ANXIETY: With US gasoline supplies remaining below average, light sweet crude climbed nearly US$3 for the week as investors kept a close eye on weather forecasts
World oil prices climbed on Friday as a storm threatened Gulf of Mexico energy installations ahead of a long holiday weekend in the US, while US stockpiles remained tight.

[ FULL STORY ]

WELCOME INITIATIVE: The US president earned rare praise from Democrats, who called, however, for further federal action to help low-income homeowners in trouble
Democrats praised US President George W. Bush's proposals to help low-income homeowners on Friday but indicated they would continue to press measures opposed by the administration to expand the federal role in housing, making it likely that the issue will set off partisan battles this year and next.

[ FULL STORY ]

With renewed optimism of a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut, Wall Street will begin a holiday-shortened week on Tuesday with eyes turned toward a labor market report.

[ FULL STORY ]

The US dollar rebounded from early losses on Friday as investors parsed comments by US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and saw a reduced sense of urgency in cutting US interest rates.

[ FULL STORY ]

GOING UP: Strong regional markets propped up Taiwanese stocks, with locals firms' exposure to the Chinese market encouraging investors to chase share prices higher
Asian stocks climbed for a second week on speculation company earnings and global economic growth will withstand a US housing slump.

[ FULL STORY ]

Apple Inc escalated a dispute with NBC Universal over the pricing of TV shows by announcing it would not sell any of the NBC network's programs for this fall season on iTunes.

[ FULL STORY ]

UNFAIR PLAY?: The administration of George W. Bush brought the complaints to the global commerce body amid pressure from the Democrat-controlled US Congress
The WTO has opened a formal investigation into US and Mexican allegations that China is providing illegal subsidies for a range of industries, officials said.

[ FULL STORY ]

European shares advanced on Friday on hopes that possible action on interest rates and mortgage insurance could help limit the damage to the global economy from problems in the US housing sector.

[ FULL STORY ]

Asian currencies recorded losses last month as appetite for emerging-market assets waned because of turmoil in global credit markets.

[ FULL STORY ]

Internet search engine leader Google Inc began hosting material produced by four news services on its own Web site instead of sending readers to other destinations.

[ FULL STORY ]

`ISOLATED INCIDENT': The Finnish company will compensate 30-year-old Kishori Saha if it finds the charger and battery she used were the originals
A pregnant woman suffered burns in eastern India after the battery of her Nokia mobile phone exploded minutes after she put the handset on charge, police said yesterday.

[ FULL STORY ]

■ TRADE
[ FULL STORY ]