China's factory output surged for a fourth month in July, data showed on Monday, while two of Britain's biggest banks emerged from a year of financial turmoil in profit but damaged by
Britain's blue chip shares hit a new high for the year in midday trade on Monday, as gains in Barclays and HSBC led a rally in the banking sector, while rising commodity
European shares hit a nine-month high on Monday as financials advanced after earnings results from Europe's biggest bank HSBC while commodity shares tracked stronger crude and metals prices. At 1110 GMT, the
Barclays Plc fell short of expectations with an 8 percent rise in half-year profit as bad debts at Britain's second biggest bank almost doubled to offset buoyant earnings from its enlarged investment bank.
Shares in UBS (UBSN.VX) are expected to rise on Monday after reports the bank would not have to pay a fine as part of the settlement of a tax dispute with the
HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe's biggest bank, said its first-half profit halved from a year ago to $5 billion as it was hit by rising bad debts in the United States, Europe and
Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday, tracking gains in Asia and Europe on mounting hopes that the global recession is abating. * At 4:23 a.m.
Britain's leading share index advanced 1.3 percent in early trade on Monday in a charge led by banks, following results from HSBC and Barclays, and supported by miners and oil stocks. At
British manufacturing activity grew last month for the first time since March 2008, benefiting unexpectedly from the fastest flow of new orders since November 2007, purchasing managers' data showed on Monday. The
European shares hit a new high for 2009 on Monday, with banks rising as UBS appeared to have avoided a fine in its tax dispute with the U.S. and after results from
