Year

Feeling the heat: 2015 hottest year by far; 2016 expected to be worse

Blistering heat blanketed the Earth last year, making 2015 by far the hottest year in modern times.

China forecast to become world's biggest electric car market | Reuters

BEIJING China is forecast to become the world's biggest electric car market this year, with sales estimated at 220,000 to 250,000 vehicles, the official news agency Xinhua said on Sunday, quoting the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Worldwide electric cars sales are expected to increase to 600,000 this year, association deputy secretary-general Xu Yanhua told an industry conference. China is tipped to surpass the United States as the world's biggest electric car market, she said, putting the U.S

Wall Street lower, investors eye upcoming quarterly reports | Reuters

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as healthcare companies lost ground and investors eyed upcoming quarterly reports that are expected to show a dip in corporate earnings. A surge in DuPont's ( DD.N ) stock helped keep the Dow Jones industrial average in positive territory but the S&P 500 and Nasdaq lost ground, with a sharp drop in biotech stocks

Asian gold demand falls in Q1 but fund outflows dry up - WGC

LONDON (Reuters) - Gold demand in major consumers China and India fell in the first quarter from the previous year's record levels, the World Gold Council said on Tuesday, though a drop in sales from bullion-backed investment funds kept overall demand steady. Consumer gold demand in number one buyer China fell 18 percent to 263.2 tonnes, with Chinese demand for gold coins and bars down 55 percent in the first quarter, offset only partially by a 10 percent rise in jewellery offtake.

Syrians' plight worsens, hope for political deal fades

GENEVA (Reuters) - Hopes for a political deal to end Syria's war are fading and it is getting harder every day to send aid to millions of trapped and displaced civilians, U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said on Wednesday. The United Nations has long said negotiations are the only way to resolve a conflict that is destabilising the region, but peace talks chaired by mediator Lakhdar Brahimi this year foundered after two rounds.

Wall Street gains on GDP data; indexes post strong week

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Friday, capping the best week for major indexes in months as unexpectedly strong data on economic growth increased confidence that the recovery was accelerating. Gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 4.1 percent in the third quarter, the fastest pace in almost two years, and exceeding the 3.6 percent pace reported earlier this month.

Kohli misses out as Dhoni named skipper of ICC ODI team of the year

India skipper MS Dhoni was included in ICC ODI side of the Year for the sixth successive year.

Suicide bomber kills 15 in attack on primary school in Iraq

MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - A suicide bomber drove a truck packed with explosives into the playground of a primary school in northern Iraq and blew himself up, killing 14 students and their headmaster on Sunday, police and medical sources said. The attack followed a suicide bombing minutes earlier on a police station in the same town, Tel Afar, about 70 km (45 miles) northwest of Mosul city, where Sunni Islamist and other insurgents have a foothold.

S&P 500 ends down, breaks string of record closes

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 broke a five-day string of record closing highs on Thursday, ending a fairly volatile session lower as recent momentum lost steam and Apple shares declined. The Dow also broke its two-day string of all-time closing highs, but still ended above 15,000.

S&P 500 ends at record for 5th day; Groupon up late

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 closed at an all-time high for a fifth day on Wednesday in a broad rally that keeps surprising investors with its longevity and resilience. The Dow also ended at a record high for a second straight day, pushing further above 15,000. Financials, materials and technology sectors were among the strongest performers, with shares of International Business Machines ( IBM.N ) leading the Dow higher