Top News & Analysis United States

SYDNEY/ PARIS, Aug 21- U.S. corn fell almost 1 percent on Monday as forecasts for rain eased fears of widespread production losses due to recent dry weather, pushing prices to around an eight-week low. The most active corn futures on the Chicago Board Of Trade were down 0.75 percent at $3.63 a bushel by 1025 GMT, the lowest since June 27. The recent stretch of good...

*Greece's 10- year bond yields drop 5 bps in early trade. "Greece is still a credit that is risky and volatile, but at least it's now not one step away from default but two steps away," said DZ Bank strategist Daniel Lenz. "I think an upgrade was largely priced in so you won't see a huge amount of spread tightening- but still, it's possible that some high-yield investors...

LONDON, Aug 21- Gold rose on Monday as tensions over North Korea fueled safe haven demand, while doubts over U.S. Investors were braced for North Korea's response to computer-simulated military exercises begun by South Korean and U.S. forces on Monday that will continue until Aug. 31. "Gold is being supported by the war games and the uncertainty in Washington," said...

TAIPEI, Aug 21- Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn on Monday said it plans to build three facilities in the U.S. state of Wisconsin for operation as early as next year, as part of a campus housing a $10 billion liquid crystal display factory due for 2020.. Foxconn, which makes electronics under contract for clients such as Apple Inc, announced its $10...

*Markets looking to Fed's c.bank gathering in Jackson Hole. LONDON, Aug 21- World stocks struggled at a 5-1/ 2- week low on Monday, though metals dazzled with zinc at its highest in a decade, copper hitting a nearly three-year high and iron ore's gains in the last two sessions stretching to 5 percent. Traders were digesting the latest departure from Donald Trump's...

Aug 21- Sempra Energy said it will buy Oncor for $9.45 billion in cash after Energy Future Holdings Corp, which indirectly owns Oncor, abandoned a deal to sell the power transmission company to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc.. San Diego- based Sempra expects to own about 60 percent of a reorganized Energy Future after the transaction that is valued at...

*Greece's 10- year bond yields drop 5 bps in early trade. *Portugal's spread to Germany narrows as South Europe outperforms. "Greece is still a credit that is risky and volatile, but at least it's now not one step away from default but two steps away," said DZ Bank strategist Daniel Lenz.

BEIJING, Aug 21- China on Monday expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the U.S. launch of an investigation into China's alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property. China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement that it would take appropriate measures to defend the country's lawful interests, and that Washington should respect the facts and act prudently.

That's the advice of former U.S. health secretaries of both parties to President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress, now that "Obamacare" seems here for the foreseeable future. Stability should be the immediate goal, said former Health and Human Services secretaries Kathleen Sebelius, Mike Leavitt and Tommy Thompson. Beyond the urgent need to calm markets by...

LONDON, Aug 21- The euro slipped on Monday, extending its biggest weekly decline in more than two months as markets judged the single currency's double-digit gains this year may be too much for a central bank that is still wary of removing stimulus. "Absent some Mario Draghi fireworks this week, buying on dips for euro/dollar may be a better strategy rather than...

Aug 21- Sempra Energy said it will buy power transmission company Oncor, 80 percent owned by Energy Future Holdings Corp, for $9.45 billion in cash, resolving the Texas utility's long-standing bankruptcy case. Energy Future's board on Sunday favored Sempra's offer over Berkshire Hathaway $9 billion deal to buy Oncor, sources told Reuters, after Sempra also...

BENGALURU, Aug 21- Gold prices were little changed on Monday as investors sought further direction after a week of geopolitical uncertainty in the United States and Europe and ahead of a meeting of central bankers later this week. The metal surged to its highest since November on Friday when political and security concerns in the United States and Spain...

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 0.4 percent to 19,399.01 and South Korea's Kospi dipped 0.1 percent to 2,355.11. Investors will be scrutinizing remarks from the policymakers due to speak, including Fed chief Janet Yellen and European Central Bank head Mario Draghi, for any hints on the future direction of interest rates and economic...

*Tens of thousands protest in Hong Kong. LONDON, Aug 21- Chinese investment in London commercial property has more than trebled since before Britain voted to leave the European Union, most of it channeled through Hong Kong at a time of heightened political uncertainty in the former British colony. Hong Kong food conglomerate Lee Kum Kee is set to pay 1.28 billion...

MADISON, Wis.— Wisconsin Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca was branded as failing "on all accounts" by a fellow Democrat who was "incredibly frustrated and concerned" with his actions after Barca joined Republicans in voting for a $3 billion tax incentive package for Foxconn Technology Group. Lisa Subeck of Madison spelled out her grievances to Barca on...

LAME DEER, Montana, Aug 21- U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Vice President Mike Pence took a horseback tour in May of a Montana coal mine belonging to the Crow Nation. Their differences reflect a broader divide on drilling and mining among Americas 567 federally recognized tribes.

TOKYO, Aug 21- The dollar steadied on Monday, edging away from four-month lows against the yen plumbed in the previous session as investors turned their focus from political turmoil in Washington to the Federal Reserve's annual central banking conference in Wyoming. Reports of the impending departure of senior White House adviser Stephen Bannon, known for...