The U.S. dollar recovered slightly against the euro and yen in quiet Asian trade Monday as investors awaited bond sales by financially beleaguered European countries later this week, analysts said.

Wildlife officials are trying to determine what caused more than 1,000 black birds to die and fall from the sky over an Arkansas town.

World stock markets fell in light trading Friday, led lower by automakers after officials in China, the world's biggest auto market, announced plans to sharply limit new vehicle registrations in traffic-congested Beijing.

Wall Street hopes to see another “Santa Claus rally” next week, when stocks traditionally rise as investors wrap up the year, amid growing optimism and a spectacular monthly rally.

Oil prices were mixed in quiet Christmas Eve trade in Asia, coming off two-year highs buoyed by upbeat U.S. consumer confidence figures, analysts said.

Arab OPEC ministers began arriving in Cairo on Thursday ahead of talks expected to broach how high an oil price the world economy can stand as crude jumped to a more than two-year high above US$91 a barrel.

The euro is heading into the Christmas break slightly higher against the dollar, despite ongoing worries about Europe's debt troubles and a positive set of U.S. economic data.

Asian stocks suffered on Wednesday as a drop in Japanese business confidence depressed Tokyo while Hong Kong and Shanghai grew jittery about both Europe and the mainland Chinese economy.

Gold pushed above US$1,400 an ounce Tuesday as improving retail sales sparked interest in the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.

Oil prices fell below US$88 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after U.S. crude supplies fell less than expected and gasoline inventories jumped, suggesting demand remains sluggish.