Origin Energy Ltd, Australia’s second largest electricity and gas retailer, has recently signed an agreement with BG Group Plc.

The World Gold Council said in a report that India’s gold consumption in 2009 totaled 405.8 tones which make it the largest gold consumer in the world.

France’s largest bank BNP Paribas SA, swung to net profit during the fourth quarter of 2009 helped by purchase of Fortis and lower provision for bad loans.