Frankfurt/Main, Germany -­ Gaming console aficionados definitely will not be bored this autumn as they try to take care of Piñatas, becoming apprentices to Darth Vader or help a dog and rabbit duo save the world.

Microsoft's Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise' promises to be lots f fun. The game focuses on the Pinatas, a group of gaudy fantasy animals who reached cult status two years ago with the release of their first game.

Frankfurt - The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to keep rates on hold Thursday despite signs that inflationary pressures are easing and fears are growing that large parts of Europe's economy are edging towards recession.

The Frankfurt-based ECB raised its benchmark refinancing rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 per cent in July to ward off the threat posed by resurgent inflation.

Frankfurt - The European Central Bank (ECB) launched a programme Monday to assist Serbia's central bank, the National Bank of Serbia (NBS), in implementing policies and training staff with a view to enhancing cooperation between the NBS and the ECB.

The programme was "an important step towards strengthening economic and financial cooperation" between the NBS and the central banks of the European Union (EU), as well as between the EU and the Republic of Serbia, it said.

The programme, described as a "nine-month needs analysis," is to cover six areas, including banking supervision and the harmonization of Serbian legislation in line with EU practice.

Frankfurt - Germany's Commerzbank AG's shares fell sharply Monday after the Frankfurt-based bank agreed to pay 9.8 billion euros (14.4 billion dollars) to buy rival Dresdner.

While Commerzbank bank stock fell 7 per cent to 18.69 euros in early trading in Frankfurt, shares in Dresdner's parent, Allianz SE, slipped by about 1 per cent, as a result retracing some of the gains the giant insurer made last week.

The supervisory boards of Commerzbank and Allianz signed off on merging Germany's second and third biggest banks at separate meetings Sunday, as a result triggering a major reshaping of the country's fragmented banking business.

Frankfurt - Germany's Commerzbank AG triggered a major reshaping of the country's fragmented banking business Sunday when it agreed Sunday to pay 9.8 billion euros (14.4 billion dollars) to buy rival Dresdner.

Commerzbank and Allianz announced the agreement after their supervisory boards signed off on merging Germany's second and third biggest banks at separate meetings Sunday.

With total assets of about 1.09 trillion euros and 12.3 million German customers, forging a new merged Commerzbank-Dresdner bank will result in the emergence of new banking force in Europe's biggest economy.

Frankfurt  - Germany's Commerzbank AG and Allianz SE have reached a deal worth up to 9 billion euros (13.3 billion dollars) to sell the giant insurer's banking offshoot, Dresdner, to Commerzbank, sources close to the negotiations told dpa-AFX Friday.

Allianz chief executive Michael Diekmann and his Commerzbank counterpart Martin Blessing met late Thursday and agreed in principle to the Dresdner sale, the sources said about a deal which would be the biggest restructuring in the German banking system in more than seven years.

The agreement between Diekmann and Blessing came ahead of meetings Sunday of the boards of Allianz and Commerzbank, which are widely expected to sign off on a merger between the two banks.