Oil prices rose in Asia Monday on increased geopolitical tensions, as the United States hinted at fresh sanctions against Moscow after Crimea voted in a referendum to break away from Ukraine and join Russia.

The United States strongly rejected the vote on Sunday, saying it violated Ukraine's constitution and was carried out "under duress of Russian military intervention".

China has announced plans to expand its cities and improve public services to support economic growth by allowing millions more rural residents to migrate to urban jobs.

The Cabinet plan issued Sunday calls for raising the share of China's population of almost 1.4 billion people living in cities to 60 percent from 53.7 percent now, a shift of about 90 million people.

Toyota said Monday it has suspended production at its two Indian auto assembly plants in response to threats against management and "deliberate" assembly-line stoppages, as efforts to hammer out a labor deal failed.

The world's biggest automaker said the move will see the lock-out of about 6,400 employees at the factories in southern India.

China will widen the yuan's daily trading band to two percent from the current one percent, the central bank announced Saturday, underscoring efforts to loosen Beijing's grip on its tightly-controlled currency.

The move will take effect on March 17, the People's Bank of China said in a statement on its web site.

Moody's raised its rating outlook for the European Union to stable from negative Friday, citing the improvement of its members' finances and falling risks from the eurozone debt crisis.

Moody's affirmed the EU's top-flight Aaa rating and said the main reason for the outlook change is "the improvement in the credit standing of the largest shareholders that the EU relies on" in crises.

On a vacant lot in Buenos Aires, a new shantytown is rising up, with the 3,000 hopeful residents-to-be taking inspiration from Pope Francis.

Argentine-born Francis -- the first pontiff born in the Americas -- has made living simply and fighting for the poor his signatures in his first year since being elected.

European Union sanctions over Russia's intervention in Ukraine will likely target up to 30 politically significant figures, EU diplomatic sources said Friday.

The list being discussed counts "between 25 and 30 names", one source said, adding that members of the Russian government would not be included.

Moscow stocks plunged to a four-year low Friday as jittery investors dumped their holdings ahead of a referendum in Crimea over its bid to break away from Ukraine and join Russia.

The capital's two main indices MICEX and RTS opened down, but losses accelerated to more than 5.0 percent by midday before recovering to 4.37 percent and 4.82 percent, respectively.

Crowds in Crimea queued outside banks as the countdown to this weekend's referendum to break away from Ukraine and join Russia sowed panic, confusion and fear of a looming legal vacuum.

Local pro-Moscow officials have tried to reassure locals, saying there will be no problem with pensions or salaries and that the banks have sufficient cash for everyone.

Major European and Saudi banks have stopped dealing with Sudan, diplomatic and other sources say, adding to the sanctions-hit country's isolation and further straining its indebted, cash-starved economy.

While Khartoum blames increased "pressure" from a U.S. trade embargo first imposed 17 years ago, a U.S. official said there had been no change in policy from Washington.