Reuters - Weak Japanese exports illustrated on Thursday the damage to major economies from the global financial crisis as the IMF said it would open loan talks with Belarus, the latest developing market casualty.

Reuters - Former Citigroup Inc Chief Executive Sanford Weill is in talks to launch a private equity fund that would invest in beaten-down financial companies and assets, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Reuters - A flight from emerging market debt and stocks helped push the dollar to a two-year high against major currencies on Thursday as fears built about a global recession.

AP - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said Wednesday it will set new quality standards for its suppliers amid a scare over toxic milk products that have sickened tens of thousands of babies across China.

AFP - A summit of world leaders on the global financial crisis will be held in Washington next month, the White House announced Wednesday, amid warnings that widespread recession is now inevitable.

Reuters - Stock markets around the world fell sharply again on Wednesday as concerns about economic recession and falling commodity prices were fueled further by a fresh spate of gloomy corporate earnings.

Reuters - Oil dropped 7 percent, on Wednesday, touching a new 16-month low as rising U.S. fuel inventories and a jump in the dollar exchange rate added to signs a global economic slowdown has dragged down demand.

Reuters - Wachovia Corp reported a third-quarter loss of $23.9 billion on Wednesday, a record quarterly deficit for a banking company in the global credit crisis, underscoring the challenges Wells Fargo & Co faces when it acquires the big lender.

Reuters - Stocks, currencies, oil and commodities tumbled on Wednesday and governments from Budapest to Buenos Aires resorted to emergency action to rescue their economies from the worst financial crisis in 80 years.

Reuters - Stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 down more than 5 percent, as a raft of disappointing profits added to fears of a global recession.

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's largest retailer, says it will crack down on its Chinese suppliers by enforcing stricter quality and environmental standards for the products it sells.

AFP - Fears of a global recession triggered sharp swings on currency markets Wednesday and sent Asian shares down despite talk of fresh government aid to shore up confidence in the financial system.

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) will post its first sales decline in a decade in 2008 with vehicle sales now on track to drop 2 percent below previous year levels, the Nikkei newspaper reported.