UNITED STATES

Bank of America Corp, hoping to repay $45 billion of government money, is less likely to raise the funds by selling its big stake in BlackRock Inc after the asset manager buys Barclays Global Investors, analysts said.

The head of the IMF warned on Monday it was too soon to discuss rolling back stimulus spending, saying the world economy had yet to weather the worst of a recession that has hammered industrial output and claimed a record number of European jobs.

The second bankruptcy auction for off-price retailer Filene's Basement was won on Monday by a joint $62.4 million bid by discount clothier Syms Corp and developer Vornado Realty Trust , a restructuring expert advising Boston-based Filene's said.

Angela Merkel will meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington in late June for talks on Iran's presidential election, Middle East peace and next month's G8 summit, a spokesman for the German chancellor said on Monday.

Construction on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is expected to start by year's end, Hong Kong ‘s Chief Secretary Henry Tang said on Monday, adding its completion “will benefit the three jurisdictions”.

Hong Kong's human swine flu tally has reached 104 with 12 new cases conformed, the Centre for Health Protection said on Monday.

The Obama administration faces a dilemma over how to respond to Iran's disputed election. Analysts say that strong criticism could backfire but a muted response leaves an impression of weakness.

European planemaker Airbus took a step closer to winning government loans to develop its A350 jetliner on Monday, drawing an immediate response from U.S. rival Boeing which called the move illegal.

Citigroup Inc's chairman said on Monday the bank may find it harder to retain and attract top employees while the bank is holding on to federal bailout money.

Several U.S. senators urged regulators on Monday to review exclusive arrangements regarding mobile handset technology between wireless carriers and cell phone makers and how they affect competition and choice in the marketplace.

U.S. stocks tumbled, marking

U.S. stocks tumbled, marking their worst slide in a month on Monday after regional manufacturing data dented optimism about the economy's health and resource shares fell alongside commodity prices.

In the wake of the latest economic crisis, President Obama’s top economic officials today issued five proposals for improving the U.S. financial system that would expand the government’s authority to regulate financial companies and their products.

Oil fell nearly 2 percent a barrel on Monday, extending its retreat from a near eight-month high as the dollar firmed and stock markets tumbled.

U.S. home-builder sentiment slipped in June, a private survey showed on Monday, as higher mortgage rates and an ongoing credit crunch dampened expectations for the sector.

U.S. homebuilder sentiment slipped in June, a private survey showed on Monday, as higher mortgage rates and an ongoing credit crunch damped expectations for the sector.

Germany pledged 25 million euros in aid to Zimbabwe on Monday and Chancellor Angela Merkel said Berlin could provide more support if the poverty-stricken country undertakes more democratic reforms.

One of Wall Street's most influential strategists said on Monday the U.S. Federal Reserve is unlikely to ratchet back efforts to stimulate the economy soon, and that it was too early to worry about inflation choking off what would likely be a fitful recovery.

British detectives said on Monday an investigation into Internet child pornography had uncovered a woman in the United States suspected of using a webcam to broadcast live sexual abuse of her young child.

Palestinians voiced dismay on Monday over terms Benjamin Netanyahu set for a peace deal but the Israeli leader won guarded approval in Washington and Brussels for at least accepting Palestinian statehood.

U.S. stocks fell broadly on Monday as regional manufacturing data dented optimism about the economy's health and resource shares fell alongside commodity prices.