WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following is the text of an announcement early Monday by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, extending the deadline for voluntary disclosure by those with hidden offshore accounts until Oct. 15, 2008:

The Internal Revenue Service today announced a one-time extension of the deadline for special voluntary disclosures by taxpayers with

By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, Sept 21 (MNI) - U.S. existing home sales bustled in August and September, as attractive prices, a federal tax incentive and low interest rates buoyed activity in all but the highest price ranges, according to real estate executives.

Real estate sales agents said the $8,000 tax credit for first-time

Data for: August 12, 2009 Source: Federal Reserve

Fed Up Disc-Up Fnds or ount or Date Rate Dn Rate Dn Bias Comments

12-Aug-09 0.00 0.50 Near-term FOMC 'decided to gradually slow the pace' of

Source: U.S. Treasury Department Units as noted Averages calculated by Market News International

Total Non- Bid/ High amount* FIMA comps cover Disc. % at Sale Date (Bln $) (Bln $) (Bln $) ratio* Rate High

Average (03-Jun-08 to date) 0.071 0.193 3.08 1.113 42.80

SINGAPORE (MNI) Sept 21 - Asian currency markets were quiet in mmorning trade with many closed for holidays and in advance of potentially market sensitive meetings later in the week.

The pound saw the only real action in the morning, weakening slightly against the dollar after a Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin

BEIJING (MNI) - The Group of 20 nations is finalizing plans to commit the U.S., Europe and China to "big changes" in their national economic policies, including measures designed to raise U.S. savings rates and cut China's reliance on exports, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The newspaper said that the plan, called the "Framework for

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The International Monetary Fund late Friday announced that, as expected, it will begin to liquidate about one eighth of its gold holdings, 403.3 metric tons, worth about $13 billion, to finance its operations and increase the amount of subsidized loans to

By Steven K. Beckner

Market News International - When Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke responded to questions at the Brookings Institution this past Wednesday, the media and Wall Street paid most attention to his comment that "the recession is very likely over at this point."