POLITICS

House prices rose at their fastest annual pace in two years in September, a survey showed on Monday

The FTSE 100 index was flat on Monday with utilities leading the way but online gambling firms plummeting after the U.S. Congress passed legislation to ban online gaming there.

British Airways shares rose over 2 percent in early trade following a newspaper report that two Middle Eastern groups considered bidding for the airline earlier this year.

The world's biggest mobile phone handset maker Nokia unveiled a patent licensing deal with technology firm Trimble Navigation on Monday

Water firm AWG said on Monday it has agreed a 2.2 billion pound takeover offer from Osprey, an investment group including Canadian, Australian and British firms.

Get ready for the bells and whistles - the Howard government is planning a $20 million advertising blitz to sell its Telstra float.

Fresh fruit producer Chiquita Brands South Pacific Ltd has rejected an increased takeover bid by Tradefresh Pty Ltd, saying it still undervalues the business.

Federal ministers Amanda Vanstone and Kevin Andrews are at odds over plans by American Express to have Japanese workers take jobs at a Sydney call centre.

Macquarie Bank will invest $US150 million ($200 million) for a minority stake in the aircraft leasing arm of New York listed transport group GATX Corporation.

AWB could face terrorism-related charges amid claims some of its staff knew money being funnelled to Saddam Hussein's government could have been funding atrocities against his own people.

India has awarded coal bed methane gas blocks to firms including British oil major BP Plc, Australia's Arrow Energy and India's Reliance Energy Ltd and Tata Power Co Ltd.

Fitch Ratings agency has affirmed its ratings for Australia and says its outlook is stable.

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who arrived in South Africa on Saturday, will, during his four-day visit, discuss major UN reforms with the South African President Thabo Mbeki, besides signing a number of bilateral agreements on a wide range of subjects including one on preferential trade, investment and energy cooperation.

India has surged ahead in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2006 index of world's most competitive economies, leaving behind nations like China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and Kuwait.

United Nations economists predict Thailand's economy can grow, stating that gross domestic product has the potential to reach 4.7 percent next year provided the new government maintains stability.

Most forms of Internet gambling would be banned under a bill that received final U.S. congressional approval early Saturday.

A lawsuit brought by victims of suicide bombings in Israel, alleging that British bank NatWest knowingly provided services to a charity linked to militant Islamic group Hamas

Eaton Corp. on Friday said it plans to close plants in the United Kingdom, Spain and in the United States, cutting about 730 jobs and incurring third quarter costs of about $50 million.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law on Friday making it a crime to buy telephone records or obtain them through deceit, an issue that has become important amid a furor over Hewlett-Packard Co.'s attempts to track down boardroom leaks to the press.

Indian shares defied firm world markets to trade flat to lower on Thursday as crude oil bounced back, stoking investor fears of higher inflation.

Yahoo Inc. is set to allow outsiders to create new services using the world's most popular consumer e mail program

Recruitment firm Michael Page sees further consolidation in the staffing services market, the group's chief executive told a Swiss newspaper, adding the UK based firm was not looking to be bought.

Amaranth Advisors LLC, the hedge fund manager which lost billions of dollars in energy trades, will suspend redemptions......

Bankrupt auto parts maker Delphi Corp. (Other OTC:DPHIQ - news) on Friday posted a $533 million net loss for August in a limited monthly report......

Standard Chartered PLC yestoday announced an acquisition plan for Taiwan Hsinchu International Bank for $1.2 billion......

U.S. consumer spending slipped in August but falling gasoline prices elevated shoppers' moods by September and Midwest factory activity picked up as well, according to reports on Friday that suggested the economy was still motoring along. Meanwhile, indicators for consumer prices offered a mixed reading on inflation.

`The European Commission established a Pharmaceutical Forum in Europe today to improve the information on medicine given to patients, ensure faster access to medicine and to better regulate the prices charged.

Economic sentiment has improved in Europe in September following a small drop in August. The mood has is up 1.6 points in the EU and 1 point in the euro area, according to the Economic Sentiment Indicator.

The Japanese Olympic Commission (JOC) will appoint Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara as the director-general of Tokyo Olympic Bidding Committee for the 2016 Summer Games, the commission said on Friday.