TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) will raise prices of hybrid cars and commercial vehicles by 1-3 percent in Japan as early as this year amid soaring raw material costs, the Nikkei business daily reported on Monday.

NEW YORK (AFP) - US stocks retreated Monday from a robust rally that capped a volatile week as investors digested signs of worrying slowdowns in some foreign countries.

LONDON - Russian stock markets rose Monday as investors focused on the long-term opportunities offered by Russia's booming economy instead of the clash between Russia and Georgia over the separatist province of South Ossetia.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Monday as oil prices closed lower for a sixth day, improving prospects for consumer and business spending.

(Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is working to unveil a proposal next month that would permanently tighten existing rules for short selling, the New York Post said citing people in talks with the agency.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The plunge of China's stock market has created long-term buying opportunities in infrastructure and consumer shares, the head of HSBC's (0005.HK) asset management unit said on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON - A government order expires Tuesday that temporarily banned a certain kind of short-selling of the stocks of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and 17 large investment banks.

LONDON (AFP) - London shares dipped on Wednesday, amid renewed jitters about the health of the world's top banks and slowing economic growth.