LONDON, Dec 19- Societe Generale has lost a high-profile lawsuit against a fired London- based investment banker that could cost France's second-largest bank up to 20 million euros.
*Gold recovers from lowest since Aug. 31 at $1,661/ oz. Spot gold was up 0.2 percent at $1,672.31 an ounce at 1131 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for February rose $2.90 an ounce to $1,673.70. Saxo Bank vice president Ole Hansen said he expects gold to retrace back to yesterday's technical breakout at $1,688 today. "
LONDON, Dec 19- Ratings firm Fitch said on Wednesday it is more likely to strip the United States of its triple-A status if a political deal is not reached to halt $600 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes set for early next year. Fitch currently assigns the United States its highest rating but with a negative outlook.
*Germany's Ifo data better than expected. LONDON, Dec 19- Brent oil rose towards $110 a barrel on Wednesday on expectations that a budget crisis in the United States will be resolved, which would save the world's top oil consumer from slipping back into recession.
*Brent crude rises over $109 a barrel. LONDON, Dec 19- World shares hit 17- month highs and the euro gained on Wednesday as hopes grew for a year-end budget deal in the United States and for further monetary stimulus from the Bank of Japan.
*Lead hits highest since mid-September 2011. LONDON, Dec 19- Copper steadied on Wednesday as fears eased about a U.S. budget crisis after lawmakers closed in on a deal to avert expiring tax cuts and spending increases, although uncertainty about the outlook for demand kept prices soft.
LONDON, Dec 19- Societe Generale has lost a high-profile lawsuit against a London- based investment banker that could cost France's second-largest bank up to 20 million euros.
KIGALI, Dec 19- Relations between Rwanda and its donors have soured over a report by a U.N. group of experts that accused Kigali of backing rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Germany's Ifo survey showed business sentiment rose for the second month running in December, raising hopes that Europe's largest economy will recover quickly from a weak end to the year. It adds to the upwards momentum in euro/dollar and euro/yen, "said Niels Christensen, FX strategist at Nordea.
LONDON, Dec 19- Societe Generale has lost a high-profile lawsuit against a London- based investment banker that could cost France's second-largest bank up to 20 million euros.
The fine, split about $1.2 billion for the United States and $260 million for Britain, is a drop in the ocean for two countries struggling to rein in huge budget deficits. Britain had, until recently, used regulatory fines on banks to reduce the levy the industry pays to support the Financial Services Authority watchdog.
1997- A trading loss in equity derivatives of more than 600 million Swiss francs at the Union Bank of Switzerland forces it to accept a reverse takeover by rival Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. 1998- UBS makes a 793 million franc pretax loss on exposure to hedge fund Long Term Capital Management.
LONDON, Dec 19- Ratings firm Fitch warned on Wednesday there was an increased likelihood it would strip the U.S. of its triple-A status if Washington does not prevent $600 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes from kicking in early next year.
2007- Barclays alerts U.S. regulators about its concerns that other banks are submitting dishonestly low interbank rates. 2010- Britain's Financial Services Authority launches an investigation into Barclays as part of a global probe into the industry over allegations of interest rate manipulation.
LONDON, Dec 19- European shares drifted higher on Wednesday as expectations built that a budget deal in the United States is close, though traders reckoned any positive outcome is already in the price.
LONDON, Dec 19- Brent oil rose above $109 a barrel on Wednesday on expectations that a budget crisis in the United States will be resolved, which would save the world's top oil consumer from slipping into recession. Brent crude was up 33 cents to $109.17 a barrel at 0923 GMT, while U.S. oil gained 8 cents to $88.01.
*Yen hits lowest level vs euro since August 2011. LONDON, Dec 19- The yen hit a 16- month low against the euro on Wednesday, dragged down by expectations the Bank of Japan will unveil more monetary stimulus when its two-day policy meeting ends on Thursday. The euro hit a 16- month peak of 111.78 yen, before pulling back to trade up 0.2 percent on the day at 111.61 yen.
LONDON, Dec 19- Swiss bank UBS has been fined $1.5 billion by British, Swiss and U.S regulators to settle charges of manipulating global benchmark interest rates.
Dec 19- Swiss bank UBS was fined $1.5 billion to settle charges of rigging the Libor benchmark rate, the second biggest fine ever on a global bank and the second big fine over Libor manipulation. Britain's Barclays was fined $450 million in June for rigging the rate.