Amsterdam - Guarantees for Dutch savings accounts should be lowered, the Dutch banks said in a letter to Dutch Finance Minister Wouter Bos Monday.
Holders of savings accounts at Dutch banks are guaranteed for up to 100,000 euros (128,500 dollars) per person if a bank collapses.
In October, the sum guaranteed under Dutch law was increased for one year from 38,000 euros per account holder.
The Dutch central bank increased the guarantee to boost consumer confidence in the banking system, which reached a low in early October, when the government nationalized the Dutch division of former Belgian-Dutch Fortis bank and the Dutch subsidiary of Iceland's Landsbanki, Icesave, collapsed.
Warsaw - The All Saints' holiday weekend claimed 41 lives, while 533 were injured as 1,416 drivers were pulled over for drunk- driving across Poland, Polish media reported on Monday.
Poles celebrated the Christian holidays of All Saints' Day on Saturday and All Souls' Day on Sunday. Christians traditionally visit the graves of relatives on the two days.
Many visited cemeteries to put candles and flowers on the graves of their loved ones, often travelling for hours and making several stops to visit relatives.
Weekend fog made road conditions worse, police said, and many of the accidents involved drivers breaking the speed limit.
Bangkok - Thai shares jumped 7.84 per cent Monday on good news for banks and energy stocks and the avoidance of political violence in Bangkok over the weekend.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index ended at 449.19, up 32.66 points, on modest trade amounting to 17 billion baht (494 million dollars).
"Thai stocks were following other markets today," said Phuwadon Larpudomsuk, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities.
Singapore - Singapore Exchange Ltd on Monday signed an agreement with the government of China's south-eastern coastal province of Fujian to promote the listing of Fujian companies on the Singapore market.
Twenty-one Fujian firms with a total market capitalization of 4.2 billion Singapore dollars (2.86 billion US dollars) are already listed on the Singapore Exchange.
Fujian's Development and Reform Commission Office agreed to provide guidance to companies that wish to list in Singapore and facilitate regulatory checks and approvals from Chinese authorities, the exchange said.
Hamburg - There was a sigh of relief in Lewis Hamilton's native Great Britain on Monday amid a common agreement around the world that the sport of Formula One had never seen a more dramatic finale.
"Phew Lew," titled The Sun after Hamilton had claimed the world title over Felipe Massa in a "final lap drama" of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday.
French paper Le Figaro named Hamilton "world champion of suspense" and Britain's Daily Telegraph said he "redefined sporting drama."
Singapore - Singapore stocks rose 4.99 per cent Monday as investors went bargain hunting, but analysts warned of continuing volatility ahead.
Bangkok - Thai shares jumped 7.84 per cent Monday on good news for banks and energy stocks and the avoidance of political violence in Bangkok over the weekend.
Hamburg - There was a sigh of relief in Lewis Hamilton's native Great Britain on Monday amid a common agreement around the world that the sport of Formula One had never seen a more dramatic finale.
