International Monetary Fund managing director Rodrigo de Rato will step down in October, following upheaval at the helm of sister institution, the World Bank.

Global commerce talks at the World Trade Organisation in Geneva appeared on the brink of collapse today as top powers stumbled in attempts to agree on steps towards liberalising trade in farm and manufactured goods.

US stocks finished an uneven session mixed today as investors grappled with the implications of a terror attack against a Saudi Arabian oil processing plant and a surprising decrease in factory orders.

China today asked Washington to stop an effort by US lawmakers to establish a military training programme for rival Taiwan.

At least 15 high-ranking US administration officials owned Enron stock last year, according to a government watchdog group.