UNITED STATES

A rally for U.S. stock markets stalled on Monday after a German official rejected reports that the nation's lawmakers had decided to offer aid for Greece.

McDonald's Corp beat expectations with a 2.6 percent increase in January sales at established restaurants, as overseas results overcame a sluggish performance in the United States.

The embattled U.S. wealth management business of Swiss bank UBS AG continued to bleed client assets in the fourth quarter, hurt by fleeing advisers and negative publicity from a tax-fraud scandal.

McDonald's Corp posted an expectations-topping 2.6 percent increase in January sales at established restaurants, as overseas results overshadowed a sluggish performance in the United States.

President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he hoped Congress would soon deliver a package of measures to boost U.S. employment and growth.

Senior Chinese military officers have proposed that their country boost defence spending, adjust PLA deployments, and possibly sell some U.S. bonds to punish Washington for its latest round of arms sales to Taiwan.

U.S. consumer confidence fell in February to near a level seen at the beginning of the recession, as high unemployment and some stock market weakness sapped January's optimism, a research group said on Tuesday.

Apple and Google's mobile platforms are gaining market-share on rivals, while Microsoft and Palm are continuing to slip.

McDonald's Corp posted an expectations-topping 2.6 percent increase in January sales at established restaurants, as overseas results overshadowed a sluggish performance in the United States.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, led by commodity-related stocks, as speculation Greece would get help from the European Union to cut the country's deficit weakened the U.S. dollar, lifting prices of oil and basic materials.

Molson Coors Brewing Co reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday mainly on weak volumes across all markets, prompting the beer maker to issue a tepid volume forecast for 2010.

U.S. stock markets rallied today as investors increasingly expect the European Union to offer some sort of assistance for Greece.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that the United States wanted a U.N. Security Council resolution within weeks to tackle Iran's nuclear programme as Iran said it had begun making higher-grade nuclear fuel.

The world's richest economies are set to grow faster this year than forecast a month ago, although the latest Reuters economic outlook showed the upturn will be feeble in comparison to resurgent emerging market peers.

Molson Coors Brewing Co reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, weighed down by weak volumes across all markets and cost inflation in the United States and Britain.

North Korea's top nuclear envoy arrived in Beijing on Tuesday as Pyongyang said it was willing to step up talks with China on resuming stalled disarmament-for-aid talks.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko launched action on Tuesday to call rival Viktor Yanukovich's election as president into question.

Coca-Cola Co reported a quarterly profit in line with analysts' estimates as strong volume in China, India and Brazil offset a decline in North America.

The U.S. government will continue its investigation into 2010 Prius hybrids over braking complaints even though Toyota Motor Corp has announced a recall of that model, the Transportation Department said on Tuesday.

Iran began making higher-grade nuclear fuel on Tuesday, state television reported, and the Pentagon said the United States wanted a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iran within weeks over its nuclear program.

The world's richest economies are set to grow faster this year than forecast a month ago, although the latest Reuters economic outlook showed the upturn will be feeble in comparison to resurgent emerging market peers.