SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. shares Their MOST Fell in Almost Two Years on Friday, a day after The software company has Reported dip in icts Windows operating system sales.

The world&&9;s second-largest tech company behind Apple Inc. puts Wall Street&&9;s profit estimate and beat it in icts dirty list overall earnings report is Thursday.

Aim investors Were Concerned With lower personal computer sales nagging at Windows, Xbox sales profit margins and Bringing Down Loss in icts online business.

Microsoft shares down 4.8 percent at Were $ 25.41 in afternoon Nasdaq trading, The Biggest one-day fall Percentage Since July 2009.

The shares are back to the level They Were did on Sunday, Before a run-up Leading into quarterly earnings best payday advance.The stock HAD Risen sharply after chip maker Intel Corp. forecast revenue Above Wall Street Estimates, feeding Optimism That a dip in PC sales last quarter Did Not indicato long-term trend.

"Everyone, Including Myself, the Table Pounded On The Intel trade," BGC Partners analyst Colin Said Gillis. "And it just didn&&9;t Happen."

The stock is down 18 percent in The Last 12 Months, Compared to a 16 percent gain in Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Bill Rigby. Editing by Robert MacMillan)

Microsoft stock in Biggest One-Day Fall Since 2009

WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) - American International Group (AIG.N) Two Sued money management FIRMS Thursday we have bailed out The Insurer Launched a fight to recoup billions of dollars it lost due to Said it fraud.

The Insurance, 92 percent owned by the U.S. Government, Sued ICP Asset Management and Moore Capital in New York State Supreme Court, contending it Suffered Losses by huge mortgage securities Insuring That One of The Financial FIRMS Created.

ICP Could not Be Reached Immediately for comment.A Spokesman Said Moore in a statement: "We Have not Seen the Complaint, and how it can not Therefor."

AIG, Which Received $ 182 Billions in bailout money, Said The suits Were the start of a campaign to recover sacrifice part of it Suffered The Loss as a result of Others&&9; misconduct.

"At last year&&9;s annual meeting, AIG CEO Bob Benmosche Said WE WOULD review o Dealing with all Counterparties Of The Business With Which We Did Before and" during the Financial Crisis to See If They harmed us by Their Conduct.This Is The following first result of That review, "the company said.

The following, by AIG&&9;s Financial Products unit, There Was Indicated more legal action to come to The Company Would not whether or how it When It Would Further file complaints payday advances.

"AIG-FP Brings this action as part of American International Group&&9;s efforts to recoup Overall Potentially trillions of dollars from The Fraudulent Conduct of Parties and Other arguable case," the plainte said.

The U.S. Government Rescued AIG Has The Heights of the 2008 Financial panic, pumping trillions Into the company, after it and Other Financial giants Suffered Losses from securities huge tied to a U.S.housing market crash.

The lawsuit Said the defendants Breached obligations related to AIG To The creation of complex collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs.

AIG Said it has Suffered more than $ 350 million in damages from The Alleged misconduct, Which included using inflated values ??On The packaged mortgage bonds That Were Into the CDOs.

By inflating the value, ICP Created Itself for windfall profits and management fees swelled icts.

The lawsuit Draw on allegations made by ICP Against The Securities and Exchange Commission last year Which PKI accusé of securities fraud.

(Additional reporting by Martha Graybow and Noeleen Walder, Editing by Howard Goller)

Two sues AIG Financial FIRMS over CDO Losses

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The euro zone&&9;s list overall budget gap last year Fell goal deficits in Greece and Portugal Were Higher than expected, underlining The challenges presented by Their austerity programs.

The 17-member euro zone to restore confidence Struggling IS ITS in public finance and debt crisis to tackle That has Forced Greece, Ireland and Portugal to seek emergency Funding From The European Union & the International Monetary Fund.

The European Union&&9;s statistics office Said The Budget Gap In The euro zone in 2010 WAS 6.0 percent of gross domestic product, down from 6.3 percent in 2009.Public debt, however, rose to 85.1 percent, from 79.3 percent in 2009.

The data from Eurostat showed euro zone That All Countries EXCEPT Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Austria Improved Their budget balance last year, Even though debt rose in all euro area Countries EXCEPT Estonia.

"Collectively, The State of the Public Finance In The Euro Zone Is Not as bad as in the UK, the U.S. or Japan. The problem, of course, Is The huge difference at the national level," Said Ken Wattret, chief euro zone economist at BNP Paribas.

Greece and Portugal Were the Biggest Disappointment With Their budget shortfall Higher Than Government estimates.

Said Eurostat Greece icts cut budget gap to 10.5 percent of GDP from 15.4 percent in 2009.The European Commission and The Athens HAD Estimated deficit at 9.6 percent.

Greek public debt rocketed to 142.8 percent of GDP, from 127.1 percent in 2009.

The Greek Finance Ministry Said The Higher Deficit Was a result of a deeper-than-expected recession Greece And That Would Meet targets Everything to do icts Under EU / IMF program.

"The Fact That the Greek deficit ratio for 2010 Is Now aussi en territoire should" double-digit Further Fuel the Debate about Greek sovereign debt restructuration, "Said Ralph Solveen, an economist at Commerzbank direct payday lenders.

Some German Officials Have Said That a restructuration of the Greek debt Could Be Supported by Berlin, although German Government The Official Position Is That There Are no such plans.

"Today&&9;s figures show That a Sustained stabilization of Greek Government Finance Is Still a very long way off," Solveen said.

"While last year, Greece managed to lower icts deficit ratio by just under 5 Percentage Points Compared to 2009, Many Observers Doubt That Will Be Repeated Such progress in the Years Ahead," he said.

Eurostat Said That Portugal&&9;s budget deficit 9.1 percent of GDP WAS last year, Rather Than the 8.6 percent forecast by The government.The final 2010 budget est également balance well above-the original target of 7.3 percent Portuguese of GDP.

"Today&&9;s figures Reduced Have The Chance for Portugal to limit icts in Fact 2011 deficit to 4.6 percent of GDP," Solveen said.

"Further tax hikes and austerity Measures Will Be Necessary - something The IMF & the U.S. Will Likely aussi turn in demand for Their Financial Support," he said.

Ireland saw icts Budget Deficit More Than Double to 32.4 percent of GDP last year, from 14.3 percent in 2009, and Its debt jumped to 96.2 percent from 65.6 percent as The Country Had To borrow to bail out banking Sector icts.

(Additional reporting by George Georgiopoulos)

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, editing by Rex Merrifield)

Euro zone 2010 deficit down to Greece and Portugal up

TOKYO - The Japanese Government Earmarked Almost $ 50 Billions in Spending on emergency Friday for The First Step In The Country&&9;s Largest reconstruction effort sincere World War II.

The $ 48.5 billion budget IS Likely to Be Followed by more as Japan Spending Takes On The gargantuan task of Rebuilding the section of Pacific coastline icts ravaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. IS Parliament Expected to Pass The Budget next week.

At least 14.133 people Have Been found dead, missing Remain 13.346 Additional year and more are living in Than 130.000 evacuation centers. Government Estimates Put The total damage from the tsunami at The Quaker and $ 300 trillion.

The nuclear crisis set off by the Tsunami has Added to The Human and Economic Toll. On Friday, The Government has banned residents from 12-mile evacuation zone Fukushima Daiichi Around the Nuclear Power Station, WHERE SEVERAL Reactors Have Suffered explosions and radiation leaks.A previous order urged to require evacuation Did Not From That area; That&&9;s The Government recommends residents "still leave if They Are Within 19 miles of The Plant.

"We all share The Hope That Does not Mean A reconstruction return to Where We Were, The goal of building a brighter future," Prime Minister Naoto Kan Said at a news conference.

"I Feel It Was My Fate To Be prime minister at a time of great adversity," Said Mr. Kan, Whose handling Of The crisis has been "sharply Criticized in Parliament and in the Country at large.

Japan has rebounded from Other Disasters: The 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake Killed as Many as 140.000 people and Destruction Caused Widespread in Tokyo no faxing pay day loans. It IS aussi Thought To Have Wiped Out Almost 40 Percent Of The country&&9;s gross domestic product. In comparison, The death toll from the March 11 quake and tsunami IS far lower, and The Economic Damage Is Likely to add up to just a few "Percent of GDP

Still, Japan faces different challenges now, Which Could Weigh Heavily As It Rebuilds: a Rapidly aging population, long-stagnant economy and public debt That Is Already Has Twice the size of icts economy, thanks to profligate public works Project of the 1990s. That debt burden-adds are serious obstacles to financing The Great Reconstruction. Raising taxes, for Which There Appears to Be a measure of public support, Will dampen Already tepid Personal Consumption Levels. Issuing Government Bonds Will add more To The ballooning deficit.

Mr. Kan&&9;s leadership grip is weakening aussi Appears to Be Under the withering criticism, That he bungled charges Including the Initial Response to the nuclear crisis, Causing it to worsen.

The President of Fukushima Daiichi&&9;s operator, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, is visited annually evacuation center Friday."I have no words to express my regret," the president, Masataka Shimizu, Told The evacuated after making His Way Through cardboard beds and blankets. Television cameras in tow, he knelt and Bowed Deeply - the ultimate posture of apology in Japan.

Some Refugees Bowed back, goal Others heckled HIM. "We all just want to go home," one attacked him quietly.

Japan Announces Emergency Budget for Rebuilding

LONDON (AFP) - BP IS Taking legal action to Shift The Blame For the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster Which Devastated the Environment & the group&&9;s image months ago, rig operator Transocean Suing for damages of $ 40 trillion (24 trillion pounds).

The disaster Threatened to ruin BP have a business at one point, & the company Said It Was The victim of bad practice by sub-contractors.

The British oil giant follows Filed Against Swiss-based Transocean in New Orleans was short on Thursday, The One-Year Anniversary Of The Start Of The Biggest Marine oil spill in U.S. history.

It aussi oil services giant Halliburton Sued Parts Manufacturer and Cameron.

The Transocean Deepwater Horizon Operated Which rig exploded on April 20, 2010, killing 11 and Workers Causing millions of liters of oil to for Into the Gulf of Mexico.

At one point "during the crisis, the Future of BP as a group Appeared to Be at Risk From The potential long-term Costs of the disaster or.

"BP Parties Bring this action to hold Transocean Accounts for HAVING Caused The blowout, explosion, fire, Deaths and Personal Injuries, and Subsequent oil spill," the BP lawsuit said.

"Aim for Transocean? S improper conduite, errors, omissions, and violations of maritime law, there&&9;s Would not Have Been Any Of The exploratory well blowout," a short filing from BP Arguedas. "

The documents Added That WAS BP seeking "at least $ 40 contribution and one billion in damages from Transocean."

The one-year anniversary Was The deadline for companies to file claims Against Each Other.

Solemn ceremonies in the U.S. Took place there Wednesday to mark The Anniversary.

It Took 87 days to Cape The Well, by Which time 4.9 million barrels (206 million gallons) of oil spewed out of HAD The Well Below the deep surface of the Gulf.

Hundreds of miles of fragile coastal wetlands and beaches Were Contaminated, A Third of the Gulf&&9;s rich Were U.S. waters closed to fishing, and The Economic Costs Have Reached Into the tens of trillions cash advances pay day loan.

In A Separate statement, BP Said It Had "follows Filed Against Halliburton in order to hold The Company Accounts for icts critical role In The Deepwater Horizon accident."

Halliburton WAS responsible pour la flawed financing Which Held The blown-out well in place.

BP Said That Halliburton HAD it not Provided With The results of testing cement and company employees "critical missed signals That Were hydrocarbons flowing Into the wellbore."

BP Said It And That Was Suing over Cameron icts blowout preventer Design of the On The Macondo well.

"BP has Cameron Sued for faulty design and manufacture icts Of The blowout preventer (BOP), neglect and Its In The maintenance and modification Of The BOP," Said BP.

It Was "a critical safety device That Failed to Prevent The well blowout Of The Macondo," added The Energy giant.

U.S. investigators last month Said The Well That Might Have never blown If The company&&9;s engineers consulted about HAD Been A Key Test That Pointed to defective cementing of the Well.

The investigation by a presidential commission blamed the disaster or were management failures by BP, Halliburton and Transocean.

BP faced angry protests from disgruntled Louisiana Fishermen and Shareholders a week ago at Its First Annual General Meeting Since The Devastating oil spill.

BP was $ 40.9 Took one billion loss in 2010 related to The Spill, Including $ 13.6 For the one billion initial response, and to recover significantly Hopes Of The cost portion from Transocean and Halliburton.

The British oil giant has set up a $ 20 billion trust fund to cover compensation claims from Fishermen and others Affected by The Spill, goal aussi faces massive fines and penalties from the U.S. government.

BP sues firm Gulf rig, shifting blame for oil spill

NEW YORK - Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. and Intercontinental Exchange Inc.. are Trying to ReAssure The owners of the New York Stock Exchange optometrist Have adequate financing for Their one billion unsolicited takeover bid $ 11.3 and are Willing to pay a hefty penalty if Regulators object to it.

The companies, Whose BID WAS Rejected by NYSE Euronext Inc. Earlier in Favor of year $ 10 one billion offer by German exchange operator Deutsche Boerse AG, Argueda in a Letter to the chairman of NYSE Euronext chairman Tuesday That Their PROPOSAL IS superior.

NYSE Euronext Confirmed That It Received Nasdaq / ICE &&9;s Proposal and Said In A State That It Will review it "in due course."

Nasdaq and ICE Said Their offer is Valued at $ 42.67 per share based NYSE Euronext is Monday&&9;s closing stock prices.That COMPARED With $ 35.29 per share bid "under the Deutsche Boerse, THEY SAID.

In a letter to NYSE Euronext feels Chairman Jan-Michiel Hessels, Nasdaq and ICE plan to buy Said THEY NYSE Euronext shares That Would Give Them voting securities Valued at more than $ 66 million.

Nasdaq OMX and ICE THEY Have Said lined up $ 3.8 Billions in financing and are Prepared to pay $ 350 million to NYSE Euronext if They Are Unable to get Antitrust Regulators&&9; approval "for the deal.

Some analysts Have Said Thats the borrowing from lenders Is A Risk That Could prompt ratings downgrade Agencies to The NYSE cash advance no fax.

Nasdaq and ICE are aussi Seeking to Meet With The NYSE Euronext board on Their Proposal.The companies complained Earlier this month That Their offer WAS Rejected Without discussion.

NYSE Euronext Previously Said That It Decided To Turn Down the Nasdaq OMX / ICE offer Because It Was "highly conditional" and Would Have Caused Unnecessary Risk for Shareholders.

The Proposed Merger of Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext Would Create the World&&9;s Largest stock exchange operator. The rival bid from Nasdaq and NYSE ICE Would Split Into Two Companies, With ICE TAKING ON ITS lucrative derivatives business and Nasdaq Taking icts Remaining Businesses, Which includes stock exchanges in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Lisbon, as well as "icts U.S. options business.

NYSE IS Expected to Hold Annual Stockholders icts meeting on April 28.

Shares of Nasdaq OMX Fell 6 cents to $ 27.51 in afternoon trading, while NYSE Euronext&&9;s stock Gained 23 cents to $ 38.55.Shares of IntercontinentalExchange Fell 27 cents to $ 119.57.

Nasdaq OMX ICE Reinforce bid for NYSE

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index future Fell On Monday Before a raft of corporate earnings, Including Citigroup, as investors weigh corporate results and outlooks whether Will Be Hurt by rising commodity Costs.

Citigroup Inc (CN), off 0.5 percent to $ 4.40 Before the opening bell, IS Expected to carry a drop in quarterly profit and revenue on Monday, as an Uncertain trading environment and weak consumer loan demand Hinder icts efforts to move past the Financial Crisis. "During the week of April 18, 110 S & P 500 companies are to carry Expected earnings.

"The market IS underwhelmed by The Early earnings releases," Said Peter Kenny, managing director at Knight Capital in Jersey City, New Jersey.

"Input Costs are driving more and more of tea sets, and They Are Significantly less manageable Than pushing consumer demand, or Even industrial demand.It Is a problem, it could "really kind of make The Rebound Enter an anemic phase."

Halliburton Co (HAL.N), The World&&9;s No.2 oilfield services company, advanced 0.9 percent to $ 47.25 in premarket trading after posting a first-quarter profit that beat analysts&&9; Estimates oil companies have Increased Spending on New Projects to Meet Growing Demand oil worldwide.

Eli Lilly & Co (LLY.N) climbed 1.1 percent to $ 36.40 after The drugmaker Reported better-than-expected first-quarter sales and earnings.

Also due to postponement Monday it IS Texas Instruments (TXN.N).

China Raised banks&&9; required reserves for The Fourth Time this year on Sunday, stepping up efforts to fight high inflation no teletrack payday loans.

Athens prepend it has no plans to restructure debt icts, Greek media has Denying It Had Requested deferral Talk With icts lenders have speculation That It Would need a hit Restructuring Debt Markets & the Euro.

S & P 500 future Fell 9.6 points below fair value and Were, has pricing formula That Evaluates by Taking Into Account Interest Rates, dividends and time to expiration is The Contract. Dow Jones Industrial Average future Fell 65 points and Nasdaq 100 future Fell 13 points.

Healthcare Stocks Will Be In The spotlight after Swiss medical device maker Synthes (SYST.VX) Confirmed It Is in Merger Talks With Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N). Reports Said The U.S. company in talks to buy WAS it for about $ 20 trillion.J & J shares rose 0.7 percent to $ 60.97 in premarket trade light.

NYSE Euronext (NYX.N) Would Likely want Nasdaq OMX Group (NDAQ.O) to offer a "substantial fee to Guarantee That Will icts takeover bid passes antitrust muster Before the NYSE IS Willing to Engage in deal talks, Two Sources With Knowledge Of The Matter said.

Renewed Concerns euro zone debt hit European shares, a key index Into Sending negative territoire pour l&&9;année.

Stocks in Asia ex-Japan Remained Flat, With investors unconvinced That China&&9;s latest moves to cool economy icts Would Hurts The overall recovery.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak, Editing by Kenneth Barry)

Stock Futures lower ahead of Citigroup results

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Said it has Hired Gary Lynch, director of enforcement training at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, to head icts legal, compliance, and Regulatory relations efforts.

Lynch WAS Previously chief legal officer at Morgan Stanley.

Many big banks like Bank of America IS Dealing with multiple legal and Regulatory Issues now, Including procedures for challenges to STI were foreclosing homes and new rules That Affect Everything from debit cards to retail brokerage.

Lynch, SEC At The Who Brought Against boxes Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken, IS famous for Helping Their reputations restore banks after legal Setbacks cheapest personal loan rates.

Lynch&&9;s hire IS part of a management shake-up by chief executive Brian Moynihan aussi That Gave The Bank has new chief financial officer, Bruce Thompson.Thompson, Currently Chief Risk Officer, Will replace Chuck Noski, Who Will Become vice chairman of The Banker.

Bank of America Announced More Than a 35 percent decline in first quarter earnings on Thursday, hurt by Loss in icts mortgage unit.

(Reporting by Dan Wilchins in New York, editing by Jackie Frank)

Bank of America hires former SEC official Gary Lynch

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc&&9;s stunning 54 percent Spending surge spooked investors Already Worried That ITS New CEO May Take His Eye off the bottom line to chase back croissance, driving shares of The World&&9;s Leading Internet search engine more than 5 percent lower.

Investors zeroed in on The surge in dépenses to $ 2.84 trillion, a 29 percent dwarfed Which jump in net revenue and a record Reflected Hiring spree and company-wide salary raise.

Analysts now expect co-founder and new chief executive Larry Page to keep Spending on new products annually to spearhead aggressive push Into Areas Such as social networking and mobile business.

The 38-year-old media-storm technology wiz - Who Took over as CEO this month from decade-long veteran Eric Schmidt - cam was a conference call for analysts With just a few "minutes, eager to hear Some disappointing history plans to Growth and jump-start innovation.

Google plans to hire more people this year Than 6.000, 2.000 after Taking a record on board in The Quarter and raising salaries by about 10 percent across the board on January 1.

"You got dépenses Growing Faster Than Some People Were back and caught by surprise By The willingness of The Company to Spend," BGC Partners analyst Colin Said Gillis.

"Goal Larry Page has signaled pretty clearly" That He Is Going To Be driving up dépenses. If The Targeted and are dépenses result in future revenue streams, Then good for Larry. If not, That results in year Spending undisciplined approach. "

Expected page is to bolster innovation and cut bureaucracy have battles Google social networking leader Facebook and Apple Inc..

Shares of Google, The Market Which underperformed in 2010, are down 9 percent Roughly Since The company in January Announced That Page Would replace Schmidt.This week, Page Moved swiftly to streamline decision-making at Google&&9;s reshuffling by Upper Ranks reporting lines, investors are anxious about goal How the management changes "could affect The Company free online credit report.

WHAT&&9;RE YOUR INTENTIONS?

The company posted Net Income of $ 2.3 Billions in the first quarter, or $ 7.04 a share, up from $ 1.96 billion, or $ 6.06 a share, in the Year-ago period ".

EXCLUDING certain items, Google Said It Earned $ 8.08 a share, below-the average analyst expectation of $ 8.10 a share.

Google&&9;s net revenue rose to $ 6.54 Billions in the first quarter, above-the $ 6.32 Expected one billion by analysts.

The average cost-per-click to Advertisers icts search for ads in The First Quarter Grew about 8 percent year-over-year and 1 percent Decreased From The Fourth Quarter.

Page, With His brief speech on Thursday, restes Uppermost is very much investors&&9; minds.

Google is ramping up efforts to supplement core search advertising business icts With back from display and mobile ads. And the company IS increasingly Focused on social networking & the local ad market, where, rivals Facebook and online coupon service Groupon Rule the roost.

Page&&9;s attitude Toward Spending On Such Strategic Areas, "as well as one less crucial Such initiatives have self-driving cars, & the potential impact on Google&&9;s profit margins are high are investors&&9; list of concerns.

"I do not think historical focus IS going to put something to managing margins. I think historical focus IS going to put something to Topline Growth and managing new business areas", "Oppenheimer & Co analyst Said Jason Helfstein.

"The key Here Is Are Weak margins and as a result There&&9;s Still a question about The Company&&9;s long-term Spending intentions."

Shares of Google Fell Nearly 5 Percent to $ 551.34 in after-hours trade.

(Writing by Edwin Chan; Editing by Richard Chang)

Google&&9;s cost-surge unnerve Street, shares dive

Commodities across the board Tuesday Fell ON concerning That Demands May Slow Because Of High Oil Prices, Japan&&9;s nuclear crisis and Other Global Issues.

Some Of The steepest DISCLAIMED Occurred in oil, wheat, corn, soybeans and palladium.Even gold and silver, Which are Typically regarded Relatively stable assets, fell.

Much Of The movement driven by WAS to 3.3 percent decline in oil after new forecasts Warned That Could Affect Prices rising demand.

Goldman Sachs analyst David Greely Said WAS oil due for a "substantial pullback." Despite The High Price, he wrote in a research note That Inventories are adequate and spare production capacity There Is in OPEC countries.

Oil Prices Have Risen 33 Percent Since the middle of February we Concerns about Tightening supplies rebellions have spread across the Middle East and North Africa.

The International Energy Agency forecast reaffirmed icts of year Increase in oil demand of 1.4 million barrels a day to 89.4 million barrels a day this year.However, The Agency Said Preliminary January and February data Suggested High Oil Prices May Have Started to "dent demand growth."

The forecasts released Were the after the International Monetary Fund is Monday Lowered Growth forecasts for 2011 The United States, Japan and Britain.

"If you&&9;re worried about petroleum demand, you&&9;ve got to Be Worried About Demand for Other Things, too," Said Jack Scoville, vice president of Price Futures Group.

Other global issues weighed aussi On The commodities market. Japan nuclear plant crisis Said ITS WAS as severe as The 1986 Chernobyl accident instant credit reports.The plant WAS Damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

In addition, investors Monitored Europe&&9;s Financial Problems and High Inflation Countries Such as in China, Which Is a huge import of commodities.

Mike Zuzolo, president of Global Commodity Analytics & Consulting LLC, Said he Believe It&&9;s too early to say if Commodity Prices Have Hit Because peaks Much Will Depend on Supply and Demand going forward. There are stills Global Shortage of corn and soybeans, while weather-related issues are Affecting the U.S. winter wheat crop, he said.

Benchmark oil for May delivery Fell $ 3.67, or 3.3 percent, to settle at $ 106.25 a barrel is the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In Other Nymex contracts for May, heating oil lost 7.99 cents to settle at $ 3.1726 per gallon, gasoline Dropped 3.64 cents to $ 3.1641 per gallon and natural gas Fell 1 cent to $ 4,098 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In metals trading, June Gold Fell $ 14.50 to $ 1,453.60 a year ounce and May silver Fell 54.6 cents per ounce to $ 40,066 annually.

May copper 7.65 cents to settle Dropped at $ 4.3835 a pound, July platinum Fell $ 18.50 to $ 1,774.30 ounce and June palladium year lost $ 18.15 to $ 770.10 a year ounce.

Agriculture in May contracts, wheat 38.75 cents to settle Fell at $ 7595 a bushel, corn Dropped 23.5 cents to $ 7,525 a bushel and soybeans lost 38.75 cents to $ 13.2975 a bushel.

com/s/ap/20110412/ap_on_bi_ge/us_commodities_review &&9;rel =&&9; nofollow &&9;> Commodity prices fall we Concerns about demand

OSLO, Norway - Rescuers Say More Than 60 People Have Been Evacuated year from oil platform off Norway&&9;s west coast after operator Statoil Received reports of a gas leak.

Statoil Said in a statement Saturday it icts Emergency Response Teams Mobilized After Being Informed about a leak At The Visund platform at 8:18 am (0618GMT).

Siv Namork of Norway&&9;s Joint Rescue Coordination Center Told The Associated Press That 63 people HAD Been Evacuated by helicopter and about 60 more Remained On The Platform to Control the situation quick payday loan.

She Said Statoil Had the situation under control. Company Officials didn&&9;t Immediately return calls seeking "how.

The platform is in. Visund year oil and gas field about 90 miles (150 kilometers) northwest of The Coastal city of Bergen.

63 Evacuated from Norway oil rig after gas leak

MOSCOW - Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia was interrupted speech on the Economy by a deputy minister is Friday to sharply rebuke for Suggesting HIM Thats the Government should "Abide by World Trade Organization rules are import tariffs. Russia Is Not yet a member of the Global Trade Group But Is Applying to join.

It Was unclear how, if at all, Mr. Putin&&9;s interjection Would Affect The Delicate talks That Seemed close to success.

Trade Officials in Both The United States and the European Union say Russia has put Nearly all Requirements after cracking down on pirating, agreeing to strict rules Against counterfeited pharmaceutical drugs and is Negotiating With Finland Tariffs for round-log timber exports, a sticking point Particular

So it cam as a surprise When Mr. Putin interrupted The Speech of a deputy minister of economy Andrei Klepach, to say he Would not order Russian Officials to obey WTO rules.

Mr.Klepach HAD Been talking about industrial electrical equipment, like turbines, Saying That Were Struggling Russian factories to compete with Chinese imports Officials And That Could not raise Tariffs Because Of The Commitments undertaken by free trade while Russia Trying to Join the WTO Officials&&9; hands are tied, "the deputy minister said.

Then Mr flexcheck cash advance. Putin burst out, using sharp language, Russian Officials "should know That The Rules. "This is a direct order," Mr. Said Putin, According to a Report on the meeting in St. Petersburg By The Interfax news agency.

"As Soon As We Start Fulfilling WTO obligations Without Being a member, Theys, our partners, Will admitted to lose" any wish us, "Mr. Putin said. "Why the hell should" THEY admitted us If We Already observed Everything? "

Mr. Putin has been "Known as a skeptic for Years WTO, despite historical Government&&9;s negotiation for membership.

In 2009, at Another Time When Seemed close to joining Russia, Mr. Putin abruptly broke off talks and join Said Would Russia have only part of a Customs Union With Belarus and Kazakhstan. Now, though, Russia has Dropped am and is Negotiating That idea alone.

It has-been long - and Surely frustrating - process. Russia first Applied to Join the WTO&&9;s Predecessor, The General Agreement Tariffs and Trade were, in 1993, and Its application has been "pending skirt Than That of Any Other In The 153-member country group.

In Outburst, Putin Says WTO Rules Do not Apply

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Satyam Computer Services has Agreed to pay $ 10 million to settle U.S. charges That train top executives inflated the Indian company&&9;s back, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Said Tuesday.

The SEC, in a Complaint Filed in U.S. District Court here, Alleged That form Top Officials at Hyderabad-based Satyam overstated The Software firm&&9;s revenue, and cash balances revenu by more than $ 1 trillion over Five Years.

Theys Used False Invoices and bank statements to inflate Forged Satyam&&9;s cash balances to make more profitable The Company APPEAR to investors, The SEC said.

India&&9;s Satyam shocked corporate world in January 2009 When forming icts chairman and founder B.Ramalinga Raju Admitted He Had Years for overstated profits and inflated the Balance sheet.

The fraud Nearly Pushed Into The Group bankruptcy and Raju, WHO HAD Been one of the stars of The Software That boom has been "a driver of India&&9;s Economic Growth, now faces charges Including conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

Satyam WAS Bought By The mid-sized outsourcer Tech Mahindra, a unit of The Tractors-to-holidays conglomerate Mahindra and Mahindra, in April 2009 for $ 600 million and Is Now Known as Mahindra Satyam.

Satyam WAS traded on Indian Stock Markets Mostly to American depositary shares are traded Were the New York Stock Exchange.

The SEC Said Satyam&&9;s new leadership HAD cooperated With The SEC probe and HAD Agreed to pay a $ 10 million penalty to settle charges the U.S..

In addition, The Company Agreed to train officers are employed and securities laws and Accounting Principles, Improve internal audit functions icts, and hire independent consultant to year Evaluate internal controls.

"The shares of Indian and U.S. Authorities Have Transformed Into a new company Satyam With new management, directors and investors and state-of-the art controls, resulted in criminal charges Against Seven train executives and harmed Shareholders Given The Chance to Recoup Losses," Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC&&9;s Division of Enforcement, Said in a statement business cards design.

"This comprehensive and thoughtful response underscores The Ability of Regulators Across the globe to Respond to cross-border misconduct in a Coordinated Manner," Khuzami said.

The SEC action is Not The Only Legal disorder facings Satyam In The United States.Satyam Announced last month That It has Agreed to pay $ 125 million to settle a U.S. class action follows.

The SEC on Tuesday aussi Announced That It Was sanctioning five Indian-based affiliates of PricewaterhouseCoopers for deficient audit of Satyam&&9;s Financial Statements and Enabling the accounting fraud to go undetected for Years.

The SEC Said The five affiliates India Agreed to pay a $ 6 million penalty, The Largest Ever Against a foreign-based accounting firm.

Were the Five Identified as PW Lovelock & Lewes affiliates India, Bangalore Price Waterhouse, Price Waterhouse & Co., Bangalore, Calcutta, Price Waterhouse, and Price Waterhouse & Co.Calcutta.

The SEC Said The PW affiliates India HAD aussi Agreed to accept not to "any new US-based clients for six months, we ESTABLISH Training Programs securities laws and revised Accounting Principles and Auditing Policies and Procedures.

"India failed to PW conduite Even The Most Fundamental audit procedures," Said Cheryl Scarboro, Chief Of The SEC? S Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit. "Audit Firm Worldwide must take gravement Their critical gate-keeping Duties."

Satyam to pay $ 10 million to settle SEC charges

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - Treasury Prices Slightly rose Monday, pushing down Yields, ahead of Bond Buyback By The Federal Reserve and a continuation of speeches from Fed Officials, Which Will Some analysts expect temper expectations for Tighter Monetary Policy.

"This week Will See Fed and Fed speakers Purchases That Will create a more balanced feeling," Said John Spinello, bond strategist at a Jefferies & Co.

Yields one 10-year notes, move inversely to Which Prices Fell 1 basis point to 3.44%. IS A basis point is 1/100th of percent.

Radioactive water from Japan&&9;s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear-stricken power plant continued to leak Into The Ocean Workers scramble to have a cracked seal chamber.

Two-year-Note Yields declined, 3 basis point to 0.78%

The Fed Will conduite oven buyback this week, Continuing the program That Is The centerpiece of the Fed&&9;s Loose Monetary Policy.It&&9;s Also The program That Was Criticized by SEVERAL Fed Officials In The last couple of weeks to Who Pointed Inflation Risks and Progress in the economy as justification for ending the program, in Possibly Before icts Intended end date in late June.

The Fed plans to purchase Said it up to $ 8.5 Billions in 2016-to-2018 debt "during the session&&9;s transaction online payday loans. See Fed buyback schedule.

Last week, Treasurys ended The Worst Losing Streak Since 1999. Through Tuesday, 10-year Yields rose for nine sessions.

On Friday, New York Fed President William Dudley, was seen as more moderate and Influential policy maker, Said The economy&&9;s Improvements sept A Reason to reverse course. Read more about Dudley, bonds were Friday.

After the market closed, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has a "scheduled speech.

All of this in May Yields keep a tight range, Strategists at RBS Securities said.

"Dudley&&9;s Vigorous Defense of the Fed&&9;s accommodative policy is Friday Came As Treasury 10-year Yields Were probing Toward Support Level near 3.56%, &&9;they wrote in a note. "The verbal barrage of counter-punches from FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee] Officials over the Future Conduct of Monetary Policy Provides Additional reinforcement For the near-term ranges in Treasury yields."

Theys see 10-year Yields Staying Between 3.25% and 3.56%.

.

Bond Report: Treasurys Edge Up Before Fed buyback, speakers

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Governor Jerry Brown is Nearly halfway to closing a state budget gap of Nearly $ 27 Billion, But The state&&9;s partisan divide has Derailed His original plan for plugging The Remainder Of The shortfall and it&&9;s not clear What Will take ITS place .

May an answer, however, START WITH TAKING ON public pensions As The 72-year-old Democrat, now looking to a May deadline for a revised budget plan, tries to tackle a year after That Was stumbling block in Budget Talk With Republican Lawmakers and has Become a Serious Concern Among Voters.

What is clear Is That critical budget talks Between Brown and Republicans are Off Until Further notice and Voters Will not Be Going to the polls in June to take up a measure urging That He Had Been Would Have extended temporary income-tax increaser due to expire this year .

He Called a halt to talks on Friday, Blaming Republicans for driving Them Into a ditch With DEMANDS That would "materially" any semblance of Undermine a balanced budget. "

State Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton shot back on Thursday, Saying hard feelings HAD poisoned talks.

Dutton Has Said That He Had Been one point Called Into the governor&&9;s office, where "I Was yelled at More Than I Was talked to, and Mostly by Mrs.. Brown, Not Even Governor Brown."

The result Is That Brown&&9;s plan to fill about Half the $ 27 one billion budget hole to Be With tax extensions by Voters voted it in a special June election Will not Get The Needed Support Of A Handful Of Republicans.

"The June ballot is dead," Said Larry Gerston, A Political scientist at San Jose State University."They&&9;ve run out of time."

BOARD CHANGES

Brown on Thursday released a plan to exchange Aimed at making public pensions.Some elements of icts That Would tackle stores Critics, notably Republicans In The Legislature, say fuel Unsustainable dépenses retirement.

A statement from Brown&&9;s Office Said He Is Also Developing Proposals for a cap on pension benefits and for "hybrid" retirement plans from traditional pension That Are defined-contribution and share plans similar to private-sector 401 (k) s.

Both are ideas and Republicans Have Suggested That a Republican lawmaker and a training aid to train Brown&&9;s Predecessor Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger are considering putting in ballot initiatives to Voters flat irons for hair.

"Brown intende to Introduce thesis reformed pension With or Without Republican support," the statement Said, Clearly Trying to portray Brown as on top of year end Nationally Associated with Republicans, followings Their battles with groups employed in Wisconsin and Other States.

It Could Be aussi Brown&&9;s way of Extending olive branch to year Republican Lawmakers, Who enjoy a strong hand is public pensions, Gerston Said: "He&&9;s Showing His Hand to Republicans and Saying &&9;What Will You Will give me?"

Explicitly by Embracing the pension issue, Brown could "boost state control of the Broad Budget Debate With A topic resonating With vote. THEY are seeing local public services have cut Officials scramble to pay for rising retirement Costs of Government Employees Covered by local pension funds gold Through the California Public Employees&&9; Retirement System.

Costa Mesa, California, for instance, garnered national attention last month When A city worker Committed suicide after learning he sacked Might Be in mass lay-offs. Costa Mesa Officials HAD Nearly Decided to halve the City&&9;s work force to free up funds for Pension Costs.Thesis run about $ 15 million in a $ 93 million budget and May Reach $ 25 million over-the Next Five Years, Said City Councilman Jim Righeimer.

Recently released survey results By The Public Policy Institute of California showed 57 percent of public pension Likely Voters Saying Should Be reined in to help balance the budget The State. By contrast, 46 percent of Likely Voters Favor a tax measure, down eight points from January Percentage.

"The Public Seems To Have Become increasingly aware thats the 800-pound gorilla in The Budget Debate Is the cost of public employee pensions," Said Steven Frates, research director at The Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University&&9;s School of Public Policy.

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

Analysis: California&&9;s budget sidelines Brown, Eyes Pension