Libya Turmoil Hits Oil, Restrains Equities
REUTERS: Oil prices charged to a fresh 2-1/2 year high on Monday as traders eyed increasing violence in major producer Libya, feeding fears about rising inflation and restraining gains in equities.

Global stocks were slightly higher with emerging markets down and European shares flat. U.S. markets were closed for a national holiday.

Protests broke out in the Libyan capital Tripoli for the first time following days of unrest in the city of Benghazi and some army units defected to the opposition in what has become one of the bloodiest revolts to convulse the Arab world.

Financial markets are particularly sensitive to the violence in Libya because it exports around 1.1 million barrels per day of crude.

Brent oil was up $1.90 a barrel at $104.44 having earlier risen to a new high of $104.60. >>> Jeremy Gaunt, European Investment Correspondent, London | Monday, February 21, 2011

REUTERS: Swiss franc, Treasuries gain on Mideast tensions: The safe-haven Swiss franc and U.S. government bonds rallied on Thursday, while crude oil prices rose as unrest in the Middle East and tensions between Israel and Iran escalated. >>> Wanfeng Zhou, New York | Thursday, February 17, 2011

More Turbulence on World Markets
TIMESONLINE: Japan leads declines as market 'prices-in a recession' amid strong yen and fears of more subprime damage

Japanese stocks endured a savage pounding today as the US dollar plummeted against the yen and investors' fears heightened at the prospect of more fall-out from the US subprime mortgage crisis.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed down 2.5 per cent to a 15-month low of 15,197.09.

Other Asian markets were also caught in the maelstrom, with the Hang Seng shedding 4.5 per cent of its value to 27,500.96 and Shanghai stocks taking a similar tumble.

Chinese financial stocks were particularly hard-hit as investors blinked at new regulations requiring a sharp increase in reserve requirements. Nikkei plunges to 15-month low as dollar weakens (more) By Leo Lewis

The high oil price may begin to take its toll By Gary Duncan

FT:
Asian stocks sink as exporters suffer By Andrew Wood in Hong Kong and Louise Lucas in Tokyo

BBC:
Europe 'set for slower growth'

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
The US Economy on the Edge By Peter Coy

Mark Alexander