Reuters - Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG

Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co Inc, which last month accepted a takeover offer from Bank of America Corp, is set to cut about 500 jobs in its trading divisions, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing unidentified sources.

Reuters - American Express Co said on Monday third quarter earnings fell more than 20 percent as it set aside more money to cover growing losses in its credit card business, but operating earnings beat analysts' estimates and there was a sigh of relief from investors as results were not as bad as some had expected.

Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Monday that another wave of government spending may be needed as the economy limps through what could be an extended period of subpar growth.

Reuters - Research In Motion shares dropped as much as 10 percent on Monday after a brokerage report said that retail sales trends for BlackBerry smartphones in North America and Western Europe have been "slightly disappointing".

AFP - The chairman of the US Federal Reserve warned the country faced a protracted slowdown Monday, amid forecasts the financial crisis could push worldwide unemployment to a record high.

Reuters - Detroit's economy has been beaten down for years by wave after wave of job losses in the U.S. auto industry, but locals fear the worst may be yet to come if General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC merge.

Reuters - Interbank lending emerged from deep freeze, and European and U.S. officials moved closer to infusing their economies with new stimulus packages on Monday, providing hope the world's financial crisis may be easing.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Monday as investors welcomed signs that credit strains were easing and comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke raised hopes for more spending to help the U.S. economy.

Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Monday that another wave of government spending may be needed as the economy limps through what could be an extended period of subpar growth.

AFP - Stock markets in the energy-rich Gulf ended mixed on Sunday amid volatile trading as investors appeared to be taking a wait and see approach as global markets were closed for the weekend.

Reuters - General Motors Corp is pushing ahead with talks to acquire Chrysler LLC in a deal that the automaker sees as a way to boost its cash position at a time when it has been shut out of debt markets and its own revenues are tumbling, sources said.