MARKETS / FINANCE

A group of about 150 trade union protesters blocked entrances to the Athens stock exchange building on Tuesday but bourse officials said they expected trade to go ahead normally.

World stocks hit three-week highs while the dollar eased on Tuesday as markets anticipated a dovish tone from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke after the central bank raised its discount rate last week.

Morgan Stanley is in late stage talks to sell its stake in China International Capital Corp to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and TPG Capital for more than $1 billion, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

Stocks finished flat on Monday as investors held back before congressional testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, while scattered buying lifted shares of health insurers and banks.

The Australian Dollar opens steady today a shade under the US90 cent level.

Economic activity rose sharply in January, further evidence the recovery is gaining ground, but manufacturing in Texas slipped in February.

Stocks finished flat on Monday as investors held back before congressional testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, while scattered buying lifted shares of health insurers and banks.

Bank of America Corp won approval of a $150 million settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over the Merrill Lynch & Co merger, though the federal judge who signed off on the accord called it half-baked justice at best.

The U.S. credit card sector posted mixed performance in January as charge-offs rose sharply, while early stage delinquencies declined for a third month in a row, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Past deals by Greece and others to massage public deficits lacked transparency, a senior Goldman Sachs banker said, the first time it talked openly about financial instruments it and other banks sold.

U.S. stocks edged higher on Monday as takeover news and gains in bank shares on hopes of a regulatory reprieve were offset by uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's policy intentions.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday as investors were cautious before the head of the Federal Reserve was due to discuss interest rate policy this week after the Fed's hike in the discount rate.

U.S. economic activity rose sharply in January, further evidence the recovery is gaining ground, but manufacturing in Texas slipped in February.

The U.S. economy still needs extraordinarily low interest rates, as inflation is undesirably low and growth will likely be sluggish for several years, a top Federal Reserve official said Monday.

U.S. stocks fell slightly in choppy trading on Monday on investor uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's intentions after last week's increase in the interest rate for emergency loans to banks.

In a volatile Monday session, the U.S. stock market dipped as declines in health and energy stocks overshadowed gains made in the financial sector.

Bank of America Corp won approval of a $150 million settlement with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over the Merrill Lynch merger, ending an embarrassing public battle between the largest U.S. bank and the nation's top securities regulator.

No. 2 U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Cos reported better-than-expected quarterly results and said sales would improve in 2010 as demand for remodeling projects picks up.

World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 109 million metric tons (mmt) in January. This is 25.5% higher than January 2009.China's crude steel production for January 2010 was 48.7 mmt, an increase of 18.2% on January 2009. Japan produced 8.7 mmt of crude steel in January 2010, up 36.8% compared to the same month last year. South Korea showed an increase of 32.4% from January 2009, producing 4.5 mmt of crude steel in January 2010.

The S&P 500 tracked Asian indices to open up higher, then reversed course dramatically after President Barack Obama's health care proposal was announced at 10:00 a.m in New York. followed by modest gains which have turned negative.

Bank of America Corp on Monday won approval of a $150 million settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over the Merrill Lynch & Co merger, ending an embarrassing public battle between the largest U.S. bank and the nation's top securities regulator.

U.S. stocks fell on Monday as markets continue to assess the implications of the Federal Reserves' move to increase emergency borrowing rates for banks and Greece's debt issues remain unresolved.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Monday after Schlumberger agreed to buy Smith International for $11.34 billion in stock and Lowe's Co. posted better-than-expected earnings, indicating increased confidence among corporate managers and consumers.

A senior Chinese military officer has called for a new national body to enforce Internet controls, while China faced fresh claims on Monday about the source of hacking attacks that hit search giant Google.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday after Schlumberger agreed to buy Smith International for $11.34 billion in stock and Lowe's Co. posted better-than-expected earnings, indicating increased confidence among corporate managers and consumers.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday after Schlumberger Ltd agreed to buy Smith International for $11.34 billion in stock and Lowe's Co. posted better-than-expected earnings.

Broader economic guidelines are needed for to make the euro zone work, not just strict fiscal rules, Greece's finance minister was quoted as saying on Monday.

Hong Kong shares bounced back from one-week lows on Monday after a relatively steady finish in Shanghai and gains on Wall Street boosted investor appetite for battered banking stocks.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday as Schlumberger Ltd agreed to buy Smith International for $11.34 billion in stock and Lowe's Co. posted earnings.