UPDATE - COSCO, TNT sign letter of intent to set up JV - at Reuters - 35 minutes ago
China's COSCO Group and Dutch mail and logistics company TNT NV said on Monday they had signed a letter of intent to set up a logistics joint venture with the aim of becoming a world leader.

FOREX-Dollar slips against euro ahead of Bernanke - at Reuters - 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
The dollar slipped from near two-year highs against the euro on Monday as some investors sold the U.S. currency to lock in recent gains ahead of a hearing on Ben Bernanke's nomination to take charge of the Federal Reserve.

Nikkei declines as banks fall, Softbank rises - at Reuters - 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
The Nikkei share average fell 0.28 percent on Monday, retreating from an earlier four-year high as losses by banks outweighed advances by Softbank Corp. and other technology-related issues.

UPDATE - Japan govt plays down concern of rift with BOJ - at Reuters - Sun 10:45 pm ET
The top spokesman for the Japanese government said on Monday its relationship of trust with the Bank of Japan was unchanged despite reports that a ruling party official had warned the central bank against making policy changes without government consent.

FOREX-Dollar near 2-yr highs as Bernanke hearings eyed - at Reuters - Sun 10:05 pm ET
The dollar held just below two-year highs against the euro and the yen on Monday as investors looked ahead to a hearing on Ben Bernanke's nomination to take charge of the Federal Reserve.

UPDATE - Japan surplus rises on growing investment income - at Reuters - Sun 9:56 pm ET
Japan's current account surplus rose in September as gains in overseas investment income offset a narrowing in the trade surplus from rises in oil import costs, government data showed on Monday.

Japan govt spokesman: relations with BOJ unchanged - at Reuters - Sun 9:52 pm ET
The top spokesman for the Japanese government said on Monday its relationship of trust with the Bank of Japan was unchanged despite reports that a ruling party official warned the central bank against making policy changes without government consent.