IBT Staff Reporter

Brent crude rose as high as $118.50 a barrel and U.S. oil hit its highest level since September 2008 on Monday on concern over wider supply disruptions in the Middle East before both markets pared gains.

The Gold Price rose new all-time highs vs. a falling US Dollar on Monday morning in London, hitting almost $1445 per ounce as European stock markets held flat and major-economy government bonds slipped, nudging interest rates up.

Gold climbed to a record high above $1,440 an ounce on Monday as the threat of violence spreading in the Middle East and North Africa pushed oil prices to 2-1/2 year highs and burnished the metal's safe-haven appeal.

Pent-up demand has resulted in a surge in Iraqi stocks due to political gains and lifting of UN sanctions, says investment management company Global Capital Investments.

The new combined company will retain the Western Digital name and location.

Comedian Kathy Griffin will guest star in an upcoming episode of the hit show Glee. She will play a sectionals judge described as a recent Tea Party candidate and home schooler - a Sarah Palin type.

What: Bank of England's March monetary policy decision

Stocks edged higher on Monday as a flurry of acquisition activity boosted optimism about share prices and oil prices eased from earlier highs sparked by tensions in the Middle East.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said worldwide sales of semiconductors for the month of January rose 14.0 percent from last year to $25.5 billion on significant growth across all major end-use sectors. Sequentially, sales increased 1.5 percent.

A spike in food and oil prices has made the threat of inflation more acute, leading central banks said on Monday, but they warned tightening of policy in response will not proceed at the same pace.

Terumo Corp <4543.T> said it would buy U.S. medical device company CaridianBCT from a Swedish firm for about $2.6 billion, marking the largest acquisition by a Japanese medical equipment maker.

Terumo Corp <4543.T> said it would buy U.S. medical device company CaridianBCT from a Swedish firm for about $2.6 billion, marking the largest acquisition by a Japanese medical equipment maker.

Etihad Airways inked a $1.5 billion deal with Engine Alliance, owned by General Electric and United Technologies unit Pratt & Whitney, to provide engines for its planned fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.

The Federal Reserve cannot rule out expanding its $600 billion stimulus as political upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa heighten U.S. economic uncertainty, a top Fed official said on Monday.

U.S. stocks were set to open slightly higher on Monday as investors weighed a batch of acquisition activity against another climb in oil prices on unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

Apple iPad 2 launch caught its rival's off-guard, as it upped the ante with a slimmer, faster and lighter rendition while retaining the virtues of the older iPad.

The U.S. government reiterated that it could tap its strategic oil reserves in order to safeguard economic growth as surging gasoline prices increase pressure for action.

France's finance ministry was subject to a cyberattack in December targeting information related to its presidency of the Group of 20 nations, officials said on Monday.

France's LVMH will take over Italy's Bulgari in a 3.7 billion euros ($5.19 billion) deal to add luster to the No.1 luxury group's jewelry business and bring it more exposure to emerging markets.

Stock index futures rose on Monday, indicating Wall Street will recover from Friday's losses even as oil prices continued to spike on unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

College sports biggest tournament is coming to the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Moody's slashed Greece's credit rating on Monday on fears the country's efforts to cut its debt will not be enough, heaping further pressure on EU leaders to ease repayment terms on its bailout loans or risk a default.

France's finance ministry was subject to a cyberattack in December targeting information related to its presidency of the Group of 20 nations, officials said on Monday.

Corrects nationality of EADS in paragraph 3

Lady Gaga has apparently threatened to sue the makers of ice cream - titled Baby Gaga - made from human breast milk.

Carmakers are fast developing cars that could use advanced WiFi signals and GPS systems, which would allow cars to communicate with fellow cars on roads, which would warn and prevent potential accidents.

ArcelorMittal , Vale and Xstrata are among six bidders short-listed to develop Mongolia's Tavan Tolgoi mine, the world's largest untapped coking coal deposit, Mongolia said on Monday.

Countries that have come to depend on China for large amounts of rare earths metals should understand that Beijing has environmental concerns for curtailing exports, the Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said on Monday.

Moody's slashed Greece's credit rating on Monday on fears the country's efforts to cut its debt will not be enough, heaping further pressure on EU leaders to ease repayment terms on its bailout loans or risk a default.