The global economy may return to growth in late 2009 or in 2010, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Monday, and European banking officials also saw tentative signs the financial crisis could be easing. In Asia, credit rating agency Moody's stripped Japan of its AAA rating on its foreign currency debt, but manufacturing and

Stock index futures rose on Monday as stronger-than-expected quarterly results from No. 2 U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc (LOW.N) further boosted hopes the recession was abating and spending was stabilizing. The Lowe's results served as a crucial spur as investors are on the lookout for fresh catalysts to sustain the market's recovery from

AIG is to speed up plans to list its Asian subsidiary through an IPO that could raise more than $4 billion, as the bailed-out U.S. insurer seeks to raise cash to pay back government loans. The IPO would help AIG repay some of the $180 billion the U.S. government has plowed into what was once

U.S. prosecutors have broadened their criminal investigation of the Bernard Madoff case beyond the friends and family of the confessed swindler to at least eight investors and associates, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. The paper named three investors under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office, including Jeffry

Samsung Electronics, the world's top TV brand, aims to outperform the overall flat-panel television market's growth this year, thanks in part to its newly launched LED models, a senior official said. "2009 won't be an easy year but we plan to maintain market leadership with new products such as LED TV," said Sue Shim, senior

Nokia unveiled three new phones on Monday, all priced below 100 euros, and said it would start shipments of the new models in the third and fourth quarters. Nokia said it would sell the 2730 Classic, its cheapest 3G phone to date for 80 euros ($108.3), while it estimated retail prices for the 7020, and

European equities traded higher at midday on Monday, erasing early losses, after a tick-up in U.S. stock index futures fuelled gains for European bank shares while miners fell on weaker metals prices. By 1107 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.5 percent at 844.40 points, having fallen as much as

Moody's stripped Japan of its AAA rating on its foreign currency debt on Monday, but weak manufacturing and consumer sentiment edged up, keeping alive hopes the economic slide was beginning to ease. Across the globe, European Central Bank policymaker Axel Weber said he believed the bank's efforts to boost the eurozone economy were sufficient unless

The dollar edged up against the euro while falls on equity markets and concerns over the large uncertainties surrounding the global economic outlook encouraged investors to buy currencies perceived as safe. European equities fell by 0.5 percent, tracking falls in Asian stock markets overnight, which lent support to the dollar. Shares were off lows, however,