Pricey gasoline hits U.S. consumers, weighs on growth

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. households stretched to pay for costlier gasoline on meager income growth in August, undercutting spending on other items and pointing to lackluster economic growth.

Southeast Asian Properties Are Attractive, Deutsche Bank Says

Properties in Southeast Asian (MXSO) cities including Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur are attractive for investors seeking to boost returns by holding riskier assets, Deutsche Bank AG (DBK)’s RREEF unit said.

Blackstone raises up to $960 million for retail credit fund

(Reuters) - Blackstone Group LP , the largest publicly listed alternative asset manager, said on Wednesday that it had raised up to $960 million for its third publicly listed mutual fund to invest in corporate credit whose quality is below investment grade.

Providence Equity Said to Sell Stake in Firm to Investors

Providence Equity Partners Inc., the buyout firm with holdings in Univision Communications Inc. and the cable-television network of the New York Yankees, sold a minority stake to Florida’s state pension system and a sovereign-wealth fund, said a person with knowledge of the move.

Global growth fears drag down financial markets

LONDON (AP) — Global financial markets drifted lower Monday as growing concerns about the state of the world economy offset any remaining optimism over central banks' stimulus efforts.

Credit Suisse trims Dubai investment banking, ships jobs to Qatar

DUBAI (Reuters) - Credit Suisse is trimming its investment banking team in Dubai and relocating some jobs to neighboring Qatar, three sources said, as part of efforts to cut costs and focus on richer markets.

Slowdown? Emerging market luxury investor says Europe a bargain

MILAN: Investors from emerging countries are hunting for cheaper luxury brands in Europe as the economic turmoil pushes valuations down, Kuwaiti luxury retailer Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah told Reuters.

German 10-Year Yields Drop Most in Four Weeks on Growth Concern

German bunds rose, with 10-year yields dropping the most in four weeks, as euro-area surveys showed services and manufacturing output fell to a 39-month low in September, boosting demand for the region’s safest assets.

Nigerian governors to block oil wealth fund in court

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's state governors vowed on Thursday to go to court to stop the government putting oil revenues into a sovereign wealth fund.

CVC Said to Sell 10% Stake to Three Sovereign-Wealth Funds

CVC Capital Partners Ltd. agreed to sell a 10 percent stake in itself to three sovereign-wealth funds to finance investments and expand its infrastructure and credit units, two people with knowledge of the move said.

Qatar MBA Grad Outflanking Glencore Signals Ambitions of State

The late-night negotiating session that led to a sweetened takeover offer by Glencore International Plc (GLEN) for Xstrata Plc (XTA) on Sept. 7 included a former British prime minister and a swashbuckling commodity-trading billionaire.

Asian stocks muted as Fed measures boost fades

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks were muted Monday as the boost faded from the Federal Reserve's announcement last week of new measures to energize the U.S. economy.

Deutsche Bank to trim Dubai investment banking staff: Sources

DUBAI: Deutsche Bank is cutting several senior jobs in its investment banking business in Dubai, including directors, as it cuts costs to adapt to a tougher investment banking environment globally, three banking sources said.

Over 100 countries back tighter banking supervision, says Basel Committee

GENEVA: More than 100 countries support key changes to international bank regulation principles as a result of the global financial crisis, the Basel Committee of banking supervisory authorities said Friday.

RBC creates institutional services segment

TORONTO (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Canada said on Tuesday it was forming a new business segment that would provide custodial, advisory, financing and other services to institutional clients.

SNB's cap on franc to stick even as reserves grow: Reuters Poll

(Reuters) - The Swiss National Bank will succeed in defending its cap on the franc's value even if Greece or another country leaves the euro zone, a Reuters poll shows, and it won't have to reinforce its defenses as the economy slows.

Hedge Funds Lifted Wagers to 16-Month High Before Rally

Hedge funds raised bullish commodity bets to the highest in 16 months before speculation that policy makers in the U.S., China and Europe will revive global growth pushed prices higher for a sixth week.

E.C.B. Offer Can't Be Left on the Shelf

The European Central Bank’s bond-buying program has bought Spain and Italy time to stabilize their finances.

London investors to track another key week for eurozone

LONDON: Investors on the London stock market were set to pay close attention next week to the latest chapter in the eurozone crisis, while also tracking British company earnings and official economic data.

French sovereign wealth funds invests in two local cloud computing providers

The French government is so keen to encourage the development of cloud computing infrastructure in France that it is investing in two competing home-grown cloud providers through its sovereign wealth fund, the Caisse des Dépôts.

Analysis: Qatar demands respect with muscular Xstrata strategy

DUBAI (Reuters) - By holding out against Glencore's bid for mining giant Xstrata , Qatar is not just gunning for more profit from its stake, but showing Western financiers it won't be pushed around.

How Money Managers Navigate the Euro-Zone Crisis

Due to the uncertainty in Europe, some financial advisers who might previously have invested in European mutual funds say they are now relying on old-fashioned, company-by-company stock picking.

ECB takes center stage after pause in crisis

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Europe's long-running financial crisis took some time off, but vacation time is over. After a summer lull, investors are bracing for several key events in the euro area this month, starting with a crucial meeting of the European Central Bank on Thursday.

Credit Suisse denies Swiss banks helping Germans dodge tax pact

ZURICH: The head of Credit Suisse denied on Monday that Swiss banks have been undermining a tax pact with Germany by helping wealthy clients move funds to rival financial centres such as Singapore to avoid becoming subject to taxes.

Barclays’ Azar Sees Pick-Up in Middle East M&A, Fee Income

Middle East merger and acquisition deals will probably rise in the next year as sovereign wealth funds look for ways to spend cash from oil sales and regional companies seek expansion, a Barclays Plc (BARC) executive said.

Abu Dhabi launches new port, may compete with Dubai

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi launched operations at a multi-billion dollar port facility on Saturday, seeking to diversify its oil-based economy with a project that could intensify competition for the region's shipping traffic with neighbouring emirate Dubai.

Bank Property Lending Retreat a Lehman Legacy: Mortgages

For J.H. Snyder Co. to start building a $197 million Los Angeles apartment complex in June, the developer cobbled together funds from two city agencies, a mezzanine lender and a pension fund to help fill a 63 percent funding gap left by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)’s construction loan.