UNITED STATES

World stocks eased on Monday while the euro fell broadly as investors grew cautious ahead of a slew of key U.S. corporate earnings and details of tests on European banks' financial health. While second-quarter earnings are expected to come in strong, investors remained concerned about Europe's fiscal issues and the health of its financial sector ahead of the stress tests on the continent's banks.

Gold slipped in Europe on Monday, surrendering some of the previous session's more than 1 percent gains, as the dollar firmed and investment flows into the metal dried up as concerns over euro zone risk receded.

Contracts for the UAE's $10 billion Shah gas project were 40-50 percent cheaper than expected, the chief executive of the Abu Dhabi Gas Development Company said on Monday, after economic crisis made firms cut prices.

U.S. crude oil futures fell below $76 per barrel on Monday, consolidating after a week of gains and ahead of quarterly U.S. company earnings and key macro-economic data. S&P 500 .SPX earnings are expected to have risen more than 25 percent in the second quarter but the outlook for consumer demand is less bright. U.S. retail sales figures on Wednesday are expected to show spending easing in June.

Industrial machinery maker Circor International's subsidiary Leslie Controls Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday in a bid to isolate and resolve asbestos-related personal injury claims.

U.S. stock index futures were down on Monday, following the S&P's best week in a year and as investors awaited the unofficial start of earnings season with Alcoa Inc's results later in the day.

Stock index futures were down on Monday, following the S&P's best week in a year, and as investors awaited the unofficial start of earnings season with Alcoa Inc's results.

The euro fell against the dollar on Monday, pulling back from a two-month high as concerns about the results of stress tests on European banks prompted investors to trim long positions in the single currency.

Blackstone Group will manage a $2-billion-plus Asian real estate fund of Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, in a deal that will close in the third quarter, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Surprises may be in store this earnings season for U.S. companies tied to BP Plc's oil spill, according to an analysis that emphasizes equity analysts' past accuracy.

Is uranium turning out to be the hottest commodity-hotter than gold-in China? China has been trying to amass gold reserves to emerge as the largest yellow metal owning country in the world. But China's craze for commodity investment does not just stop by gold alone. Uranium is one commodity that the dragon country is heavily investing in these days.

The policy deadlock in Japan resulting from the ruling party's drubbing in upper house elections raises obvious concerns for Prime Minister Naoto Kan. But the Bank of Japan should be worried too.

Gold slipped in Europe on Monday, surrendering some of the previous session's more than 1 percent gains, as the dollar firmed and fresh investment flows into the metal dried up and concern over euro zone risk receded.

The euro fell against the dollar on Monday, pulling away from a two-month high as concerns about the effectiveness of stress tests on European banks prompted investors to trim long positions in the single currency.

World stocks briefly hit a two-week peak on Monday as expectations rose that U.S. corporate earnings this week would point to a sustainable economic recovery in the world's biggest economy.

A unit of British group Lloyd's plans to sell A$598 million ($524 million) of debt backed by auto-loans, a joint lead manager said on Monday.

U.S. crude oil futures hovered at around $76 a barrel on Monday as China's bigger-than-expected trade surplus in June eased worries about a slowdown for the global economic recovery and oil demand.

The yen eased on Monday after election results showed political uncertainty lay ahead for Japan, but the move was likely to be short-lived with attention turning the U.S. earnings season as a gauge of risk appetite.

Gold prices failed to move upwards in Asian trade Monday after equity markets rose in the region, attracted some investors amid positive reports on global economic recovery.

Asian stocks rose on Monday as investors counted on the start of the U.S. earnings season this week to show firms were reaping strong profits and that the world's economic recovery was not losing steam.

Under-pressure BP Plc is in talks with U.S. oil and gas company Apache Corp and other companies over potential asset sales, a source familiar with the situation said on Sunday, as it weighs how to pay costs related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.