INVESTMENT

Gold prices retreated on Thursday from the record highs they hit in the previous session as the dollar rose ahead of policy decisions from the UK and the euro zone, which curbed appetite for assets seen as higher risk.

Asian shares fell on Thursday, while the dollar recovered most losses made after the U.S. Federal Reserve vowed to keep rates near zero for an extended period and saw a sluggish recovery in the world's biggest economy.

Spot gold inched lower on Thursday but remained within striking distance of $1,100 an ounce after hitting an all-time high for the second straight session on a weak dollar the previous day.

The abruptly scrapped sale of GM's Opel is not the first example of a deal born of the financial crisis being undone by the economic recovery, and probably won't be the last.

China Merchants Securities Co won regulatory approval for an initial public offering in Shanghai that could fetch $2 billion, setting off a return of big IPOs to the mainland stock market after share prices stabilised.

Goldman Sachs has agreed to sell half of its holding in Shineway Group, China's top meat processor, to a Chinese fund for about $150 million, earning roughly five times its investment from the landmark 2006 deal, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday.

Eight major banks which were at the front of the line for government bailouts have already set aside $117.6 billion this year to pay employees, almost as much as they paid in all of 2008, a Reuters analysis has found.

Britain's top shares added 0.9 percent by midday on Wednesday, boosted by gains in retailers Marks & Spencer (MKS.L) and Next (NXT.L), which posted forecast-beating results, while financials and miners also rose.

Stock index futures rose on Wednesday ahead of key jobs and services sector data, with investors also eyeing the Federal Reserve's statement on interest rates and the economy.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's statement on interest rates and the economy.

World stocks rose from the previous day's four-week low on Wednesday while the dollar slipped ahead of a policy decision by the Federal Reserve, expected to affirm its commitment to ultra-low interest rates.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc has joined Goldman Sachs Group Inc in a bid to buy $3 billion in tax credits from mortgage giant Fannie Mae, the Wall Street Journal's website reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose slightly on Tuesday as news of a major railroad acquisition helped sentiment, but the Dow edged lower on caution before a Federal Reserve statement on interest rates and the economy.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday, weighed by technology and financial shares, as Morgan Stanley downgraded the semiconductor sector and after a shake-up at two big British banks and poor results from Swiss lender UBS.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Tuesday as the deal by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway to buy railroad Burlington Northern failed to offset poor results from Swiss lender UBS and a shake-up at two big British banks.

Swiss bank UBS does not expect to win back assets from rich clients any time soon as it struggles to rebuild its reputation after a bitter U.S. tax row even as its underlying performance improves.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Tuesday as the deal by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway to buy railroad company Burlington Northern was offset by poor results from Swiss lender UBS and a shake-up at two big British banks.

News, details on bond issues in the European market on Tuesday:

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a 1 percent drop at the open on Tuesday as poor results from Swiss lender UBS and a shake-up in British banks weighed on investor sentiment ahead of the start of a two-day Fed meeting.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a 1 percent drop at the open on Tuesday as poor results from Swiss lender UBS and a shake-up in British banks weighed on investor sentiment ahead of the start of a two-day Fed meeting.

European stocks fell sharply to a new one-month low on Tuesday, with banks suffering after poor results from UBS (UBSN.VX) and a shake-up of the UK retail banking sector.