European shares fell by midday on Tuesday, wiping out all gains for the month as worries about the future of the top U.S. home finance groups lengthened the shadow that a year-long credit crunch has cast on global equities. At 1054 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 1.5% at 1,171.66

The Central Bank of Cyprus has eased the minimum liquidity reserve requirement in foreign currencies, effectively injecting millions more available cash into the banking system, just over a month after it said that the local economy appeared to be experiencing “a small slowdown in activity.” The move is expected to release just over EUR 550

Hewlett-Packard Co has announced a line of portable lightweight computers aimed at business travelers to compete with a product range announced by rival Dell Inc last week. HP said on Monday that the lineup included the EliteBook 2530p, which is the smallest and lightest of its computers with a weight of just over 3 pounds

Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 beat Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 in Japan weekly sales for the first time two weeks ago, riding robust demand for a recent Xbox 360 title produced by Namco Bandai Holdings a magazine publisher said. Microsoft sold 28,116 units of the Xbox 360 in the week ended August 10, compared with 10,705

Fears that emerging market demand for Dell Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co technology products will slow and that the U.S. dollar will strengthen in the remainder of the year may overshadow earnings in line with or above Wall Street targets. HP and Dell, the world's No. 1 and 2 personal computer makers, should deliver solid numbers

U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is considering options, such as selling all or part of its asset management unit, with an aim of reaching a deal by the time it releases third quarter earnings, sources said. Analysts and bankers have recently said that Lehman may opt to part with its asset management business

Chinese economic growth can deliver a potentially massive boost to global energy demand with clear implications for long-term oil prices, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said on Monday. Fisher, speaking at a closed-to-the-press dinner hosted by the Progress and Freedom Foundation, made no reference to the U.S. economy or monetary policy in his

The worst of the global financial crisis is yet to come and a large U.S. bank will fail in the next few months as the world's biggest economy hits further troubles, former IMF chief economist Kenneth Rogoff said on Tuesday. "The U.S. is not out of the woods. I think the financial crisis is at

Asian stocks fell to a two-year low on Tuesday, led by exporter shares, on fears the U.S. government will have to bail out the top mortgage finance companies, further destabilising the financial sector. European stock markets were expected to open between 0.7% and 1.1% lower, according to financial bookmakers, as fallout from the credit crisis