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Asian Stocks, European Futures Gain on Economy Outlook; Gold Hits Record Asian stocks and European index futures rose, gold climbed to a record and the Australian dollar led gains in Asian currencies on signs the economic recovery is gathering pace.

Reliance Bond Risk Increases as Investors Question Bid for LyondellBasell The cost of protecting Reliance Industries Ltd.’s debt from default rose after the refiner and energy explorer controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani bid for bankrupt chemicals and fuels maker LyondellBasell Industries AF.

Thailand Economy Shrinks 2.8%, Least in Year on Global Recovery, Spending Thailand’s economy contracted less than estimated last quarter as a nascent global recovery and government spending began to pull the nation out of its first recession in a decade.

China Longyuan Said to Seek as Much as $2.3 Billion in Its Hong Kong IPO China Longyuan Power Group Corp. may raise as much as HK$17.5 billion ($2.3 billion) in the world’s third-largest alternative energy initial public offering since at least 1999.

Palmer Open to Talks With Rinehart on $14 Billion Australian Coal Projects Billionaire Clive Palmer would consider sharing port and rail lines with Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart to cut the combined A$15 billion ($14 billion) cost of their two Queensland coal projects.

Taiwan's Export Orders Increase for First Time in 13 Months on Electronics Taiwan’s export orders climbed in October for the first time in 13 months as stronger demand for electronics goods spurs the island’s economic recovery.

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Dollar Confidence Not at Risk Even With Debt `Mountain,' Strauss-Kahn Says International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said that confidence in the dollar isn’t under threat and his main challenge for now is fighting the danger of asset bubbles in emerging markets.

Bank of America May Name Stopgap CEO to Allow Board More Time for Search Bank of America Corp.’s board may extend its search for a permanent new chief executive officer into 2010 if directors can’t settle on a candidate in the next three days, according to people familiar with the matter.

Deripaska Is in Talks on Selling Interests in Construction, Airport Units Russian Billionaire Oleg Deripaska, whose United Co. Rusal is seeking to restructure more than $14 billion of debt, is in talks with potential investors in his construction, airport and financial-services businesses.

Zynga May Be Valued at $1 Billion as Game Maker Feeds Off Facebook Craze Zynga Inc., maker of the “Mafia Wars” and “FarmVille” games played on Facebook, may be valued at $1 billion based on the sale price of a smaller rival.

Cuomo Took Campaign Donations From Lawyers With Matters Before His Office New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s campaign fund took tens of thousands of dollars from law firms representing clients his office investigated or accused of wrongdoing, state records show.

Woman Who Sank Galleon Was Beauty-Queen-Turned-Analyst Allegedly With Tips Danielle Chiesi spent a lot of time in hotel ballrooms and bars during the past decade.