Kashmiri shopkeeper sits near garlands made of Indian currency notes in SrinagarThe rupee touched a two-and-a-half month high on Friday, aided by firm local shares, as demand for riskier assets was spurred by hopes Greece will soon reach an agreement on restructuring its debt.At 10:15 am, the rupee was at 49.72/73 to the dollar, after touching 49.65, its highest since November 9, and firmer than 50.09/10 at close on Wednesday. The market was closed on Thursday for a local holiday.(Pictures by Reuters)

Jan 27: Rupee hits 2-1/2 month high

A worker ties sacks containing paddy crop at a marketplace on the outskirts of AhmedabadFood inflation remained in the negative zone for the fourth week in a row, at (-)1.03% for the week ended January 14, on account of cheaper vegetables.Food inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was at (-)0.42% in the previous week. It was above 17% in the corresponding week of 2011.

Inflation stays in minus

Gold bullion coins known as Krugerrands are pictured in the mint where they are manufactured in Midrand outside JohannesburgGold fell from a 7-week high on Friday as speculators booked profits ahead of US GDP data, but prices were heading for a fourth week of gains with the Federal Reserve&#39;s pledge to keep interest rates near zero for some time supporting sentiment.Although gold investors were relieved by the Fed&#39;s move to keep rates historically low, they will now turn their attention again to the outcome of the Greek debt crisis, with US funds still cautious about lending to banks in the troubled euro zone.

Gold falls from 7-week high

People walk past a stock quotation board outside a brokerage in TokyoThe broad asset rally which the US Federal Reserve inspired by pledging to keep rates low decelerated on Friday as investors awaited the outcome of Greek debt talks and US gross domestic product data.MSCI&#39;s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, which rose 1.1% on Thursday, climbed another 0.5% early Friday to reach its highest level in nearly three months before slipping to be up only 0.1%.The index, on track for its fourth consecutive weekly increase, was set to gain about 2% this week.

People walk past a stock quotation board outside a brokerage in TokyoThe broad asset rally which the US Federal Reserve inspired by pledging to keep rates low decelerated on Friday as investors awaited the outcome of Greek debt talks and

Signage for Motorola is displayed outside their office building in Tempe, ArizonaMobile phone maker Motorola Mobility Inc posted a fourth quarter loss on weak revenue on Thursday in what could be its last report before a planned takeover by Google Inc.Some Google investors have worried about the search company&#39;s decision to buy Motorola Mobility since it warned on January 6 that revenue would fall well short of Wall Street expectations due to legal costs and tough competition from rivals such as the Apple Inc.

Signage for Motorola is displayed outside their office building in Tempe, ArizonaMobile phone maker Motorola Mobility Inc posted a fourth quarter loss on weak revenue on Thursday in what could be its last report before a planned takeover