit by margin selling related to an equities sell-off that stemmed from mounting fears about government debt in Europe and the United States.

More than $1.2 billion is missing from MF Global's customer accounts, possibly more than twice as much as originally calculated. The amount of assets, likely stolen by the broker-dealer in a last-minute bid to survive, could continue to grow, some suggest.

Famed street artist-cum-celebrated-printmaker Shepard Fairey is backing the Occupy Wall Street movement with a new poster that turns his iconic 2008 campaign poster in support of Barack Obama into a plea for him to join the 99 percent.

Despite rumblings last week that Baghdad and ExxonMobil could be close to settling their oil contract spat, Iraqi officials announced Monday the U.S. oil giant's contract in the south of the country could easily be replaced... by Royal Dutch Shell.

Financial-related issues are taking the worst beating in the session.

According to Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich, child labor laws are the single biggest cause of income inequality in the U.S.

Under pressure from financial markets, Canada eliminated its budget deficit in short order in the 1990s, going from the second worst fiscal performer in the Group of Seven industrialized nations, after Italy, to the top of the pack.

After months of staying mum on the deal, Verizon has finally broken its silence.

U.S. stocks dropped more than 2 percent on Monday, as mounting concern about heavy debt loads both domestically and abroad increased uncertainty in an already troubled and volatile market.

U.S.-based stock exchange operator Direct Edge plans to open a bourse in Brazil in a move meant to tap the country's fast-growing financial sector, and to speed the splintering of marketplaces globally.

U.S. currently accounts for 47 percent of the global credit and debit card fraud, while only generating 27 percent of the global total volume of purchases and cash, according to a recent Nilson Report, a trade newsletter on the payments industry.

Gold prices tumbled below the psychologically significant $1,700 level Monday as fears that neither the U.S. nor Europe appear able to make progress on their sovereign debt problems drove investors to the dollar.

Finance officials bit their nails and nervously watched the clock. There were 30 minutes left in a bond auction aimed at funding the deficit and there was not a single bid.

We have ceased all contact between the UK's financial system and the Iranian financial system,” Osborne said.

Hony Capital, one of China's most successful private equity funds, aims to raise up to $2.6 billion in a new fund, two sources said on Monday, in what is set to be the biggest ever dollar fundraising for a China-based firm.

Country sensation Taylor Swift came up the big winner at the American Music Awards on Sunday, claiming three trophies including the top honor, artist of the year.

It was unclear what exact steps the Treasury planned for Iran but it seemed unlikely it would seek to cut off the Iranian financial sector entirely, a move that could disrupt the global energy markets and harm the U.S. economic recovery.

A worsening economy will hurt Ontario's chances of meeting already long-term plans to balance its budget as it prepares for a fiscal update on Wednesday.

Sales of previously owned homes in the U.S. rose in October while the number of homes on the market continued to decline, according to the National Association of Realtors. Although falling property values and near record-low borrowing costs are starting to appeal to homebuyers, a growing trend of last minute cancellation suggests that even those who are looking to buy are worried about the housing market.

Silver mining company shares plunged Monday, in many cases falling more sharply than the broader stock market or the price of silver itself.

U.S. stocks dropped about 2 percent on Monday, putting the S&P on track for its fourth straight day of losses as concerns about heavy debt loads both domestically and abroad added uncertainty to a troubled market.