WASHINGTON - US CONSUMER prices accelerated sharply in June from May, led by a surge in gasoline prices, government data showed on Wednesday.

LONDON - ADMINISTRATORS for the main European unit of bankrupt US investment bank Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. revealed plans on Wednesday to return frozen hedge fund assets to creditors as early as next year.

PARIS - A FALL in goods and services trade by value in major industrialised countries slowed in the first quarter 2009 but the figures still showed a significant setback, the OECD reported on Wednesday.