IBT Staff Reporter

A Democratic lawmaker and top bank regulator on Monday defended legislative efforts that they say would end the perception that some firms are too big to fail, challenging Republican complaints about the financial reform bills.

PARENTS who worry their children do too much schoolwork and extracurricular sport can take heart - it may be keeping them from being glued to more television.

A study showed that Australian women who go under cosmetic surgery often have unrealistic expectations about it and the risk involved with it.

A study has shown that Australian women who went under the knife usually have unrealistic expectations of cosmetic surgery and the risks involved.

The U.S. services sector grew in March at its fastest pace in nearly four years, according to an industry report released on Monday.

Energy shares led stocks higher on Monday as economic data gave support to investors' bets the economy is improving.

U.S. palladium and platinum futures rose to their highest since 2008 on Monday on strong physical demand and better sentiment, and gold contracts hit a two-week high in thin post-holiday trade.

UAE's largest oil company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) followed Saudi Arabia's Aramco in raising crude oil prices for Asia and US. In a statement, Adnoc said it raised March crude selling prices more than 5 percent to the highest since November. The Abu Dhabi-based company increased the price for Murban crude, its largest export grade, to $78.30 a barrel. Lower Zakum crude rose the most, adding $4.20 a barrel, or 5.7 percent, to $78.15 a barrel.

Russia expressed its willingness to extend help to Venezuela for the development of more oil fields, said Russian Prime Minister. Speaking here after talks with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Russia on P M Vladimir Putin said Our partners have said they are ready to expand our partnership in the energy sector. If an agreement is reached, Russia will pay Venezuela an additional $1 billion bonus for oil field development.

Is Gold the best investment? You may have heard this and read about this phrase a million times already. Now it seems Gold investment reading is becoming too stereo cast that it has lost its sheen. But wait a minute. Though too much written word about Gold has turned out to be boring, the yellow metal itself has not shown the boredom in its rise. It has given good investment returns for those who put their trust in it.

Shareholders of auto parts maker Visteon Corp asked a judge to appoint an examiner to determine if it is possible to craft a plan of reorganization more favorable to equity investors, according to court documents.

Silver prices are easier to manipulate than gold as the market is small and its short position is concentrated. However, gold price manipulation is done on a much larger but less noticeable, according to National Inflation Association (NIA), USA. NIA said that CFTC is under pressure not to do anything about the manipulation,because the lower the gold and silver prices are, the stronger the US dollar appears to be. If we saw an explosion to the upside in gold and silver prices, it would result in...

Gems and jewellery exports from India, the world's largest supplier, is expected to grow to US$ 25 billion by 2012, according to the Investment Commission of India. India is the largest importer and consumer of gold in the world. Exports jewellery products consisting of gold and silver jewellery items from the country grew from $5.54 billion (Rs.22,315 crore) in 2007-08 to $6.85 billion in 2008-09 despite the economic slowdown.

Confusion confounded. That is the apt description for the global bullion markets now. Talk of gold, you will get a bunch of positive advices from market analysts saying that Indian festival and wedding seasons are round the corner and the demand for the metal is set to go up in the coming days.

Selling a business comes with a huge number of variables. The following consider 9 important areas you need to work through if you want to successfully exit the business you own.

Stocks advanced on Monday, sending the Nasdaq up more than 1 percent and the Dow Jones industrial average near 11,000, as a spate of economic reports fueled optimism about the economic recovery and a stabilized labor market.

Motorola Inc said on Monday that it will report financial results for four operating units starting with the first quarter this year, as the company prepares to spin off its cellphone and set-top box units into a separate entity next year.

Contracts for pending sales of previously owned homes unexpectedly rose in February, a survey from the National Association of Realtors showed, a rise the group said may be attributed to home buyers taking advantage of a soon-to-expire tax credit.

Stocks rose on Monday, the first trading day after government data showed the economy added the largest number of jobs in three years, boosting hopes the recovery was gaining traction.

Walgreen Co said on Monday that sales at drugstores open at least a year rose 2.3 percent in March, as an earlier Easter drove sales of candy and other general merchandise and an extra weekday boosted sales of prescription medications.

Apple Inc said it had sold more than 300,000 iPads on the tablet computer's first day in stores, surpassing some forecasts, but leaving questions about whether the product can be its next big hit.

Phone interviews are becoming increasingly popular as a means of narrowing down candidates for a more traditional face to face interview.

In a study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, researchers found out that women during her mid 30's exposed to petrol products and synthetic fibers could treble the risk of developing breast cancer after menopause.

A roundup of townhouse gardens, most in New York and Brooklyn, a few in London.

Wall Street analysts on Monday joined the masses in terming Apple Inc's iPad launch as rock-solid, with some pegging sales of the tablet computer at about 5 million units in the first 12 months.

Stock index futures rose on Monday, the first trading day after government data showed the economy added the largest number of jobs in three years, boosting hopes the recovery was accelerating.

The U.S. office vacancy rate in the first quarter reached its highest level in 16 years, but the decline in rents eased and crept closer to stabilization, according to a report by real estate research firm Reis Inc.

The sort of debt problems seen in Greece are likely to spread further in the euro zone and Portugal could be the next victim, Greek Deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos was on Monday quoted as saying.