Small change in the euro, one and two-cent coins, expensive to make and a nuisance for many, may have no future, the European Commission said Tuesday. Small and awkward they may be: but they have cost the eurozone about 1.4 billion euros since 2002, the Commission said. The Commission outlined four possible scenarios for the coins, based on a cost-benefit analysis of their use -- the status quo, making cheaper versions, and a speedy or a gradual withdrawal. It said public attitudes are mixed overall.

Small change in the euro, one and two-cent coins, expensive to make and a nuisance for many, may have no future, the European Commission said Tuesday. Small and awkward they may be: but they have cost the eurozone about 1.4 billion euros since 2002, the Commission said. The Commission outlined four possible scenarios for the coins, based on a cost-benefit analysis of their use -- the status quo, making cheaper versions, and a speedy or a gradual withdrawal. It said public attitudes are mixed overall.

BANGKOK - Enthusiasm on Wall Street sparked by another positive report on the U.S. economy helped push most Asian stock markets higher Wednesday. The National Federation of Independent Business reported a slight improvement in confidence among small business owners in the U.S. in April. That helped boost the Dow Jones industrial average to close at a record high Tuesday. "A combination of further improvement of economic performance and low inflation in the US should keep risk appetite buoyant," said analysts at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong in an email commentary.

TORONTO - The Toronto stock market slipped Monday amid falling commodity prices as the latest data showed slightly smaller-than-expected increases in China's industrial production and retail sales. The S The Canadian dollar was up 0.10 of a cent to 98.99 cents US. U.S. retail sales edged up 0.1 per cent in April, boosted by increased spending on cars and clothing. March had seen a 0.5 per cent decline — its largest drop in nine months. Economists had expected another contraction brought on by a higher U.S. tax on Social Security that kicked off this year.