Business News: General

The one-way bet in the U.S. dollar that has lasted several months may be over for now despite distress over its malaise that has stretched from Washington to Paris.

When the U.S. holiday shopping season kicks off on the day after Thanksgiving, retailers can expect to see millions of less frightened, but even more bargain-hungry customers cross their thresholds.

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Monday gained 102 points in opening trade on heavy buying by foreign funds and retail investors, driven by firming trend on other Asian bourses.

Continuing the record setting spree, gold hit yet another high of Rs 17,605 per 10 gram for April contract in the futures market on Monday.

The Indian rupee strengthened by 16 paise to 46.45 against the US currency extending Friday's gains in early trade on Monday on hopes of increased capital inflows into equity and dollar selling by exporters.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Malaysian national carmaker Proton reported an 87 percent jump in its quarterly profit and said it was not threatened by the launch of a seven-seater multipurpose vehicle by its domestic rival Perodua.

HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kong regulators on Monday banned a former banker at one of Asia's top stock brokerages from the territory's financial industry for life after he was jailed for insider trading.

Bank of America may extend its search for a new chief executive into next year if its board is unable to pick a candidate in the next four days, according to a report on the Bloomberg News website.

Eco-friendly managers and staff are the key to making a retailer go green, according to a study listing 15 of the world's top eco-friendly retailers in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

SHANGHAI (AP) Haitong Securities has agreed to acquire Hong Kong-based rival Taifook Securities for 1.82 billion Hong Kong dollars ($236 million) in the first such takeover by a mainland Chinese securities house, the companies said Monday.

BANGKOK (AP) Thailand's economy grew for a second straight quarter as government stimulus spending and an improvement in manufacturing propelled its recovery from recession, the government said Monday.

SINGAPORE (AP) Singapore's consumer prices fell in October for a seventh month as property values slid from a year earlier.

SINGAPORE (AP) Crude prices rose above $78 a barrel Monday in Asia as Iran staged five days of war games, boosting tensions in the oil-rich region. Benchmark crude for January delivery was up 78 cents to $78.25 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 26 cents to settle at $77.20 on Friday.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Asian stock markets were mixed Monday after a decline on Wall Street and as investors hunkered down ahead of a stream of figures that could confirm the U.S. economy is recovering at a slower pace.

HEGANG, China (AP) Grieving miners' families demanded answers Monday from mining officials about the underground gas explosion that left at least 104 men dead in northeastern China.

HEGANG, China (AP) When gas levels suddenly spiked deep in the Xinxing coal mine, Wang Jiguo grabbed two co-workers and they ran for their lives.

TOKYO (AP) Japanese financial markets were closed Monday due to a public holiday. The markets will reopen Tuesday.

Cadbury Plc would prefer a merger with U.S. chocolate maker Hershey Co rather than Kraft Foods Inc, the British company's chairman Roger Carr told the Sunday Telegraph.

Swiss food giant Nestle may consider a bid for Britain's Cadbury to challenge a hostile 9.9 billion pound bid by Kraft Foods Inc and a potential move by Hershey, Bloomberg reported on Sunday.

Dalal Street is likely to witness volatile trade this week and seek direction from global markets in the absence of any major domestic trigger, believe analysts.