Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei was down 87.07 points at 7,086.03 with the Hang Seng
ended the morning off 210.22 points at 11,711.3.

Crude oil was up 74 cents at $46.50 a barrel on Nymex.

Happy Monday!

G.

Morning all. Monday's newspapers:

Spread betting companies have reported a huge wave of short euro trades in the last two weeks, leading to speculation that a significant correction in the currency will come in the next few months.
Overvalued euro set to plunge 'within months'

Global recession could blow a $700bn hole in developing countries abilities to pay for imports and meet debt obligations, the World Bank is warning. With economic activity set to contract worldwide for the first time since World War II, trade forecast for fall at its fastest rate for 80 years, and industrial production set to decline by 15 per cent, emerging economies face major difficulties.
World Bank warns on developing countries

Falls in the value of financial assets worldwide might have reached more than $50,000bn, equivalent to a years global economic output, the Asian Development Bank will warn on Monday
Plunging assets cost $50,000bn

Hedge fund investors who made money last year by betting against investment banks are now buying gold as a way of betting against central banks.
Hedge funds turn to gold

The debate about whether a new insurance accounting standard should be adopted is set to heighten after one of the world's largest insurers admitted it creates confusion.
New insurance accounting rules are confusing, says Axa

Private equity investments are held for the long term, normally for between three and five years. So even if values are falling in the short term, there is every chance comparable prices will recover by the time it comes to exit. But under new accounting rules, firms must value companies as if they were being sold today. Hence the flurry of miserable updates from the normally opaque world of private equity.
Private equity feels the pain as investment values fade

China has triumphed in a 15-year quest to become the ultimate monopolist in the supply of rare earth metals a dominance that industry experts say could give Beijing control over the future of consumer electronics and green technology.
China takes charge of keys to technologies' future

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