INVESTMENT

For Eriko Ebina, standing outside a downtown Tokyo medical equipment store that has a side business buying gold, the recent surge in prices for the precious metal was just too tempting.

Harmony Gold may be undervalued but the world's fifth largest gold producer was not vulnerable to a take-over bid, Chief Executive Officer Graham Briggs said.

Gold extended losses on Thursday to fall as much as $200 from Tuesday's record high, as investors cashed in scorching gains in the metal after the CME Group hiked trading margins for the precious metal for a second time this month.

Finnish handset maker, Nokia, has launched two new phones, both of which are highly affordable. These are the Nokia 101 which comes at a cost of $36 (EUR25) and Nokia 100 that costs $28 (EUR20).

Steve Jobs' stunning resignation as CEO of Apple could have a major impact on the company's stock price during Thursday trading.

Stocks rallied for a second day on Wednesday as investors bought beaten-down financial shares and unloaded gold, but tech stocks could fall on Thursday after late news about Apple's Steve Jobs stepping down as CEO.

Trust Company of the West CEO Marc Stern asked his legal team to monitor the emails of ex-employee and star bond fund manager Jeffrey Gundlach after growing suspicious of his intentions to start a new firm, the CEO testified on Wednesday.

The independent Financial Industry Regulatory Authority warned investors Wednesday about investment scams that promote gold stocks whose real value is difficult to calculate.

The big price drop Wednesday in the price of gold is not the beginning of a trend, say analysts, but rather a pause in a longer term bull market that has a lot farther to run.

Gold fell Wednesday in electronic trading as investors took profits, economists heralded a positive indicator and Wall Street held its collective breath that the chairman of the U.S. central bank would signal support in a key speech later this week.

Hedge funds run by sophisticated computer programs are profiting from large falls in stock markets and a rocketing gold price this month, even as funds managed by human beings struggle to cope with high market volatility.

Hedge funds run by sophisticated computer programs are profiting from large falls in stock markets and a rocketing gold price this month, even as funds managed by human beings struggle to cope with high market volatility.

Silver prices and silver stocks led the descent Wednesday of precious metals with some silver mining companies falling more than 7 percent.

Bank of America shares surged more than 11 percent on Wednesday after J.P. Morgan predicted the company would raise capital in the near future.

Gold and silver prices plunged Wednesday as a strengthening stock market and hope that the U.S. central bank will take steps to boost the American economy dimmed the appeal of precious metals as a safe haven.

Gold prices dropped sharply Wednesday after a strong U.S. durable goods report, profit-taking by investors and encouraging news from the Congressional Budget Office about the deficit.

Kim and Medvedev also discussed the possible construction of a pipeline that would cross through North Korea into South Korea.

The U.S. Federal Reserve used a non-competitive bid process when it secured middlemen services to maintain liquidity in the critical money-market fund market -- an emergency action necessitated by the financial crisis triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

Spot gold rebounded in Singapore overnight on Wednesday from its worst day in 18 months, while bullion's safe-haven appeal seemed to be waning for now with investors returning to riskier assets on hopes of more stimulus for the U.S. economy.

For Eriko Ebina, standing outside a downtown Tokyo medical equipment store that has a side business buying gold, the recent surge in prices for the precious metal was just too tempting.

China urged a stable transition of power in Libya Wednesday and said it is in contact with the National Transitional Council, in the clearest sign yet that Beijing has effectively shifted recognition to rebel forces.