196-Ivan Glasenberg, the CEO of Swiss-based commodities giant Glencore, insists his company is doing a lot to help the people in the places where it operates " and that it would be willing to do more.

417-NEW YORK | Wed May 16, 2012 7:19am EDT NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday as investors continued to worry about Greece's political and financial crisis as the country prepares for its second election in just over a month. Global shares and other risk assets fell, with the euro trading at a fresh four-month low. S&P 500 futures bounced back from three-month lows hit overnight.

419-BANGKOK (AP) -- World stocks dived Wednesday after a failure by Greece's political leaders to form a coalition government set the stage for new elections next month, keeping Europe's debt crisis center stage. The turmoil in Greece sent European shares lower in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.9 percent to 5,388.93 and Germany's DAX slid 1 percent to 6,335.93. France's CAC-40 was down 0.4 percent at 2,036.30.

489-Gold entered a so-called bear market, dropping for a fourth day, after Greek leaders failed to form a government, increasing speculation that the country may quit the euro and driving the Dollar Index (DXY) to a record advance. Immediate-delivery gold lost as much as 0.7 percent to $1,533 an ounce, more than 20 percent below its all-time high last September and fulfilling the common definition of the market slump. That's the cheapest since Dec. 29. The precious metal traded at $1,535.

477-Oil dropped in New York to the lowest price in more than six months after U.S. crude stockpiles grew and talks to form a coalition government in Greece collapsed, raising concern that the region's debt crisis will worsen. West Texas Intermediate futures slid as much as 2.3 percent, declining for a fourth day. U.S. inventories rose 6.6 million barrels last week, data from the American Petroleum Institute indicated. A government report today is projected to show a gain of 1.

488-Investors are reducing gold holdings for a third month, the longest stretch since 2004, and favoring the dollar as a haven from Europe's debt crisis, even as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicts record prices for the metal. Bullion erased its gains for 2012 this week as the dollar rose against a basket of currencies for a record 12 straight days. Gold held in exchange-traded products fell 30.8 metric tons since reaching a record 2,410.2 tons on March 13, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

500-LONDON (Reuters) - European shares fell on Wednesday, in a broad-based sell-off, as concerns around Greece's political and financial crisis sapped risk appetite and strategists advising investors to buy defensive stocks. The FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 0.6 percent to 991.50 by 0828 GMT, having dropped 0.7 percent on Tuesday after Greek politicians failed to put together a ruling coalition, paving the way for a new election and ramping up concern over what would happen if it leaves the euro zone.

305-By James Regan SYDNEY | Wed May 16, 2012 4:09am EDT SYDNEY (Reuters) - BHP Billiton (BHP.AX) (BLT.L) said it expects commodity markets to cool further and that investors have lost confidence in the longer-term health of the global economy, in the most cautious comments yet from the world's biggest miner.

476-LONDON, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Just a couple of days before launching its IPO on the Nasdaq exchange, Facebook has revised its price target to $34-$38 per share - up significantly from its earlier $28-$35 price target. This rise comes on the back of strong investor demand and has left spread betting professionals and share traders waiting with bated breath to find out whether Facebook shares will rise higher or plateau in the days following the IPO launch on Friday.

451-- FTSE 100 drops 75 points - Asian markets fall - Analysts fear Greek exit after new elections 8.18am: The euro is losing value against other currencies too this morning. In early trading it fell to $1.2682, a new four month low. 8.07am: As feared, European stock markets have opened sharply lower this morning. Banks and mining stocks are being hit hard, as investors across the region raced to sell shares in the face of the turmoil in the eurozone.

500-By Chikako Mogi TOKYO | Wed May 16, 2012 1:45am EDT TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares slid and the dollar rose broadly on Wednesday after efforts to form a new government in Greece collapsed, fuelling fears that a second election in June could precipitate Athens' exit from the euro zone and deepen the bloc's debt crisis. European shares were expected to extend losses as well, with financial spreadbetters predicting that major European markets .FTSE .FCHI .GDAXI would open down as much as 1 percent.

295-By James Regan SYDNEY | Wed May 16, 2012 2:05am EDT SYDNEY (Reuters) - BHP Billiton (BHP.AX) (BLT.L) said it expects commodity markets to cool further and that investors have lost confidence in the longer-term health of the global economy, in the most cautious outlook taken by the mining giant.

394-Wat een ironie. Terwijl de Grieken van gekkigheid niet weten hoe snel ze hun geld over de grens moeten brengen, piekert de EU zich suf óf ze er nog geld in moeten stoppen en kan een oceaantje verderop het geld bij Facebook weer niet op. Wie weet is er verband :-) Ja, maak u maar weer op voor een dagje beursgekkigheid. Lege agenda, een paar cijfertjes, wat economische data en dat is het wel.

477-BANGKOK-Asian stocks dived Wednesday after a failure by Greece's political leaders to form a coalition government set the stage for new elections next month, keeping Europe's debt crisis center stage.Japan's Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.5 percent to 8,771.60 amid discouraging economic news. Core private-sector machinery orders fell 2.8 percent in March, the first drop in three months, Japan's Cabinet Office said.Elsewhere, investors remained focused on the turmoil in Greece.