Spot basis bids for hard red winter (HRW) wheat in the US Plains production areas were mostly steady on Monday with business quiet in many locations, merchants said.
Zambia's state Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has exported 28,000 tonnes of white maize to Zimbabwe and will soon export an additional 54,400 tonnes to southern African countries, a senior industry official said.
South Korea will double the average size of full-time rice farms to raise competitiveness of domestic farmers who may face imports of cheaper rice if world trade talks succeed, the agriculture ministry said on Monday.
Cuba is urging sugar workers to take advantage of recent rainfall and ease damage caused by drought, local media said on Monday, though reports left no doubt that the coming harvest was in trouble and some mills would not open.
Gold shipments to the western Indian state of Gujarat, which used to be a major hub for imports of the metal, are likely to rise sharply after the state's sales tax on gold was cut at the weekend, traders said.
A weak cold front passed through the south-eastern coffee belt over the weekend without changing the outlook for favourable dry harvesting weather this week, private forecaster Somar said Monday.
Huludao Non-ferrous Metals Group, which has the largest zinc capacity in China, has restarted part of a smelter that has been closed for more than three years, a company official said on Monday.
Malaysia's export of oil palm products for July stood at 1,114,671 tonnes, up 16.6 percent from the 956,003 tonnes shipped in June, cargo surveyor Society Generale de Surveillance said on Monday.
Asia's shipping trade is expected to grow sharply led by China and India, but the region must enhance security and invest some 27 billion dollars to build over 430 new container berths by 2011 to meet rising demand, shippers and analysts said Monday.
Weak rains in many of Ivory Coast's cocoa-growing areas persisted into the last 11 days of July, causing concern over the development of the coming main crop in the world's top producer, analysts said on Monday.
Singapore bunker or ship fuel prices climbed on Monday with overall strong crude gains but high bunker prices over $190 a tonne kept most buyers sidelined, with enquiries falling below average.
The Karachi Port handled 69,762 tonnes of cargo including 48,389 tonnes import and 21,373 tonnes export cargo during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Monday.
Lean demand is likely to steer Indonesian rubber prices downward in the coming days and traders said on Monday growing supplies from top producer Thailand may push prices lower.
Tokyo rubber futures finished lower on Monday, surrendering to profit-taking after last week's rally, with operators watching the currency and energy markets for clues to the rubber market's direction, brokers said.
Taiwan and Japan are likely to buy corn in coming weeks due to a seasonal pick-up in demand in the lead up to a holiday, but South Korea will stay on the sidelines in anticipation of further price falls, traders said on Monday.
The Australian wool market resumes this week following the winter recess, with sales scheduled in Melbourne and Fremantle, industry analysts said on Monday.
Vietnam, the world's top robusta exporter, has estimated its October 2003-July 2004 coffee export rose 42 percent to 832,000 tonnes (13.9 million 60-kg bags), the government said.
Shanghai copper futures gained ground on Monday as metal markets received a boost from a weaker US dollar and warehouse stocks hitting multi-year lows at home and abroad, traders said.
Gold reasserted its safe-haven status and rose about $2 in Asia on Monday after the dollar weakened against the euro in reaction to a warning of possible al Qaeda attacks on key buildings in the United States.
Philippine sugar millers and planters on Monday rejected bids for up to 80,000 tonnes of raw sugar for August/December export due to low prices, an industry official said.
Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended down on Monday after a slump in rival Chicago soya made players ignore better-than-anticipated exports of palm oil in July.
Nippon Mining and Metals Co Ltd, Japan's biggest copper smelter, said on Monday it had raised its selling price for copper by 10,000 yen a tonne to 370,000 yen ($3,330) reflecting strong prices on the LME.
Singulus, the world's biggest maker of CD and DVD machinery, made a smaller operating profit in the second quarter as it continued to rely on low-margin CD equipment for much of its revenue, it said on Monday.
Singulus, the world's biggest maker of CD and DVD machinery, made a smaller operating profit in the second quarter as it continued to rely on low-margin CD equipment for much of its revenue, it said on Monday.
General Electric Co's financing unit said on Monday it would buy a $371 million stake in Hyundai Motor Co's ailing financial arm to expand into South Korea's $8.6 billion auto financing market.
Global courier giant DHL unit said on Monday it expected its expand its 40 percent share of the Asia-Pacific express courier market by one-to-two percentage points in the next few years, fuelled by growth in China.
Global courier giant DHL unit said on Monday it expected its expand its 40 percent share of the Asia-Pacific express courier market by one-to-two percentage points in the next few years, fuelled by growth in China.
South Korea's finance minister ordered senior ministry officials on Monday to draw up tougher measures to counter the effect of surging international oil prices, his spokesman told reporters.
Credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service said Monday that its rating outlook for Japanese companies is generally positive on expectations that their credit quality will continue to improve for the time being.
Credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service said Monday that its rating outlook for Japanese companies is generally positive on expectations that their credit quality will continue to improve for the time being.
India's biggest car maker, Maruti Udyog Ltd, reported a modest rise in July vehicle sales on Monday, as a 38 percent drop in exports blunted a 10 percent jump in domestic sales.
India's central bank is likely to keep interest rates unchanged at 30-year lows over the next six months to help sustain an economy at risk from insufficient monsoon rains, analysts say.
Citigroup's Citibank unit in Hong Kong plans to hire 40 percent more front-line staff for its retail banking business this year as it moves to boost its presence in the city, an executive said on Monday.
Malaysian imports raced ahead by 27.5 percent through the year through June, a Reuters poll showed, but the pace is likely to drop off as the drivers of this surge in imports, the country's exporters, slow down.
Japan's fourth biggest banking group UFJ Holdings Inc said Monday it had formally declined a merger offer from Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (SMFG).
Visiting Iraqi Oil Minister Thamir Ghadhban said Iraq has formed a joint oil committee with former foe Kuwait to develop strategic co-operation in energy-related fields between the neighbouring states.
The prospect of a battle for British bank Abbey National spurred its shares on Monday after rival HBOS said it was considering challenging Spain's Santander Central Hispano's offer for the mortgage lender.
The prospect of a battle for British bank Abbey National spurred its shares on Monday after rival HBOS said it was considering challenging Spain's Santander Central Hispano's offer for the mortgage lender.
Former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien was reportedly involved Monday in negotiating a deal between the Russian government and the beleaguered oil giant Yukos to save it from bankruptcy from disputed tax bills.
Asian business and lobby groups on Monday welcomed a deal by rich and poor nations to move forward on slashing farm subsidies and opening industrial markets but warned the devil was in the details.
Procter & Gamble Co on Monday posted a 44 percent rise in quarterly profit from a year earlier when it took restructuring charges, and also said it expects double-digit earnings growth for the fiscal year that began last month, sending its shares higher.
Procter & Gamble Co on Monday posted a 44 percent rise in quarterly profit from a year earlier when it took restructuring charges, and also said it expects double-digit earnings growth for the fiscal year that began last month, sending its shares higher.
The EU on Monday claimed victory from the landmark world trade pact, underlining that it would not have to cut agricultural spending for a decade and that Washington faced a bigger task unravelling its farm subsidies.
Three of Europe's largest banks, HSBC, ABN Amro and BNP Paribas, posted better-than-expected second-quarter profits on Monday, helped by lower loan provisions and growth in retail and consumer banking.
Three of Europe's largest banks, HSBC, ABN Amro and BNP Paribas, posted better-than-expected second-quarter profits on Monday, helped by lower loan provisions and growth in retail and consumer banking.
The world's largest auto-maker, General Motors, said Monday it planned further job cuts in Europe as part of a radical overhaul of its business on the continent.
The global manufacturing sector expanded at a faster pace in July, an indicator based on national surveys of manufacturers showed on Monday. The global purchasing managers' index (PMI), produced by J.P. Morgan together with research and supply management
US manufacturing expanded further in July, fuelling more hiring, but outlays for US construction fell unexpectedly in June to hint at a slowing of the housing boom, reports released on Monday showed.
British manufacturing raced ahead in July at its fastest pace in a decade as domestic and foreign new orders surged, a report showed on Monday as the Bank of England appears set to raise interest rates again this week.
Australian stocks rose 0.25 percent on Monday to their best level in nearly three weeks, buoyed by the energy sector as oil prices reached fresh highs and a further rebound in banking stocks.
Malaysian shares followed key regional bourses lower on Monday, touching a one-month low before some of its biggest blue chips trimmed losses, with investors unnerved by rocketing oil prices and security fears.
Taiwan stocks fell over 1 percent on Monday as rising oil prices touched off profit-taking on memory chip and display screen makers after sharp gains that had been spurred by upbeat forecasts from heavyweight TSMC.
Singapore share prices closed down 0.23 percent on Monday on concerns record high oil prices will harm the city-state's economic prospects, dealers said.
Indian shares rose for a third straight day on Monday, enthused by forecasts of better rains, while the rupee appreciated on back of a weaker dollar and expectations of inflows towards a high-profile share offering.
China shares closed down nearly one percent on Monday, as steel counters extended losses amid lingering fears over Beijing's economic-cooling steps and persistent talk of a giant stock offer by PetroChina.
Manila stocks back pedalled on Monday, dragged lower by further heavy falls in shares of power distributor Manila Electric Co (Meralco) and weak regional sentiment due to security fears.
Seoul shares fell more than 2 percent on Monday to end at a 10-month closing low, as concerns about the impact of record high oil prices on a fragile economic recovery curbed investors' appetite for local stocks.
Sri Lankan stocks rose to a new life high on Monday as retail investors bought small stocks, despite poor institutional interest in blue chips, brokers said.
Tokyo's Nikkei average ended down 0.91 percent on Monday as investors unloaded exporters after renewed security concerns and higher oil prices cast a shadow over the outlook for the US economy and stock market.
The Indian rupee appreciated by 0.22 percent on Monday, helped by a weak trend in the dollar overseas, sparked by security concerns and last week's disappointing US economic data.
The Swiss franc firmed against the dollar and the euro in early trade on Monday after security warnings from the United States and after Swiss data on Friday signalled continued robust growth ahead for the Alpine economy.
The dollar eased a touch against major currencies on Monday following a warning that al Qaeda may attack key buildings including the New York Stock Exchange and weaker-than-expected US economic growth figures.
Asian currencies strengthened on Monday as the US dollar lost some of its bullishness on security and growth concerns, but the region's own worries and rising oil prices meant gains were limited.
The Australian dollar held above the 70 US cent mark on Monday, but slipped below the day's high after retail sales data failed to live up to expectations, giving no reason for a surprise interest rate hike this week.
The Hong Kong dollar pulled back from a morning low to trade a shade firmer on Monday afternoon, after renewed security fears knocked US dollar sentiment.
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder opened a new chapter in German reconciliation with Poland at weekend commemorations of the doomed World War II Warsaw uprising against the Nazis, but a row over reparations is far from over Polish politicians and media said on
A brigade of 3,600 US troops prepared on Monday to depart for Iraq from their base near South Korea's border with communist North Korea, officials said.
Under election-year pressure, President George W. Bush on Monday endorsed the creation of a national intelligence director and backed other intelligence reforms recommended by the commission that investigated the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Paraguay on Monday mourned the deaths of nearly 300 people in a fire in a busy supermarket and struggled to find answers to the impoverished nation's worst tragedy in decades.
Police in New York, New Jersey and Washington took precautions against truck bombs, and financial markets fell on Monday after authorities issued the most specific warning yet of a possible al Qaeda attack.
The secretary general of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned Monday the "terrorist acts" against churches in Iraq, in a statement reported by the official SPA news agency.
Sudan's army has vowed to fight any foreign military intervention in Darfur, even after the government reluctantly accepted a UN demand to end the killing and atrocities in the troubled region within 30 days.
A former Indian minister wanted for alleged involvement in the killing of 10 villagers three decades ago surrendered Monday, days after a court ordered him to face charges, police said.
Iran is not afraid of being referred to the UN Security Council over its suspect nuclear programme and could easily withstand economic sanctions, a top national security official said Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz have given the green light to the construction of 600 new buildings in the largest of the West Bank settlements, the defence ministry said Monday.
US oil prices struck a new 21-year peak on Monday, climbing close to $44 a barrel after the United States raised its security alert to high for a possible al Qaeda attack on a top financial institution.
Sterling rose more than one US cent on Monday after a survey showed UK manufacturing raced ahead in July at its fastest pace in a decade, but gains were trimmed after a similar report on the US factory sector.
The dollar lost about one percent against the Swiss franc at one stage on Monday and fell versus the euro and yen after warnings of possible al Qaeda attacks prompted investors to move their cash into safe-haven assets.
The German state of Saxony-Anhalt was in the spotlight in Europe on Monday as it sold a floating-rate note that conforms with Islamic law by not paying interest.
The German state of Saxony-Anhalt was in the spotlight in Europe on Monday as it sold a floating-rate note that conforms with Islamic law by not paying interest.
US stocks rose on Monday as fears about possible attacks on US financial institutions receded and strong earnings from consumer products maker Procter & Gamble Co helped push up the blue-chip Dow.
Britain's FTSE-100 closed up slightly on Monday, recovering from an earlier dip as HBSC led the banking sector higher, helping to counter losses for other financials and airline British Airways.
London white sugar futures closed higher amid trade buying and arbitrage against the New York market, but remained below the resistance level of around $256, dealers said.