MARKETS / FINANCE

The Russian government plans to sell 25 tonnes of gold from the state precious metals and gems repository Gokhran, possibly on the local market, Interfax news agency quoted a Finance Ministry official as saying on Thursday.

The U.S. Federal Reserve must keep its ability to make short-term cash available to maintain financial stability during a crisis, a top Fed official told Congress on Thursday.

The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year, beating market expectations, as consumer spending and new home-building rebounded, signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years.

The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year, beating market expectations, as consumer spending and new home-building rebounded, signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years.

U.S. government debt prices fell on Thursday, as data showed the U.S. economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the third quarter, boosting optimism of a rapid emergence from recession.

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 1330 GMT on Thursday.

Bank of America-Merrill Lynch raised Genworth Financial Inc (GNW.N) to buy from neutral saying the life and mortgage insurer was an attractive potential rebound story once the financial crisis ends.

The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year, beating market expectations, as consumer spending and new home-building rebounded, signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years.

European shares turned positive on Thursday after data showed the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year as consumer spending and investment in new home-building rebounded.

Wall Street was set for a near 1 percent opening gain on Thursday following four days of losses in the S&P 500 after data showed the U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the third-quarter and corporate profits reassured investors.

The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year, beating market expectations, as consumer spending and new home-building rebounded, signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years.

Wall Street was set for a near 1 percent opening gain on Thursday following four days of losses in the S&P 500 after data showed the U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the third-quarter and corporate profits reassured investors.

The economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year as consumer spending and investment in new home-building rebounded, data showed on Thursday, unofficially ending the worst recession in 70 years.

Weakness in energy stocks, pulled lower by downbeat results from Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L), offset gains from banks and miners leaving Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE off 0.3 percent by midsession on Thursday.

The U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter after a year of decline as consumers spent more and investment in home-building bounced back to end the worst recession in 70 years, a Reuters survey of economists predicts.

A federal judge ordered State Street Corp (STT.N) to pay $89.75 million to settle a lawsuit over mortgage losses, rejecting the bank's argument that the accord may prove unfair depending on how a related regulatory probe is resolved.

Wall Street was set to rise on Thursday after four days of losses in the S&P 500 as reassuring corporate profits spurred optimism ahead of data expected to show the U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter.

Wall Street was set to rise on Thursday after four days of losses in the S&P 500 as reassuring corporate profits spurred optimism ahead of data expected to show the U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter.

The U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter after a year of decline as consumers spent more and investment in home-building bounced back to end the worst recession in 70 years, a Reuters survey of economists predicted.

* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall Street on Thursday as investors take a breather following the previous session's sharp selloff ahead of key GDP figures and a flurry of corporate earnings.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday ahead of data expected to show the economy grew in the third quarter, while jobless numbers and a round of corporate earnings were also on tap.

Oil rose toward $78 on Thursday as the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer, was expected to return to economic growth, but gains were limited by the weakness of prompt fuel demand.

The U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter after a year of decline as consumers spent more and investment in home-building bounced back to end the worst recession in 70 years, a Reuters survey of economists predicts.

World stocks hit a three-week low on Thursday, following a sharp fall on Wall Street, as disappointing European corporate results and weak U.S. data fanned concerns about the strength of the economic recovery.

Oil prices steadied at above $77 a barrel on Thursday, pausing from the previous session's decline of 2.6 percent, as investors waited for more economic data to gauge the pace of economic recovery in the United States.

Hedge fund firm Galleon Group, whose founder has been charged with insider trading, paid $250 million to its Wall Street banks last year and in return received market information that other investors did not get, the Financial Times reported.

Hedge fund firm Galleon Group, whose founder has been charged with insider trading, paid $250 million to its Wall Street banks last year and in return received market information that other investors did not get, the Financial Times reported.

U.S. regulators are searching for ways to peer into the activities of high-frequency trading, which has blossomed in recent years and now accounts for at least 50 percent of all equity trading in the United States.

Yahoo Inc vowed to triple its operating profit margin in the next three years as the Internet company seeks to reignite its growth and regain investor confidence.