A trader makes a phone call during the first trading day inside the Philippine Stock Exchange in Manila January 5, 2009. (Cheryl Ravelo/Reuters)... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 7:28 am

Pakistani stockbrokers talk on their phones as they monitor share prices at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) in Karachi. Global stock markets have held onto New Year optimism even as the euro suffered fresh losses amid signs of Europe's deepening…... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:46 am

Women in Kimono, smile as they join the ceremony to start the first trading at the Tokyo Stock Exchange after the new year holidays in Tokyo. Global stock markets have held onto New Year optimism even as the euro suffered fresh losses amid signs of E…... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:46 am

Two workers install a VW logo in the wall of a Volkswagen center in September in Berlin. The German luxury sportscar maker Porsche has taken over Volkswagen, the biggest European car manufacturer, after purchasing more than 50 percent of VW shares, P…... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:39 am

The German luxury sportscar maker Porsche has taken over Volkswagen, the biggest European car maker, by purchasing more than 50 percent of its shares, Porsche said.(AFP/File/Joel Saget)... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:39 am

File photo of petrol pumps. Oil prices have risen back above 50 dollars as the energy market was shaken by disruptions to gas supplies across Europe, already troubled by a cold snap.(AFP/File/Manan Vatsyayana)... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:10 am

An oil platform (pictured in 2007) off the coast of Angola. Oil prices have risen back above 50 dollars as the energy market was shaken by disruptions to gas supplies across Europe, already troubled by a cold snap.(AFP/File/Marcel Mochet)... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:10 am

Map of Ukraine showing gas pipelines transiting the country from Russia to Western Europe. Russia and Ukraine have traded blame as a dispute between the two bitter ex-Soviet rivals triggered major gas cuts in Europe in a dramatic escalation the EU sl…... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:08 am

Valves set on a gas pipe of the gas-compressor station in the small Ukrainian city of Boyarka, near Kiev on January 4. Russia and Ukraine have traded blame as a dispute between the two bitter ex-Soviet rivals triggered major gas cuts in Europe in a d…... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:08 am

A woman passes by a gas pipe of the gas-compressor station in the small Ukrainian city of Boyarka, near Kiev on January 4. Russia and Ukraine have traded blame as a dispute between the two bitter ex-Soviet rivals triggered major gas cuts in Europe in…... [more »]

Date: 6 January 2009, 6:08 am