AP – Iran closed major border crossings with northern Iraq on Monday to protest the U.S. detention of an Iranian official the military accused of weapons smuggling, a Kurdish official said.

The European Union’s common currency, the euro has climbed to a new record high against the US dollar, reaching $141.30 in trading in Frankfurt. Analysts say they expect the value of the euro to remain high for the foreseeable future.

AFP – Iran on Monday closed its border with Iraq's northern Kurdish region in protest at the arrest of an Iranian by the US military, a Kurdish official told AFP.

Shares in Sims Group Ltd (ASX:SGM) have been placed in a trading halt ahead of what is tipped to be the purchase of another metals recycling business offshore.

Packaging/plastics/paper/glass   Shares in Sims Group Ltd (ASX:SGM) have been placed in a trading halt ahead of what is tipped to be the purchase of another metals recycling business offshore.

AP – With many Iraqi journalists slain since 2003, the Iraqi Journalists Union is planning to offer martial arts and survival courses to help its members cope with the risks of life in this country.

LONDON (SHARECAST) – Soap maker PZ Cussons’s trading for the half-year is in line with expectations, adding that its financial position remains strong.

The euro has soared to a record $1.4130 in early trading this morning. The currency has gone from record to record against the dollar over the past few weeks as investors continue to worry about the state of the US economy.

The New Zealand dollar held its ground as the greenback slipped to near a 15-year low against a basket of currencies today. Trading was slow with financial markets in Tokyo closed for a national holiday.

THE dollar was higher at noon as speculation of a European interest rate rise hurt the US currency and analysts say the local unit could touch US87 cents in London trading later today.