IBT Staff Reporter

Goldman Sachs Group Inc, legendary for its clout in Washington, has inexplicably halted its political fund-raising machine.

Stocks were headed for an opening bounce on Monday, with investors scooping up shares beaten down in last week's selloff, while a report that Brocade Communications Systems Inc put itself up for sale may fan deal optimism.

The H1N1 swine flupandemic should spur pharmaceutical researchers to renew efforts to develop a universal flu vaccine and rethink ways of dealing with future pandemics, scientists said on Friday.

China and a top G77 official accused rich nations on Monday of trying to kill off the Kyoto Protocol, the U.N.'s main weapon in the fight against global warming, as nations try to craft a broader climate pact.

Rich countries should make more vaccine available to poorer nations where the H1N1 virus is starting to hit, U.N. health officials said on Sunday.

Julius Baer Group AG expects an outcome soon on the sale of ING Group NV's Swiss private banking assets and is hopeful the terms of the sale are in its favor, Baer's chief executive said on Monday.

Healthcare workers in Indiana and Tennessee will be among the first to get swine flu vaccines in the United States on Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Narrator: Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything ... and just may get some of it back.

Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) plans to put on hold tie-up talks it has been holding separately with Delta Air Lines and AMR Corp's American Airlines, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported on Monday.

Japan's Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) said it would raise up to $1.1 billion in a share sale and invest most of the funds to develop hybrid and other technologies in what analysts said was a long-overdue bid to close the gap with rivals.

Beyonce may be the hardest-working woman in showbiz.

Norway's Telenor and Russian partner Alfa Group have agreed to merge their Russian and Ukrainian holdings into a New-York listed mobile operator worth over $23 billion, ending one of the longest ever Russian corporate wars.

As the lead singer of the multimillion-selling band Linkin Park, Chester Bennington helped define the rap-metal sound of the early '90s. But as his career was ascending, his life was falling apart: Bennington was heavily involved in drugs and spent some nights wondering whether he would make it to the next day.

British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said on Monday he was prepared to discuss support for Vauxhall with parent Opel's new owners, Magna (MGa.TO), noting that representatives from the Canadian auto parts supplier were due in Britain this week.

MC Wale seems poised to make the leap to mainstream success.

Finisar Corp, which makes high-speed network gear, said it has agreed to establish a new $70 million credit facility with Wells Fargo Foothill.

Five years after the release of Social Distortion's last studio effort, the veteran punk band is road-testing new material for an album it hopes will come out in 2010.

A U.S.-led group has entered the race to buy Ford Motor Co's (F.N) Volvo cars unit, the Financial Times reported, in a challenge to China's Geely Automotive (0175.HK) which last month confirmed its interest in the loss-making Swedish carmaker.

Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa, who fought South America's dictators with her voice and became a giant of contemporary Latin American music, died on Sunday at age 74, her family said in a statement.

South African-born J.M. Coetzee could become the first writer to claim the coveted Man Booker Prize three times when the winner is announced on Tuesday, but bookmakers are predicting a different outcome.

Director Trevor Nunn brings vividly to life a famous courtroom clash between two idealistic heavyweights in the Old Vic production of Inherit the Wind, with unforgettable performances by Kevin Spacey and David Troughton as the legal titans.

Woody Harrelson scored the biggest opening of his career at the North American box office, as Zombieland stormed theaters with weekend ticket sales of $25 million, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.

Lady Gaga said both she and Kanye West decided to cancel their upcoming Fame Kills tour of North American arenas, and that she will embark on her own headlining trek soon while West drops out of the spotlight.

Microsoft Corp does not expect to make acquisitions to help the company challenge Google Inc's dominance in the Internet search market, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters on Monday.

Vonage Holdings Corp plans to offer discounted international phone calls to iPhone and BlackBerry users, as the Internet telephony company aims to expand beyond the residential market.

Stock index futures rose on Monday, with investors poised to scoop up shares beaten down in last week's sell-off, while a report that Brocade Communications Systems Inc put itself up for sale may fan deal optimism.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) and Vanguard Group Inc are among U.S. companies opposed to rules proposed by U.S. regulators to limit short selling, according to letters filed by the companies.

The following are comments on Monday from finance officials in Istanbul for the Group of Seven, IMF and World Bank meetings.

Stock index futures rose on Monday, with investors poised to scoop up shares beaten down in last week's sell-off, while a report that Brocade Communications Systems Inc put itself up for sale may fan deal optimism.