commodity news

• Greek PM in crucial bailout talks

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos meets party leaders in his coalition to discuss a proposed 130bn euros EU rescue plan.
• Obama urges 'keep recovery going'

Barack Obama challenges Congress to keep the recovery going as new data shows unemployment down to its lowest rate in three years.
• US job numbers show strong growth

The US economy created 243,000 jobs in January, while the unemployment rate fell to 8.3%, official figures show.
• New Virgin staff pay for checks

Virgin Atlantic is forcing successful job applicants to pay for their own criminal record checks, Radio 4's Money Box reveals.
• Europe hit by Russia gas shortage

Freezing weather sweeping across Europe is causing a shortage of vital Russian gas supplies to several countries, officials say.

• China's Property Developers See Big Drop in January Sales

China Vanke, the country's largest developer by sales, said on Friday its sales stood at $1.94 billion in January, a fall of 39 percent from a year earlier, as Chinese developers began the year on a sour note.
• Premier Wen Says China Has Stake in Helping Europe


• Panasonic Forecasts Record $10 Billion Annual Loss


• Loss of Trust in Japan Fiscal Policy Could Be Sudden: IMF


• Extremely Dangerous Drivers on China's Highways

• Europe's Cold Snap Claims More Victims; Travel Hit

Bitterly cold weather sweeping across Europe claimed more victims and brought widespread disruption to transport services, with warnings that the chilling temperatures would remain into next week.
• Premier Wen Says China Has Stake in Helping Europe


• Eurogroup's Juncker Warns of Possible Greek Default


• Iran: 'Some' European Countries to Lose Oil Imports


• Second Greek Bailout May Have To Be $19.7 Billion Higher

• Anger after Russia, China block U.N. action on Syria

BEIRUT/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Western and Arab countries responded with outrage on Sunday after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have backed an Arab plan urging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power.
• Car bomb kills nine in Afghan city Kandahar

KABUL (Reuters) - A car bomb in the south Afghan city of Kandahar killed at least nine people and wounded 19 on Sunday, the presidential palace said in a statement.
• Cairo protesters demand early vote

CAIRO (Reuters) - Protesters demanding a swift presidential election and an early handover of power by the army hurled rocks at police guarding the Egyptian Interior Ministry on Sunday and were forced back with volleys of teargas.
• Iran says will hit any country used to strike its soil

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will attack any country whose territory is used by "enemies" to launch a military strike against its soil, the deputy head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards told the semi-official Fars news agency on Sunday.
• Anti-Putin protesters show staying power in Russia

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin's opponents vowed on Sunday to press on with demonstrations against his 12-year domination of Russia after tens of thousands attended a march which kept up the momentum of their protest movement.

general news

• Romney sails to easy win in Nevada

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Republican front-runner Mitt Romney cruised to an easy victory in Nevada on Saturday, crushing his three remaining rivals and taking firm command of the party's volatile presidential nominating race.
• Greece on "knife edge" in last hours to agree bailout

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's prime minister scrambled on Sunday to convince lenders and politicians to sign off on a 130 billion euro ($171 billion) rescue, after his finance minister said just hours remain before the euro zone abandons the country to its fate.
• Euro zone insists no Greek rescue without reforms

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers told Greece it could not go ahead with an agreed deal to restructure privately held debt until it guaranteed to implement reforms to secure a second financing package from the euro zone and the IMF.
• Anger after Russia, China block U.N. action on Syria

BEIRUT/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Western and Arab countries responded with outrage on Sunday after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have backed an Arab plan urging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power.
• Wen says China has stake in helping Europe

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has a stake in helping euro zone countries get through their debt crisis, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in comments published on Sunday, pointing to Europe's importance as a market and hinting at more possible support for beleaguered exporters.

• Romney handily wins Nevada Republican caucus

Republican frontrunner easily defeats Newt Gingrich in the Nevada Republican caucus, building his lead in his bid for the party’s nomination to challenge President Barack Obama in November.
• Economic Preview: Is plan to double U.S. exports in 5 years working?

This week’s data will shine light on whether the U.S. is on track to meet President Obama’s goal of doubling exports in five years.
• NewsWatch: U.S. stocks follow win streak with focus on Europe

Cisco, Coca-Cola, Disney and Visa are among bellwethers set to report results amid expectations for market gains to continue; resolution of Europe’s debt crisis is expected to drag on.
• Russia, China veto U.N. resolution against Syria

U.S. President Barack Obama calls on Syria’s president to step down accusing the regime of murdered hundreds of its own citizens on Friday.
• Thousands of Russians protest Putin’s candidacy

Demonstrators turn out in below-freezing temperatures to protest the prime minister’s bid for another presidential term.

• Greek Leaders Meet to Work Out Reforms

Greece's political party leaders began meeting Sunday in hopes of making tough decisions on spending severe reforms as a precondition for further international aid the country needs to avoid default.
• Dow at Highest Since May 2008

The blue-chip stock index rose 156.82 points to its highest level since May 2008, as better economic news encouraged investors. The Nasdaq hit its highest close since December 2000.
• Jobs Data Show Growth Is Sustained

The U.S. economy added more jobs in January than in any month since early last year, pushing down the jobless rate to a level not seen since Obama's first full month in office.
• Airline Alliances Endure Growing Pains

India's Kingfisher Airlines shelved plans to join Oneworld, the second loss to the global marketing alliance in a week. The move caps a tough period for the airline alliances that have come to dominate the industry.
• Goldman Cuts Blankfein's Bonus

Goldman Sachs cut CEO Lloyd Blankfein's stock bonus for the first time since the financial crisis, the latest sign that Wall Street executives are paying for a year of mixed financial performance.

• Xstrata Investors Seek Premium In Glencore Merger Talks -Report

(Adds details from The Sunday Times report in paragraphs 7-9; comment in final paragraph.)
• EBRD Mirow: Greek Growth Needed Or Debt Cuts Won't Suffice-Report

Greece urgently needs to kickstart economic growth or debt reduction alone won't be enough to put the euro-zone member on a sustainable footing, the head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development told Italian daily La Stampa in an interview published Thursday.
• Thomas Cook To Sell Indian Foreign Exchange Business-Report

Travel company Thomas Cook Group PLC (TCG.LN) has hired Credit Suisse Group AG (CS) to sell off its Indian foreign exchange business, The Sunday Times reported without citing sources.
• Alpha Natural To Cut Coal Output Amid Weaker Demand

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
• Goldman's Blankfein Receives $7.2 Million Stock Award For 2011 -Filing

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) granted Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein restricted stock valued at $7.2 million as of Friday's close as part of his 2011 compensation.

• TOP 10 TURNAROUND TOWNS

Florida's cities were some of the hardest hit by the housing bust, but now they are leading the charge back. Of Realtor.com's top 10 turnaround towns, eight are in the Sunshine State.
• Stocks: Let the good times roll

Stocks surged last week to their highest levels in years, but there are few key economic reports slated for the week ahead to sustain the rally.
• Romney wins big in Nevada - CNN


• Nevada's triple economic whammy

Nevada has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in unemployment, foreclosure filings and number of underwater homes. That's not good for the state's economy. The Great Recession has dealt Nevada a losing hand.
• Hot girls and hot cars? Game on!

This year's ads include the "Imperial March" as you've never seen it, a remake of the cantina scene, and, of course, lots of hot girls and funny animals.