The resurgence of bonus guarantees underscores how difficult it is to control Wall Street pay, despite the public outcry over how taxpayer money is being spent.

Millions of people in China ? recent graduates, shopkeepers and retirees ? are using Taobao to sell things like clothes, phones and toys.

Major organizations know that they need a presence on smartphones, but they are still navigating financial questions.

Japan's core machinery orders rise in June, data shows, but manufacturers remain downbeat about prospects.

The Financial Services Authority is to set out this week how banks will have to change their policies on bonuses.

Insurer Friends Provident resumes merger talks with investment firm Resolution after receiving a revised proposal.

Asian stock markets were mostly higher Monday as better-than-expected news about U.S. job losses and Japan?s business spending kindled hopes the world?s two largest economies were recovering.

Microsoft is to sell its digital advertising business Razorfish to French advertising company Publicis.

India and South Korea sign an agreement to reduce tariffs on goods and services to boost trade between the two nations.

UK airport operator BAA says that a decline in passenger numbers stabilised in July - partly thanks to a pick up in long-haul traffic.

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Monday, as investors look set to book profits after a sharp four-week rally.

Reuters - Banks in the United States are poised to make $38.5 billion in customer overdraft fees this year, the Financial Times said, citing research by Moebs Services.

Reuters - Shares in UBS opened lower on Monday as the Swiss bank faced more tense negotiations to settle a tax evasion case in the U.S. that challenges Switzerland's bank secrecy laws.

Reuters - U.S. power producer Dynegy Inc will sell nine U.S. power plants to its one-time development partner LS Power Associates L.P, the Wall Street Journal said on Monday.

Reuters - China's latest spying allegations against global miner Rio Tinto Ltd (Rio.AX) were nothing new, a spokeswoman for Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Monday, adding Australia wanted China to deal with the case expeditiously.

Asian stock markets were mostly higher as better-than-expected news about U.S. job losses and Japan?s business spending kindled hopes of economic recovery.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street, as investors look set to book profits after a sharp four-week rally.

Having lost the video format war, Toshiba said it will make Blu-ray disc products and plans to join the once-rival camp, the Blu-ray Disc Association.

Shares in mining firm Rio Tinto slip 3% after China intensifies its spying allegations against the company.

Japan's core machinery orders rise in June, data shows, but manufacturers remain downbeat about prospects.

Sales of passenger cars in India have risen by 31% as new launches and lower interest rates boost demand.

Heathrow enjoyed its third-busiest month on record in July, says owner BAA, giving a boost to the struggling airline industry.

UK house prices will fall by a further 3% this year before recovering slightly in 2010, an economists' group says.

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Monday, as investors look set to book profits after a sharp four-week rally.

Reuters - The Swiss government held a special session on Monday to discuss the U.S. tax evasion case hanging over Swiss bank UBS as negotiations to settle the issue dragged on.

Reuters - Shares in global miner Rio Tinto Ltd fell more than 3 percent on Monday after China stepped up its spying allegations against the company, although Australia's Foreign Ministry said the latest accusations were nothing new.

The biggest stakeholder in the parent company of Lenovo said it was seeking to sell 29 percent of the parent company?s shares for $404 million.

As its reported a wider loss, Dynegy said it will sell eight power plants to former development partner LS Power for just under $1.03 billion in cash, plus shares of stock.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Dish Network Corp. said Monday that its second-quarter profit slid 81 percent on TiVo Inc. litigation costs and rising expenses, but the nation's second-largest satellite TV provider managed to add subscribers and maintain revenue.

Sugar prices rise to their highest level since March 1981, at 21.55 cents a pound, as supply concerns grow.

Manufacturing confidence across the European Union has improved significantly over the past six months, a survey says.

The government launches a debate on how the UK can ensure its food supply will remain secure in the future.

Royal Bank of Scotland, which is 70% taxpayer-owned, reports a £15m half-year profit, but it has to write off hefty bad debts.

More than half of students in Scotland are in debt to banks or credit card companies, says the National Union of Students.

Reuters - Stock index futures slipped on Monday as investors paused to book profits after a sharp four-week run-up.

Reuters - McDonald's Corp said sales at U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months rose 2.6 percent, aided by its new McCafe espresso-based coffee drinks.

Reuters - Dynegy Inc said it was selling some of its power plants to LS Power for $1.0 billion in cash as the U.S. power producer seeks to pay back debt and improve its liquidity position.

The Federal Reserve, which meets this week, is widely expected to keep key interest rates steady at near zero, but concerns about inflation are starting to grow.

Izea, an advertising network, has begun paying Twitter users for sending sponsored tweets to their followers.

Underscoring China?s growing interest in Australian resources, Yanzhou Coal has reached a deal to buy the Australian coal miner, Felix Resources, a source said.

McDonald?s said sales at stores open at least a year climbed 4.3 percent in July, as the nation?s biggest hamburger chain benefited from budget-conscious consumers.

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Media company E.W. Scripps Co. said Monday it made a profit in the second quarter despite a decline in revenue.

AUSTIN, Minn. (AP) -- Hormel Foods says it is boosting its 2009 profit guidance because of strong performance from its refrigerated foods segment.

The head of South Korea's Hyundai conglomerate goes to North Korea to try to secure the release of a worker.

Angola has handled dealings with Asian firms well, allowing it to profit from its oil resources, a UK think tank says.

Japanese electronics firm Toshiba is to start making products that can play Blu-ray discs - a formerly rival format.

There has been a slight drop - from 63% last year to 61% this year - in the number of young people illegally downloading music, a survey suggests.

One hundred companies offering to write off debts or secure personal injury payouts have been shut down by the Ministry of Justice.

Reuters - Stocks opened lower on Monday as investors booked profits, ahead of a Federal Reserve Board meeting and earnings from some of the nation's largest retailers later this week.

Reuters - The worst U.S. recession since the Great Depression will probably end in the third quarter, but there is uncertainty over the speed and duration of the economic recovery, according to the most recent survey of private economists.

Reuters - McDonald's Corp said sales at its U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months rose 2.6 percent in July, aided by its new McCafe espresso-based coffee drinks, sending its shares up nearly 2 percent in premarket trading.

Reuters - Nortel Networks said on Monday its chief executive will step down immediately and its board will shrink from nine directors to just three as the bankrupt telecom equipment maker sheds major assets.

Reuters - Dynegy Inc said it will sell eight power plants to private equity firm LS Power for around $1.5 billion in cash and stock, basically ending a two-and-a-half-year joint venture between the two companies.

Technology has shaken up morning routines ? people are increasingly waking up and lunging for their laptops.

General Motors will begin selling cars and trucks on eBay, one more way that the automaker is trying to reach new customers and regain lost market share.

The Federal Reserve, which meets this week, is widely expected to keep key interest rates steady at near zero, but concerns about inflation are starting to grow.

Guaranteed bonuses at big banks have made a comeback, despite the public outcry over the use of taxpayer money.

The telecommunications equipment maker, which is in bankruptcy, said its C.E.O. would step down immediately and its board will shrink to three directors from nine as it sheds major assets.

An article accusing Rio Tinto of engaging in commercial espionage has been removed from a Chinese Web site.

Barnes & Noble said it would buy a firm that operates college bookstores from Barnes & Noble?s chairman in a deal worth $596 million.

General Motors and eBay are launching a trial scheme in the US to allow customers to buy new GM cars via the auction website.

Almost 155,000 new cars have been ordered through the government's scrappage scheme, half the total provided for.

Reuters - Stocks cut losses on Monday and the Dow briefly turned positive on gains from McDonald's after the fast-food operator reported July sales results, offsetting declines in retailers such as Wal-Mart .

Reuters - The worst U.S. recession since the Great Depression will probably end in the third quarter, but uncertainty exists over the speed and duration of the economic recovery, according to the most recent survey of private economists.

Reuters - Shares of AIG, the beneficiary of a $180 billion U.S. government bailout, rose as much as 10 percent on Monday morning, extending strong gains last week, as the insurer returned to a profit in the second quarter, ending a six-quarter run of losses.

Reuters - McDonald's Corp said sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose a better-than-expected 4.3 percent in July, helped by gains in Britain, France and the United States.

AP - Oil prices climbed above $71 a barrel Monday ahead of this week's U.S. consumer spending data that could shed light on the strength of the economic recovery.

Alternatives to taxis are getting more consideration as cheaper ? and sometimes quicker ? ways to get to the airport.

The company said it may not have set aside enough money to cover possible fees and penalties linked to lawsuits and investigations into risky investments.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Monday, led by retailers, as investors booked profits following a four-week rally, though losses were limited by strong July sales at McDonald's Corp .

Reuters - The worst U.S. recession since the Great Depression will probably end in the third quarter, but uncertainty exists over the speed and duration of the economic recovery, according to the most recent survey of private economists.

Reuters - State Street Corp said on Monday that it may not have set aside enough money to cover possible fees and penalties linked to lawsuits and probes by state and federal regulators into risky investments.

Reuters - McDonald's Corp said sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose a better-than-expected 4.3 percent in July, helped by gains in Britain, France and the United States.

AP - First Horizon National Corp.'s aggressive handling of its bad mortgage and construction loans earned the bank praise, but it's stock got a downgrade Monday.

AP - Oil prices fell below $71 a barrel Monday ahead of this week's U.S. consumer spending data that could shed light on the strength of the economic recovery.

Brioni will introduce a T-shirt to its line as part of a move to expand its casual-wear offerings and reach a younger clientele.

China?s surging economy is luring increasing numbers of American college graduates, even those with limited or no knowledge of Chinese.

The Federal Reserve, which meets this week, is widely expected to keep key interest rates steady at near zero, but concerns about inflation are starting to grow.

The company said it may not have set aside enough money to cover possible fees and penalties linked to lawsuits and investigations into risky investments.

Izea, an advertising network, has begun paying Twitter users for sending sponsored tweets to their followers.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Monday as investors booked profits following a four-week rally that took the broad S&P 500 index to a 10-month high on Friday.

Brioni will introduce a T-shirt to its line as part of a move to expand its casual-wear offerings and reach a younger clientele.

China?s surging economy is luring U.S. college graduates, even those with limited or no knowledge of Chinese.

Bank of America and the S.E.C. are given two weeks to provide the judge with specifics about disclosure of the bonuses.

Alternatives to taxis are getting more consideration as cheaper ? and sometimes quicker ? ways to get to the airport.

The bid of $170 million sets the stage for an auction with Republic Airways to determine who will bring Frontier out of bankruptcy.

Dynegy also posted a wider second-quarter loss of $345 million as lower power prices offset higher production.

At least one American oil executive has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy that involved about $2 million in stolen Mexican oil, United States Justice Department officials said.

Slowdown forces India's middle class to economise

What has happened to the BBC Box in Japan?

Reuters - Stocks fell on Monday, but were off their session lows, as investors booked profits following a four-week rally that took the broad S&P 500 index to a 10-month high on Friday.

Reuters - A federal judge refused to approve a proposed settlement between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Bank of America Corp over the payment of bonuses to Merrill Lynch & Co executives, saying he was unable to determine if it was fair to the public.

The bid of $170 million sets the stage for an auction with Republic Airways to determine who will bring Frontier out of bankruptcy.

An article accusing Rio Tinto of engaging in commercial espionage has been removed from a Chinese Web site.

A business trip to Vietnam is interrupted by customs agents investigating a bag full of tiny aspirin bottles.

Dynegy also posted a wider second-quarter loss of $345 million as lower power prices offset higher production.

The Federal Reserve, which meets this week, is widely expected to keep key interest rates steady at near zero, but concerns about inflation are starting to grow.

The company said it may not have set aside enough money to cover possible fees and penalties linked to lawsuits and investigations into risky investments.

The telecommunications equipment maker, which is in bankruptcy, said its C.E.O. would step down immediately and its board will shrink to three directors from nine as it sheds major assets.

Retail sales rose again in July, as the wet weather lifted demand for homeware goods, says the British Retail Consortium.

Cancer Research UK is more likely to receive money from legacies than any other charity in the UK, research finds.

Reuters - A federal judge refused to approve a proposed settlement between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Bank of America Corp over the payment of bonuses to Merrill Lynch & Co employees, saying he was unable to determine if it was fair to the public.

Other credit card companies might decide that it?s worth it to follow the lead of American Express and Discover and eliminate over-limit fees.

Shanghai and Beijing are becoming lands of opportunity for recent American college graduates who face unemployment nearing double digits at home.

Bank of America and the S.E.C. are given two weeks to provide the judge with specifics about disclosure of the bonuses.

A teenager?s amateur video starring Lego figures raised copyright questions when it came to appearing in a DVD.

Vehicles will not be auctioned to the highest bidder but rather listed at a price equal to G.M.?s supplier price.

The biggest stakeholder in the parent company of Lenovo said it was seeking to sell 29 percent of the parent company?s shares for $404 million.

Attorneys general said full disclosure would keep consumers from being misled by paid-for advertising.

An article accusing Rio Tinto of engaging in commercial espionage has been removed from a Chinese Web site.

Passenger-rights legislation will be included in a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, to be considered this fall.

Mr. Bedford was the sixth master distiller in the 143-year history of the Jack Daniel?s distillery.

The same forces eroding newspapers and magazines are leaving photojournalists with less print on which to show their efforts.

We can draw three financial and economic lessons from the global recession: imbalances matter, debt is dangerous and globalization does not work by itself.

AP - A high-profile Beverly Hills real estate agent has been acquitted of participating in a massive mortgage fraud scheme that caused federally insured banks to lose more than $40 million.

The Treasury Department?s bailout program has stabilized the banking system, but it has done little to prod banks to fully deal with the troubled loans on their books, a Congressional oversight panel said.

When Charles Nesson lost a music downloading case, many saw a moment when an eccentric scholar?s devotion to a soaring vision blinded him to practical legal realities.

The Federal Reserve, which meets this week, is widely expected to keep key interest rates steady at near zero, but concerns about inflation are starting to grow.

Reuters - The Treasury Department should consider expanding programs to cleanse troubled assets from bank balance sheets if current efforts fail to restart markets or if economic conditions worsen, a U.S. bailout watchdog panel said on Tuesday.