MARKETS / FINANCE

Wall Street ticked higher on Monday as retailers' shares rose on data for the key holiday shopping season that indicated improved consumer spending while rising commodity prices lifted the natural resource sector.

Wall Street ticked higher on Monday as retailers' shares rose on data for the key holiday shopping season that indicated improved consumer spending while rising commodity prices lifted the natural resource sector.

U.S. retailers performed better during the key holiday shopping season this year after a historically dismal 2008, performing in line with dampened expectations, according to data released on Monday.

Wall Street edged higher on Monday as retailers' shares rose on data pointing to an improved performance for the key holiday shopping season while rising commodity prices boosted the natural resource sector.

Egypt's Orascom Telecom (ORTE.CA) (ORTEq.L) said on Monday its Algerian unit had paid about $120 million against back taxes Algeria says it owes, but that it had filed an appeal and hoped to recover the amount.

Compugen Ltd announced the discovery and experimental validation of a new drug target for the treatment of a type of cancer, sending its shares up as much as 41 percent in pre-market trade.

Stocks rose modestly on Monday as rising commodity prices boosted resource companies, while retailers gained after data pointed to a better performance for the key holiday shopping season.

Wall Street was set for a modestly higher open on Monday as investors were wary of taking bets that could erode gains heading into year-end.

Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange rose 2.7 percent in first half of December, the exchange said in a release late Thursday. As of December 15, short interest rose to about 13.53 billion shares, compared to 13.18 billion shares as of November 30.

Stock index futures indicated a flat to higher open on Monday with investors wary of taking bets that could erode gains heading into year-end.

Stock index futures indicated a flat to higher open on Monday, with investors wary of taking risky bets into year-end.

Oil hit a four-week high above $78 a barrel on Monday as colder weather across the United States and signs of economic recovery helped boost the outlook for fuel demand.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat to higher open on Wall Street on Monday following the Christmas break, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.07 percent, Dow Jones futures flat and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.27 percent at 4.17 a.m. ET.

The dollar held near recent highs against the yen on Monday, helped by demand from Japanese corporates before the year-end, with eyes on U.S. data and Treasury auctions to see if it can maintain its recent rally.

There is no reason for China's yuan to depreciate against any currency, including the dollar, euro or yen, an adviser to its central bank said on Monday, highlighting the polarised nature of debate on the currency.

Russia on Monday inaugurated a new oil export terminal at Kozmino port in its far east. Opening the terminal, Russian PM Vladimir Putin said, It is an important event for Russia and a strategic project, which enables us to enter the growing markets of the Asia-Pacific region.

Gold prices moved up in thin Asian trade Monday as markets yet to pick up momentum after a three day holiday. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1111.05 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time compared with New York's notional close of $1103.80.

Japan's industrial output rose for the ninth consecutive month in November, driven by strong exports and domestic subsidies, but swelling inventories and falling wages threaten to end the longest climb in more than 12 years.

A state-backed turnaround fund may seek to put Japan Airlines Corp through bankruptcy court as part of a restructuring of the struggling carrier, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.

A state-backed turnaround fund may seek to put Japan Airlines Corp through bankruptcy court as part of a restructuring of the struggling carrier, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Shares in state utility KEPCO and other South Korean nuclear power-related stocks jumped on Monday as a $40 billion deal from the United Arab Emirates boosted prospects for future nuclear plant deals.

U.S. federal authorities are investigating millions of dollars contributed by fraud suspect Allen Stanford and his staff to U.S. lawmakers in the past decade, the Miami Herald reported on Sunday.

Believe it or not - the tech specs of the rumoured Google Chrome OS-based netbook are already out and by the sound of it, the netbook looks to me like a high performance machine.

Tighter security measures at U.S. airports following an attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound jet could dampen enthusiasm for air travel, hurting the airline industry just as it seemed poised to recover from a period of bruising losses, some industry experts say.

A key informant in the U.S. tax evasion case against Swiss bank UBS AG has asked a federal court in Florida to postpone the scheduled January 8 start of his prison term so that he can cooperate further with the U.S. government to uncover tax cheats.

A key informant in the U.S. tax evasion case against Swiss bank UBS AG has asked a Florida court to postpone the scheduled January 8 start of his prison term, saying he is ready to cooperate further with the U.S. government in the case.

Earnings estimates for Berkshire Hathaway's Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp railroad acquisition could signal weaker-than-anticipated U.S. industrial activity in 2010, according to a report in the December 28 issue of Barron's.

Dubai Properties Group, owned by the ruler of Dubai's holding company, replaced several executives including its chief financial officer on Sunday and pledged better corporate governance to improve operations.

Wall Street is likely to make a strong showing in the final week of 2009 as the bulls gear up to toast the first annual advance for U.S. stocks in two years on hopes of more economic stability in 2010.