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By Emma Graham-Harrison and Chen Aizhu BEIJING/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - China will raise retail diesel and gasoline prices for the first time in eight months this weekend, but the 3-5 percent increase will leave refiners in the red and do little to deter fuel demand. The modest rise, reflecting Beijing's continued caution over reform, may send shares in listed refiners lower next week but should le ...

Many leading technology stocks closed with gains Friday, as the day's trading was highlighted by merger talks between networkers Lucent Technologies Inc. and France's Alcatel. Lucent (LU) climbed 24 cents, or 8.5%, to close at $3.06, while Alcatel (ALA) rose 25 cents to end the day at $15.70 after reports surfaced that the two companies were far along in negotiations that could create a $33 bil ...

Asian markets ended mixed Friday, with Japanese real estate shares leading as traders reacted to a survey showing the first gains in property prices in 15 years. Commercial land prices in Japan's major metropolitan areas staged their first meaningful rally since the collapse of the asset price bubble in the early 1990s, according to the findings of a government survey that tracked prices in gre ...

James Coney, Daily Mail25 March 2006 IT MAY be the biggest and oldest investment trust, but Foreign & Colonial has been forced to fight for its reputation in the past year. OTHER STORIES Market report: Friday close Smaller companies report: Friday close Become an online stockbroker New on the market Hedge funds for all? THE EDITOR'S CHOICE TOP STORY: 5 insurance stings T ...

Michael Clarke, This is Money25 March 2006 THE Index of the UK's 100 largest companies finally finished above the 6,000-mark for the first time in five years this week. FTSE FORTUNES: The FTSE has broken the 6,000-mark WANT TO KNOW MORE? READER SERVICE: Share dealing ADVICE & TIPS: Investing FTSE: Risers and fallers OTHER STORIES Market report: Friday close Smaller companies report: Friday close New on the market An old favourite wins back trust Hedge funds  ...

By Franklin Paul NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sony Corp.'s (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) U.S. unit plans to push marketing spending to record levels this year to fuel sales of high-definition electronics such as televisions, camcorders and DVD players, a senior executive told Reuters. Cheaper TVs, more broadcast channels, and the launch of next-generation Blu-ray DVD players that will allow consumers to make their own high-definition viewing choices are all expected to spur demand fo ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it would delay the consumer launch of its Office software package until next year to coincide with the debut of its Vista operating system. Both products had been expected later this year. The 2007 Microsoft Office package, which includes the Word processor, Excel spreadsheet, and PowerPoint presentation soft ...

Technology stocks search for direction in early trading Friday, with action highlighted by merger talks between networkers Lucent Technologies Inc. and France's Alcatel. Lucent (LU) climbed 30 cents, or 10%, to $3.11, while Alcatel (ALA) rose 54 cents, or 3%, to $15.97 after reports surfaced that the two companies were far along in negotiations that could create a $33 billion telecom equipment. ...

Metals extended their bull run this week, with copper and zinc touching all-time peaks, and silver nudging up to a fresh 22-year high ahead of the proposed launch of a silver-backed exchange traded fund that is expected to make it easier to gain exposure to the metal. // Silver peaked on Friday at $10.74 a troy ounce, its highest level in 22 years, according to Reuters data, although London traders have said that silver traded at more than $11 in April 1987. The metal was quoted at $10.71/$10. ...

The US has sparked protests from Russia and China by proposing a fundamental change to the way contributions to the United Nations are calculated that would make them pay more. // The US, the organisation’s biggest contributor, wants to shift from a formula broadly based on gross national income (GNI) to one that takes account of purchasing power parity (PPP) – a tool used by economists to compare living standards in different countries more accurately. In testimony prepared for a congression ...