The Australian and Thai sugar industries, strong competitors on Asian export markets, are forging an agreement for Australian raw sugar to be refined in Thailand for re-export.
Spot basis bids for hard red winter wheat in the US Plains were unchanged on Monday as country movement remained slow and the market kept an eye on the weather.
Hungary's grain crop will fall to 13-15 million tonnes from over 16 million last year as rain and floods are delaying maize sowing and have hurt wheat planted earlier, leading trading firm Agrograin said on Monday.
South Korean grain importers are likely to be among the most active buyers in the region this week as they seek corn for August arrival if offers meet their target prices, traders said on Monday.
Cocoa arrivals at ports in Ivory Coast reached around 1,065,000 tonnes between October 1, 2005 and May 7, 2006, exporters contacted by Reuters estimated on Monday.
Morocco, a major North African grain importer, is expecting cereals output to come in 75 percent higher this year versus 2005 on better weather that spurred farmers to sow larger acreages, a government forecasts body said.
US CIF Gulf corn and soyabean basis values were steady on Monday, with export demand expected to rise as Asian buyers return to the market after a week of holidays, traders said.
Singapore bunker prices rose on Monday, and with the premium to fuel oil cargoes only slightly weaker, as sellers held on to high offers, traders said.
China plans to build up two major port clusters in the south of the country to help fuel the country's booming economy and feed its huge energy needs, the official China Daily reported on Monday.
A rare Brazilian soyameal cargo arrived in southern China after it was rejected by a South Korean buyer due to a problems with quality, traders said on Monday.
The Karachi Port handled 41,932 tonnes of cargo including 30,512 tonnes import and 11,420 tonnes export cargo including 3,827 containers during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Monday.
Jordan's state grains buyer has issued a tender to purchase around 120,000 tonnes of US-origin hard wheat, European traders said on Monday. It will be purchased using US government export finance under the PL 480 programme. Bidding deadline is May 17.
State-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has issued a tender to import 25,000 tonnes of white sugar to meet domestic requirements, a TCB official said on Monday.
Poland has won European Union approval for its national ban on using 16 types of genetically modified (GMO) maize seeds, with the restriction to stay in place indefinitely, the European Commission said on Monday.
Shanghai copper futures soared by their daily upper trading limits to a record on Monday, after London copper had gained about 10 percent last week when markets in China were closed for a week-long holiday break.
Tokyo gold futures rallied to a fresh 20-year high on Monday as strength in the dollar-based spot price prompted active buying, but gains were slowed by the yen's rise against the dollar.
Gold hit a new 25-year high above $684 an ounce on Monday as Japanese investors returned to the market after a long holiday but was later in retreat, raising fears bullion may be ripe for a correction.
Malaysian tin closed unchanged on Monday, as traders waited to see how prices in London would fare after markets in Japan and China opened following a long holiday, dealers said.
Oil fell below $70 on Monday on hopes that tension over Tehran's nuclear ambitions will ease after Iran said its president would send a letter to US President George W. Bush seeking to resolve the "current situation in the world."
China's Shenzhen Hualian Grains and Oils Trading Co said on Monday it was still awaiting a permit from Beijing's quarantine authority to unload 100 tonnes of corn from the United States.
Main African cocoa-growing countries plan to explore new markets in Asia and to boost domestic consumption in a new step to improve supply management and strengthen world prices, they said on Sunday.
Responding to growing consumer interest in food safety issues, Japan will tighten its control over agrochemical residues in farm products this month and may reject more food cargoes from abroad out of concerns over safety.
Indonesia sold tyre grade to dealers in Singapore on Monday, probably for shipment to main consumer China, while tight supplies kept sentiment bullish in Southeast Asia. SIR20 was sold at 88.75 US cents per pound ($1.96 a kg) on a free-on-board basis (FOB
Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended mixed on Monday but most active contracts were up between two and four ringgit, supported by expectations of higher export figures.
Saudi Aramco produced 3.3 billion barrels of crude oil last year and exported 2.62 billion barrels, the state oil firm of the world's top exporter said.
Dell Inc, the world's top personal computer maker, wants to ramp up components sourcing from Taiwan by about a quarter to US $12.5 billion in 2006 and foresees global PC market growth slowing this year, its chief executive said on Monday.
The European Commission told France, Italy, Greece and Portugal on Monday to take advantage of a recovering eurozone economy and step up efforts to cut budget gaps to comply with European Union requirements.
China is by far the top target for governments around the globe seeking to protect their domestic producers from low-cost imports, according to a report on Monday from the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) risks entering a period of deadlock if it fails to broker a global free trade deal this summer, the organisation's head Pascal Lamy told Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily.
The European Commission raised on Monday its 2006 economic growth forecast for the eurozone, citing a stronger German economy, robust investment and world growth despite expensive oil, but it cut its view for 2007.
Mobile phone giant Vodafone bowed to European Union pressure on Monday, saying it would cut the cost of using other firms' networks when abroad by at least 40 percent.
UAL Corp, parent of United Airlines, on Monday said its first-quarter loss increased by 1.3 percent as the company grappled with record high fuel prices. But the No 2 US airline said that with the inclusion of special reorganisation items, it had a $23 bi
UAL Corp, parent of United Airlines, on Monday said its first-quarter loss increased by 1.3 percent as the company grappled with record high fuel prices. But the No 2 US airline said that with the inclusion of special reorganisation items, it had a $23 bi
General Motors' sales in Europe fell 7.5 percent in April to 164,191 vehicles, led lower by a 10.8 percent drop in Opel/Vauxhall registrations, the world's leading carmaker by volume said on Monday.
General Motors' sales in Europe fell 7.5 percent in April to 164,191 vehicles, led lower by a 10.8 percent drop in Opel/Vauxhall registrations, the world's leading carmaker by volume said on Monday.
Energy investments in the Middle East and North Africa are expected to total $220 billion in the next five years, with Gulf producers accounting for 62 percent, Arab Petroleum Investments Corp (APICORP) said.
Apple Computer has won its trademark dispute with the Beatles, part of a long and winding road of legal battles which may lead the band's famous songs to the door of Apple's market-leading iTunes Music Store.
Central bank heads from leading industrialised and developing countries called on Monday for "very special attention" to prevent ongoing global economic growth from turning inflationary.
German industry orders growth probably slowed in the first three months of this year, provisional figures showed on Monday, tempering other recent indications that business is booming.
US newspaper circulation fell 2.6 percent as of the end of March, according to data released on Monday, the latest evidence that readers are defecting to the Internet and other media outlets.
Investors on Monday expressed skepticism about Wachovia Corp's $25.5 billion take-over of California's Golden West Financial Corp, calling the transaction risky and too costly.
Libya, which is emerging from three decades of isolation, is expecting more than 10 million tourists to spend holidays in the North African country in 2015, its tourism minister said on Friday.
Africa's biggest media firm, Naspers, is looking at further opportunities in Brazil after paying $422 million for a 30 percent stake in leading Brazilian media company Abril, the South African group said on Monday.
Yahoo Inc is set to introduce on Monday a long-delayed upgrade to its Web search advertising system, setting the stage for a face off with Web search leader Google Inc later this year.
Tax fraud is costing European Union governments billions of euros and new bloc-wide legislation is probably needed to combat the rise in scams, EU Tax Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs said.
With the launch of its PlayStation 3 video game console six months away, Sony Corp is gearing up for an all-out battle to put the electronics and entertainment conglomerate back on a growth path.
Teck Cominco Ltd said on Monday it will buy Inco Ltd for C$17.8 billion ($16 billion) in a deal that will produce a mining mammoth, but only if Inco nixes its plan to merge with Falconbridge Ltd.
Teck Cominco Ltd said on Monday it will buy Inco Ltd for C$17.8 billion ($16 billion) in a deal that will produce a mining mammoth, but only if Inco nixes its plan to merge with Falconbridge Ltd.
Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said last Thursday that the company will not slow down its research and development after hiking it next year to build out its software services business.
Mobile telecoms giant Nokia has won a contract to build a GSM/GPRS/EDGE mobile network for Chinook Wireless in the US state of Montana, the Finnish company said on Monday.
Silicon Graphics Inc, a struggling maker of high-performance business computers, on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after a round of restructuring measures failed, sending its shares plunging 75 percent.
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world's largest memory chip maker, said on Monday it would spend 290.9 billion won ($312.6 million) on new chip lines to boost its non-memory production.
Australian share prices rose 1.31 percent on Monday to just short of a record finish as investors cheered gains on Wall Street and anticipated a very positive budget due on Tuesday, dealers said.
Japanese government bond prices dipped on Monday as traders sold 10-year cash bonds ahead of a government offer of that maturity and as a rise in Tokyo share prices lured investors away from bonds.
Japanese government bond prices dipped on Monday as traders sold 10-year cash bonds ahead of a government offer of that maturity and as a rise in Tokyo share prices lured investors away from bonds.
Taiwan stocks hit a fresh 5-1/2-year high on Monday as massive buying from foreign investors and a stronger local currency cheered investors. Cathay Financial Holding and other companies with large property portfolios companies led the way. A rally on Wal
Hong Kong stocks rallied 1.69 percent on Monday to a fresh 5-1/2-year peak as rate-sensitive property and banking shares such as HSBC Holdings Plc. scaled new highs on expectations that interest rates have peaked.
Indian share prices rose 0.83 percent to close at a sixth-straight record high on Monday on Asian market trends and fund buying in banks, software companies and Reliance Industries, dealers said.
Thai share prices closed 1.91 percent higher on Monday on hopes for a political breakthrough after a court nullified last month's controversial snap polls and ordered new elections, dealers said.
Seoul shares set a record high on Monday, led by exporters such as Samsung Electronics on hopes for a possible suspension of interest rate increases in the key US market, while banks were bolstered by their earnings outlook.
Singapore share prices closed 0.96 percent higher on Monday as investor sentiment was buoyed by the ruling party's near sweep of Saturday's general election, dealers said.
Chinese shares closed at their highest level in nearly two years on Monday as investors bought banking stocks after regulators said they would let firms resume raising capital on domestic bourses, ending a year-long ban.
Philippines share prices rose sharply on Monday, extending gains with a jump of 4.81 percent on strong foreign investor support ahead of the release of first-quarter results of major companies, dealers said.
Malaysian share prices closed 0.47 percent higher on Monday, with trading volume surpassing the two billion share mark on sustained buying interest in blue chips and second-liners, dealers said. They said follow through buying is expected to continue tomo
Jakarta share prices closed 1.68 percent higher on Monday at a fresh record high on hopes that the central bank will soon cut its key interest rate, dealers said.
The Nikkei share average rose 0.80 percent on Monday as property firms such as Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd gained on a report that a measure of national land prices turned positive for the first time in 15 years.
Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Monday. 69.49/69.65 (previous 69.30/69.65). Call Money Rates: 12.00-17.00 percent (previous 10.00-27.00 percent.
The Australian dollar slipped from an eight-month high and down towards 77 US cents on Monday as retail sales data merely validated last week's interest rate rise and a private survey indicated slower jobs growth on the horizon.
The Swiss franc traded close to last week's highs against the European single currency and the US dollar in early trade on Monday, ahead of Swiss jobless numbers later in the session.
The dollar slid nearly 1 percent on Monday and hit an eight-month low against the yen after a top US Treasury official suggested that Japanese policymakers should refrain from intervening verbally on currencies.
The Hong Kong dollar rose to its highest level in almost four months on Monday, bolstered by continuing fund flows into the territory and a broad-based decline in the US currency after a weak April jobs report.
China's yuan strengthened against the dollar on Monday, the first day it resumed trading after a week-long holiday, as the US currency lost ground globally.
West Indies captain Brian Lara is feeling more at ease with his side, after they completed a convincing 82-run victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth One-day International on Sunday at Bourda Oval.
India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, afflicted by injuries and inconsistent form, has turned to Hindu religious rituals to help overcome the crisis. Priests traced the trouble to "sarpa dosha" or evil snake effects in the planetary alignments of the 33-
At least five children were killed by lightning while playing cricket on a school pitch near the northern Bangladesh town of Gafargaon, police said Monday.
England's bowlers won't have problems repeating their Ashes success in this year's series in Australia, bowling guru Troy Cooley said on Monday. But Cooley, who has begun work as Australia's fast bowling coach after three years developing England's paceme
Sri Lanka's veteran cricketer Sanath Jayasuirya retired from Test cricket last month after being handed an ultimatum to either quit or be sacked, newly-appointed chief selector Asantha de Mel said on Monday.
Impressive bowling from Fidel Edwards, as well as a dominant batting performance, paved the way for West Indies to complete an 82-run win in the fourth one-day international against Zimbabwe at Bourda Oval on Sunday.
American Jim Furyk nailed a five-foot putt for par on the first playoff hole to capture the six million dollar PGA Wachovia Championship on Sunday. Furyk was handed an opportunity when South African Trevor Immelman made a three-putt bogey at the final hol
Militia and fighters for a self-styled "anti-terrorism" alliance of warlords battled for a second day on Monday in Somalia's lawless capital, bringing the death-toll to at least 19, residents said.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, should bear in mind that his own country could also be destroyed, Israeli elder statesman Shimon Peres said on Monday.
Worsening sectarian violence has greatly hampered business activity in the last six months but Iraq's enormous long term potential means western firms are keen to retain a foothold there, international executives said on Monday.
Italy's outgoing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi refused to support the incoming centre-left government's candidate for new state president in Monday's first ballot, guaranteeing a stalemate in a vote in parliament.
Six refugees from North Korea, including women who were trafficked in China, arrived in the United States at the weekend to become the first North Koreans to be given asylum in America, activists said.
Southeast Asian countries agreed to a bird flu action plan presented by Thailand on Monday aimed at helping its poorer neighbours combat the deadly virus.
One of Thailand's top courts on Monday invalidated last month's controversial snap elections and ordered fresh polls within 60 days, clearing the way for an end to months of political turmoil.
A defiant British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday rejected calls by rebels within his party to name the day he will stand down, saying it would "paralyse" government.
President George W. Bush on Monday said he had directed emergency food stockpiles be shipped to Sudan to help ease a humanitarian crisis and called on the US Congress to approve $225 million in food aid.
The Pentagon said on Monday it was putting off next month's scheduled deployment of a Germany-based Army brigade of about 3,500 soldiers to Iraq, as officials pondered a broader cut in the US force.
Fourteen people were killed in rebel attacks Monday as Iraqi leaders discussed the final line-up of a new government that aims to curb raging sectarian bloodshed.
Three gunmen were killed on Monday when fighting erupted in the Gaza Strip between Fatah forces backing President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas loyalists, in the most serious Palestinian internal strife since Hamas came to power.
President George W. Bush on Monday nominated Air Force General Michael Hayden as CIA chief, setting up a battle with some members of the US Congress who oppose having a military man head the civilian spy agency.
UN peacekeepers, aid workers and teachers are having sex with Liberian girls as young as 8 in return for money, food or favours, threatening efforts to rebuild a nation wrecked by war, a report said on Monday.
A South African judge on Monday acquitted former Deputy President Jacob Zuma of raping an HIV-positive family friend, ending a case that opened deep rifts in the ruling African National Congress.
China made clear on Monday it opposed the core of a Western UN resolution ordering Tehran to curb its nuclear program but would not use its veto power to kill the measure.
Angry demonstrators killed a Sudanese interpreter working with African Union forces in Darfur on Monday in riots that broke out during a senior UN official's visit to a camp for displaced Sudanese.
US intelligence chief John Negroponte said on Monday a letter Iran sent to President George W. Bush over its nuclear ambitions may have been timed to influence a UN Security Council debate on Iran.