PORTUGAL

Traders are talking about buying dips again, concurs a Hong Kong dealer, noting that Asia physical market remains very tight for Gold Bars. Reuters says the Hong Kong premium for wholesale Gold Bars over benchmark London prices today held at $3 per ounce, a near 30-month high.

US stocks advanced in early trade on Tuesday as Alcoa kicked off the earnings season by beating forecasts, while Japan’s pledge to buy eurozone bonds eased concerns about eurozones debt.

Portugal's central bank predicted the economy would shrink this year, painting a gloomier outlook just as the government sought on Tuesday to quash persistent talk of a bailout.

Japan promised on Tuesday to buy euro zone bonds this month in a show of support for Europe's struggle with a seething debt crisis.

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates attempted on Tuesday to put a floor under persistent talk that his country will seek an international bailout, saying there are no such plans and that the 2010 budget gap was lower than its goal.

Spain plans to issue a 10-year syndicated bond this month, a Treasury official told Thomson Reuters service IFR on Tuesday, replicating last year's issuance pattern as jittery markets push its yield spreads near euro-era highs.

Stock index futures indicated a higher open for Wall Street on Tuesday after Alcoa , the largest U.S. aluminum producer, kicked off the earnings season by beating forecasts.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Tuesday as the fourth-quarter earnings season started with a stronger-than-expected profit from Alcoa and higher outlooks from several retailers.

As the European debt crisis worsens there appears to be more help coming from Asia, with Japan on Tuesday offering to buy Irish bonds coming up for sale this month.

Stock index futures rose on Tuesday as fourth-quarter earnings season began with a profit from Alcoa that topped Wall Street targets and as concerns over European debt eased.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Tuesday as the fourth-quarter earnings season unofficially got started with a strong profit beat from Alcoa and as Europe rebounded from recent losses.

World stocks firmed on Tuesday on hopes for a solid earnings season, while the euro steadied above four-month lows after Japan offered to buy euro zone bonds.

Portugal has no plans to seek a bailout from the EU and IMF, and the government is doing everything possible to avoid doing so, Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos said.

Portugal needs to take decisive political steps to calm international markets, Finnish Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen said on Tuesday.

Portugal needs to take decisive political steps to calm international markets, Finnish Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen said on Tuesday.

The euro languished near a four-month low on Tuesday after a brief rally triggered by a Japanese plan to buy euro bonds, while Asian stocks drifted, fearful of Portugal becoming the next casualty of the euro zone's debt crisis.

The euro jumped briefly on Tuesday after Japan said it would buy euro bonds to boost confidence in the European Financial Stability Facility amid fears that Portugal may become the next euro zone member to seek a bailout.

Stocks finished mixed, following a sell-off in Europe, on worries over Portugal possibly needing a financial bailout, ahead of the kick-off of the fourth-quarter earnings season.

Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi became the inaugural winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or - the FIFA Men's World Player of the Year 2010, Jose Mourinho won the Men's Coach of the Year award.

Stocks recovered most of their early losses in light volume and ended slightly lower on Monday as prospects for strong earnings helped counter fears Portugal would be forced into a bailout.

Stocks recovered most of their early losses in light volume and ended slightly lower on Monday as prospects for strong earnings helped counter fears Portugal would be forced into a bailout.