commodity news

• Ex-Merrill boss takes over at CIT

The former chief executive of Merrill Lynch, John Thain, was at the heart of the bonus row - now he has a new job as boss of US lender CIT.
• Xstrata resumes dividend payments

Mining group Xstrata is to resume dividend payments despite reporting a drop in full-year profits.
• Indian economy 'to grow by 7.2%'

India's economic growth forecast raises the chance that state support could be withdrawn.
• SAP chief Leo Apotheker resigns

The chief executive of SAP unexpectedly resigns after his contract is not renewed, the company says.
• Tullow close to Ugandan oil deal

Heritage Oil says the sale of its assets in Uganda to the UK's Tullow Oil will be approved "imminently".

• The Lesson for Corporate Japan in Toyota's Mess

Economists say Toyota’s trauma is a wake-up call that Japan needs to realize its reliance on manufacturing and industrial exports, which served the country so well after World War II, is no longer wise.
• SingTel Quarterly Profit up 18%, on Customer Growth


• Alumina's Earnings Misses Estimates, Outlook Improves


• Macquarie Cautious on Outlook; Shares Tumble 6%


• South Korea's Kumho Shares Rally on Restructuring Plan

• Unions Threaten More Strikes Against Greek Government

Greek civil servants threatened on Monday to stage more strikes in protest at government austerity measures, heightening fears debt-laden members of the euro zone may struggle to deliver on promises to tackle stretched budgets.
• Greece, Other Euro Zone Countries to Get Help: Investor


• Surprise CEO Exit Puts SAP Shares Under Pressure


• Pimco Prefers German Bonds to US Treasurys


• World's Tallest Tower Lookout Suddenly Shut Down

• Ukraine awaits Tymoshenko concession or legal fight

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine waited for Yulia Tymoshenko Tuesday to contest a weekend presidential election or concede defeat and allow the winner, Viktor Yanukovich, to start piecing together a governing coalition in parliament.
• Pressure grows for Iran sanctions over atomic plans

TEHRAN (Reuters) - International pressure for new sanctions against Iran grew on Monday after Tehran announced plans to make higher-enriched uranium and add 10 nuclear sites in a year, raising Western fears it wants to develop atom bombs.
• Palestinians set terms for talks as violence flares

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - More than a dozen people were injured when Israeli police confronted Palestinian protesters in a refugee camp at the edge of Jerusalem on Monday, violence stoked by rising tensions over a stalemate in peace talks.
• Yemen al Qaeda urges jihad, wants Red Sea blocked

SANAA/DUBAI (Reuters) - The Yemen-based wing of al Qaeda called for a regional Muslim holy war and a blockade of the Red Sea to cut off U.S. shipments to Israel, a further sign of the group's ambitions to mount new strikes outside its base.
• Iran's resistance keeps up cat-and-mouse web game

TEHRAN (Reuters) - With their paths through the Internet increasingly blocked by government filters, Nooshin and her fellow Iranian opposition-supporters say their information on planned protests now comes in emails.

general news

• Toyota readies Prius steps; U.S. production restarts

TOKYO/DETROIT (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp was preparing a global recall of its new Prius model on Monday, further damaging its reputation for quality and reliability on the heels of two other massive recalls.
• Obama's healthcare summit sets stage for end-game

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's call for a bipartisan healthcare summit sets the stage for a final push to get the stalled legislation through Congress, but skeptical Republicans said on Monday the only solution is to start over.
• John Murtha, defense appropriations chair, dies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Representative John Murtha, chairman of the House of Representatives defense appropriations subcommittee who exercised enormous influence on defense issues, died on Monday.
• Workers accounted for at Connecticut blast

BOSTON (Reuters) - All workers at the Connecticut power plant construction site rocked by a massive explosion on Sunday have been accounted for, leaving the death toll at five, the town's mayor said on Monday.
• Weather closes government offices a second day

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal government agencies in the capital region will remain closed for a second day on Tuesday as residents brace for another blizzard while trying to clean up from a weekend storm that paralyzed the area with two feet of snow.

• Toyota plans Sai, Lexus hybrid output halt: report

Toyota Motor Corp. will announce this week the suspension of domestic output of its Sai and Lexus HS250h hybrids as a recall looms for the two models and the car maker readies a U.S. and Japanese recall on the latest version of its Prius hybrid vehicle.
• Stocks to Watch: Stocks in focus for Tuesday

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Tuesday’s session are Walt Disney Co., Coca-Cola Co., and Molson Coors Brewing Co.
• Financial Stocks: Financial stocks sink on debt, regulatory worries

U.S. financial stocks lead the broader stock market lower Monday as investors fretted over sovereign debt in Europe and U.S. government proposals to regulate banks.
• Latin American Markets: Mexican stocks rise following Citi upgrade

Major Latin American equity markets rise Monday, with Mexico's benchmark aided by a ratings upgrade after a recent sell-off that's left the market in the red so far this year.
• EA cuts losses, but forecast disappoints

Electronic Arts' shares take a hit in late trading as the forecast for the current period comes in below Wall Street's forecasts.

• Fannie, Freddie Remain State Wards

With no blueprints for the future and no clear exit strategy for the government, Fannie and Freddie are focusing for now on the U.S. loan-modification program.
• Man Pulled From Rubble in Haiti

A 28-year-old man was pulled from the rubble of a market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and has been admitted to the University of Miami's field hospital in the capital, adjacent to the airport.
• Australian Mining Mogul Digs for China

Clive Palmer took a big step toward opening Australia's biggest coal mine, aimed at meeting China's demand for the fuel. The question is whether global investors will go along for the ride.
• Congress Questions Toyota's Fix

Congressional investigators examining Toyota's safety troubles are questioning whether the company and regulators have fully grasped what caused the sudden acceleration problems.
• Japan Airlines Sticks with AMR

Japan Airlines is planning to announce that it will maintain its alliance with AMR's American Airlines, dealing a blow to rival Delta.

• Japan Transport Min Likely To Announce Prius Recall Later Tuesday - Source

Japan Transport Min Likely To Announce Prius Recall Later Tuesday - Source
• Alumina CEO Says 2010 Aluminum Demand Expected 10% Above 2009

Alumina CEO Says 2010 Aluminum Demand Expected 10% Above 2009
• No Bidders For Montana Coal-Mining Lease Sale

No Bidders For Montana Coal-Mining Lease Sale
• Stocks In Focus For Tuesday

Stocks In Focus For Tuesday
• Veeco Instruments' 1Q View Tops Estimates

Veeco Instruments gave first-quarter guidance that beat analyst expectations.

• Toyota to announce Prius recall

Toyota will announce a global recall of its 2010 Prius hybrid vehicles, a source with knowledge of the plans told CNN.
• Debt fears drag Dow below 10,000

The Dow closed below 10,000 Monday for the first time in three months, with financial shares leading the way, as worries about the U.S. economy and European debt weighed on investor sentiment.
• The 401(k) match is back!

Employees who took a hit on their savings last year might finally be in for some welcome news: Companies are stepping up efforts to help them save more for retirement.
• From foreclosure bargain to money pit

Dusan Tatomirovic found a steal when he bought a foreclosed condo just north of Monterey, Calif., last April for $130,000.
• After the gold rush

It hasn't been a good year for the black and gold.