Dubai: What began as a pharaonic construction site is suddenly sinking in economic quicksand, its future as an archeological attraction possibly more promising than its pretensions as a global financial center.

  A roundup of financial and business news breaking before the opening bell on Wall Street.

  U.S. stock futures hover around the flat line as investors continue to watch for news related to Dubai’s debt situation and also eyeball early results of U.S. holiday shopping.

  Fading worries over Dubai’s debt problems push the dollar lower versus major rivals Monday.

  British shares traded lower on Monday, with oil and gas firms under notable pressure as the fallout from Dubai debt worries continued to roil markets.

  Oil futures trade near $76 a barrel on Monday, as worries over Dubai World’s debt problems ease somewhat, boosting sentiment in the financial markets.

  European shares drop Monday, with every sector under pressure, as markets remain jittery over Dubai's debt woes.

  China should use the shockwaves created by the Dubai crisis as an opportunity to buy gold and oil, a senior Chinese official who helps oversee some of the nation’s biggest enterprises was quoted as saying Monday.

  Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish bank plan to begin transferring around 40 billion euros of risky loans to the National Asset Management Agency early next year.

  Along with the usual cast of movie actors, presidents, rock stars and the super rich, the luxury hotelier has noticed the return of another type of well-heeled clientele to his five-star resorts. Bankers.