(NEW YORK) The euro gained against the majority of its most-traded counterparts as the central bank saw signs of 'stabilisation' in the region and investors speculated that Greece would convince European leaders to release its aid package.

IT WOULD be fair to say that after spending the most part of 2009-2010 learning about the ins and outs of US Federal Reserve workings and the US economy, local investors in the past seven months or so have had to turn their energies to learning about Europe and the confusing conglomerations that are the eurozone, the European Union (EU) and the euro.

THE markets have been buoyant in the new year so far, with few negative developments from the eurozone and increasingly positive economic data from the US.

(SAN FRANCISCO) The Standard & Poor's GSCI Spot Index of 24 raw materials tumbled the most in three weeks, by one per cent to 673.37, at 4pm New York time last Friday on concern that a Greek bailout plan will unravel. Metals led the decline.