MARKETS / FINANCE

U.S. securities regulators on Monday charged three former executives at now-bankrupt lender New Century with fraud, the latest government attempt to bring bad actors in the subprime market to justice.

MetLife Inc forecast fourth-quarter and 2010 earnings that could beat average Wall Street expectations, helped by cost cuts, improved investment returns and higher revenue, but said it did not see a return to historical growth levels until 2011 or 2012.

Efforts by Barnes & Noble Inc to get its Nook electronic reader into customers' hands suffered another setback on Monday, when the bookseller said it was postponing the in-store debut of the device until early 2010 to fulfill orders already received.

A bubble has formed in commodities as speculative fervor returns to markets after the global financial crisis, veteran Wall Street economist Henry Kaufman said on Monday.

The dollar fell from four-week highs on Monday as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke doused expectations the U.S. central bank would raise interest rates anytime soon. Bernanke said that while the U.S. economy has improved, the recovery remains fragile and the unemployment rate could remain high for some time. In remarks before the Economic Club of Washington, he added that he still sees an extended period of low rates. For his remarks, click on [ID:nN07169826].

Stocks modestly added to gains on Monday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the economy was improving, but the recovery was fragile and still faced headwinds.

The European Union and Microsoft are likely to end a decade-long dispute next week when EU antitrust regulators will accept the U.S. software company's amended offer on allowing consumer choice on Internet browsers, sources said.

With companies able to collect and store vast amounts of data about consumers for very little money, the Federal Trade Commission held a conference on Monday to discuss guidelines on how firms use that data to advertise.

Big, full-service brokerages have lost a significant chunk of business to online firms that told small investors they are better off making their own decisions, Aite Group said in a report.

Shares of staffing companies soared on Friday after a government report showing U.S. employers cut far fewer jobs than expected last month heralded increased demand for the companies' services as the labor market improves.

The doors of restaurants and barbershops are increasingly plastered with stickers touting various online rating services, from Yelp and Citysearch to the distinctive red crest of Zagat.

The U.S. job market rose slightly in November according to a report issued days after government data showing the lowest number of job cuts in that month since December 2007, a research group said on Monday.

Stocks were little changed on Monday as investors awaited comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and continued to digest recent data on the crucial labor market.

EU antitrust regulators are set to accept next week an amended offer by Microsoft that would allow PC users in Europe to choose other web browsers, two people familiar with the situation said on Monday.

Oil prices fell below $75 a barrel on Monday as a rising dollar sent investors fleeing from risk and global markets began to speculate on a specific future date when the United States would raise its interest rates.

Stocks rose on Monday as a broker upgrade for three credit card companies offset jitters that interest rates might rise sooner than expected and as investors awaited comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

MetLife Inc , the largest publicly traded U.S. life insurer, issued profit forecasts for the fourth quarter and 2010 that could beat average Wall Street expectations.

Dubai ring-fenced prized assets such as Emirates airline from the $26 billion debt restructuring of Dubai World, denting fragile investor sentiment and raising questions on slated assets.

Wall Street was poised for a soft open on Monday on growing sentiment U.S. interest rates could rise sooner than had been anticipated following last week's surprisingly optimistic jobs report.

World stocks slipped on Monday from last week's 14-month high while the dollar hit a five-week peak as investors grew convinced U.S. interest rates could rise soon after the previous session's robust jobs report.

Stock index futures were lower on Monday on growing sentiment U.S. interest rates could rise sooner than had been anticipated following last week's surprisingly optimistic jobs report.

U.S. lawmakers are looking at ways to limit the damage that large banks, insurers and funds can wreak on the financial system, but breaking up healthy companies is unlikely to be part of the mix because it is too difficult to implement.

Ratings agency Moody's said on Monday it did not expect to take any ratings actions against U.S. insurance companies because of Dubai World's $26 billion restructuring.

News, details on corporate bond issues in the European markets on Monday:

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.62 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.53 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.52 percent, at 3:40 a.m. EST.

Gold prices fell 2 percent to session lows in Europe on Monday, on selling prompted by the dollar's rise to a five-week high versus the euro following above-consensus jobs data in the previous session.

The dollar hit a five-week high against a currency basket on Monday, extending its rally from Friday when strong U.S. jobs data fueled speculation the Federal Reserve may consider winding down its stimulus measures.

Oil prices dropped to $75 a barrel on Monday reacting to a rising dollar and tracking weak European equities as investors became more risk averse.

Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund said on Sunday it had sold its stake in Citigroup Inc for a profit of $1.1 billion, becoming the latest Gulf investor to sell foreign shares as markets improve.