The FINANCIAL -- Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) on November 19 announced its Board of Directors authorized a new $500 million share repurchase program, effective immediately.

The FINANCIAL -- TOKYO, Japan's central bank has upgraded its assessment of the national economy and opted to keep its interest rate at 0.1%, amid government pressure to prevent deflation.

The FINANCIAL -- Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) on November 19 reported that net earnings for the third quarter, which ended October 31, 2009, increased 25 percent to $307 million, or $0.44 per share on a diluted basis, compared with $246 million, or $0.35 per share on a diluted basis, for the same period last year.

The FINANCIAL -- Reflecting more favourable economic conditions for the coming six months but also a more positive assessment of the current situation, the World Economic Climate Indicator rose significantly in the fourth quarter for the third consecutive time following the sharp drops of last year.

The FINANCIAL -- Speaking at today’s Ministerial Meeting on eGovernment – one of the key events of the Swedish Presidency – EUROCHAMBRES’ Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini called on the European Commission and Member States to turn the concept of “eUnion” from a vision into a reality.  “It is not a question of technology, he said, but of political will.”