Summary Box: Australia central bank raises key rate in surprise move to pre-empt inflation. SPRINGING HIGHER: Australia's central bank jacked up its key interest rate in a move to ward off higher inflation as the nation's economy booms.

Newmont Mining 3Q earnings leap despite higher costs, narrows production view for next year. Newmont Mining Corp. said Tuesday its third-quarter net income leaped 38 percent on higher gold prices despite higher costs. But it narrowed its gold production forecast for this year to the lower end of a previous range and bumped up its cost expectations.

Newmont Mining 3Q earnings leap despite higher costs, narrows production view for next year. Newmont Mining Corp. said Tuesday its third-quarter net income leaped 38 percent on higher gold prices despite higher costs. But it narrowed its gold production forecast for this year to the lower end of a previous range and bumped up its cost expectations.

In trading here, the European single currency climbed to 1.3973 dollars from 1.3897 dollars late in New York on Monday.

Australia central bank raises key rate to 4.75 percent in surprise move to preempt inflation. Australia's central bank jacked up its key interest rate in a surprise move Tuesday that aims to ward off higher inflation as the nation's economy booms amid strong Asian demand for iron ore and other minerals.

The federal and state governments have promised Football Federation Australia they will pick up a substantial share of the costs in improved security, public transport, customs and immigration services to stage the football tournament if the bid is successful, reports said on Tuesday.

China manufacturing data lifts stocks as Fed policy statement looms. World stock markets rose modestly Monday following a fairly strong Chinese manufacturing survey ? but trading was subdued as investors waited to see how much additional monetary easing the Federal Reserve might deliver at its meeting later this week.

World stock markets slide ahead of US growth report, Fed stimulus measures. World stock markets fell Friday as investors expected the latest reading of U.S. economic growth to cement views that the Federal Reserve will provide further stimulus.

Shell says Q3 net profit rises 6.5 percent to $3.46 billion amid oil price rises. Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Europe's largest oil company, reported third quarter net profit rose 6.5 percent as increased production and higher oil prices more than offset a billion dollar charge on the value of oil sand assets in Canada.

Summary Box: Electrolux reports 15 pct drop in Q3 profits as sales volumes fall. GIANT SUCKING SOUND: Swedish home appliance maker Electrolux AB said third-quarter net profits fell 15 percent because of slacker sales in Europe and North America, higher raw material costs and more spending on marketing.

World stocks slide as European earnings disappoint, ASX tumbles amid takeover opposition. World markets were lower Tuesday as European corporate earnings mostly left investors disappointed ahead of more releases from the U.S. and Asia.

Australian political parties undermine Singapore exchange's $8.3 billion takeover bid for ASX. Key lawmakers on Tuesday signaled they might scuttle the Singapore Exchange's $8.3 billion cash and shares takeover offer for the operator of the Australian bourse.

Key ingredient in fertilizer is expected to run out long before potash ever does . Potash may be a hot commodity garnering plenty of headlines as of late. But in the quest to feed a burgeoning global population, phosphate may eventually steal the limelight. That?s because this lesser-known but equally indispensable key ingredient in fertilizer is expected to run out long before potash ever does.

Oprah and 300 audience members will spend eight days sampling the best of Australia's beaches, vineyards and shopping, taking in icons including Sydney Harbour and the Great Barrier Reef.

Singapore exchange making $8.3 billion takeover offer for Australian stock exchange operator. The Singapore Exchange Ltd. said Monday it is making a $8.3 billion cash and shares takeover offer for the operator of the Australian bourse, aiming to vault from second-tier stock market to leading Asian finance center.

Singapore's SGX offered 8.2 billion US dollars to take over Australia's ASX to form ASX-SGX Ltd, which will be the world's fifth largest listed exchange group after Hong Kong, Chicago, Brazil and Germany, bourse officials said.

(Reuters) - The Group of 20 major economies vowed to avoid competitive currency devaluations and shifted more IMF power to emerging economies, taking steps analysts see as important to avert the risk of trade wars and promoting flexible exchange rates.

The Singapore Exchange is expected to announce a 6 billion dollar takeover bid for the sharemarket operator Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on Monday, The Australian newspaper said without citing sources.

World stocks mostly lower as G-20 finance ministers meet; currencies likely to top agenda. World stocks mostly fell Friday as investors waited to see if finance ministers from the leading 20 industrialized and developing countries will be able to calm tensions in the currency markets during a meeting in South Korea.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian stocks pared early losses on Wednesday as markets recovered from an initial shock to China's first rate rise in nearly three years that had investors fretting it may be embarking on a policy tightening cycle.