CHINA

U.S. stock index futures rose on Tuesday as strong Chinese trade data eased concerns of a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy and pointed to strong global demand.

Investors around the world, more so the Chinese, are buying up gold assets to cover against rising inflation risk, macroeconomic uncertainties, a possible currency doom and the ever worsening U.S. debt scenario. The gargantuan demand from China can cause the yellow metal's prices to skyrocket, analysts feel. If the Chinese buying trend is ably supplemented with a fall in the value of dollar, this could result in a skyrocketing of prices.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Tuesday as strong Chinese trade data eased concerns of a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy and pointed to strong global demand.

Deutsche Post DHL posted consensus-beating quarterly earnings and affirmed its 2011 outlook as demand from Asia boosted profits at its express delivery business.

Japan’s finance minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Tuesday that the shutdown of the Hamaoka Power Plant for at least two years may result in job losses and affect the country’s already fragile economy.

China stormed back to post a hefty trade surplus in April as exports hit a record while imports eased more than expected, weighed down by sustained monetary tightening and high commodity prices.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.1 percent at 0818 GMT.

China posted its biggest trade surplus in four months in April, swinging from a trade deficit in the first quarter, as senior Chinese and U.S. officials sought to resolve disputes over trade and other policy differences.

The issue of 'detained and disappeared' people in China as raised by the United States as well as the 'enormous progress' on human rights a Chinese official said was taking place were mentioned among broader economic talks between the U.S. and China on Monday.

Highly intoxicating Chinese spirit experiences dramatic price inflation and international attention

Apple has overtaken Google as the world's most valuable brand, ending a four-year reign by the Internet search leader, according to a new study by global brands agency Millward Brown.

McDonald's Corp posted a better-than-expected 6 percent global rise in April sales at established restaurants as higher menu prices helped offset rising costs for beef and other ingredients.

LinkedIn Corp, the social site for business professionals, is hoping to cash in with investors eager to gobble up shares in social networking companies such as Facebook, with a public debut valuing the company at more than $3 billion.

LinkedIn Corp said it would offer 7.84 million shares in its initial public offering, which could value the company at over $3 billion at the high end of its offering price range.

An Apple Store employee and a customer got into a fight amid the launch of the new iPad2 in China, making for the most intense debut of the iPad in any country.

McDonald's Corp posted a better-than-expected 6 percent rise in April sales at established restaurants, helped by menu price increases that helped offset higher costs for beef and other ingredients.

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani addressed his country's Parliament on the Osama bin Laden operation in Abbottabad.

The Silver Price rallied to $38.00 at Monday's London Fix – rising over 11% from Friday lunchtime's Fix – before also slipping back to trade 26% below late April's 3-decade record.

McDonald's Corp posted a 6 percent rise in April sales at established restaurants, helped by price increases that mitigated the impact of higher costs for beef and other ingredients.

The growth outlook in major industrialized nations is diverging with activity improving in North America, China and Russia and moderating in most European countries, the OECD's leading indicator for March showed on Monday.

The Apple iPad 2 frenzy in China took a violent turn when a scuffle broke out between a customer and an Apple Store employee, leaving four people injured.