UNITED STATES

Oil rose for a second day on Tuesday and accelerated gains after reaching $75 on optimism that the U.S. economy has turned the corner following strong manufacturing data for January.

Small, poor nations without significant mineral deposits are unlikely candidates for investment by the world's third-largest economy.

Toyota Motor Corp on Monday began shipping parts to fix faulty accelerators in nearly 4.5 million vehicles in North America and Europe, and said it would restart North American production on February 8 after an unprecedented shutdown prompted by the problem.

After a bullish session for the U.S. stock market, broad trends mostly continued in after-hours trading.

Exxon Mobil Corp reported a fourth-quarter profit on Monday that topped Wall Street expectations as natural gas projects boosted results at the largest U.S. oil company's exploration arm.

Boston Scientific Corp will pay $1.73 billion to Johnson and Johnson to settle three patent disputes involving heart stents that date back to 2003.

U.S. manufacturing expanded in January at its fastest pace since 2004 but consumers increased their spending only slightly in December, worried by job prospects and the state of the economy.

Oil prices rose to $75 a barrel on Monday as support from a weaker dollar, higher U.S. stocks, and an oil spill in Texas which limited crude oil deliveries to some U.S. refiners.

Oil prices rose to $75 a barrel on Monday as support from a weaker dollar, higher U.S. stocks, and an oil spill in Texas which limited crude oil deliveries to some U.S. refiners.

This morning the AUD opens higher at 0.8906 against the greenback regaining more than 1% from an intraday low of 0.8787 on Monday.

Toyota Motor Corp's massive recall and sales halt of its best-selling vehicles will overshadow an expected industry increase in U.S. auto sales for January over the deeply depressed month a year ago.

Manufacturing expanded in January at its fastest pace since 2004, data showed on Monday, but consumers increased spending only slightly in December, worried by job prospects and the state of the economy.

The stock market started February with a strong rally as commodities stocks surged on signs of global demand for raw materials and semiconductor stocks received a boost from an industry report.

(Corrects to remove reference to specific percentage changes in paragraph 11)

President Barack Obama pledged on Monday to halve a record 2010 budget deficit by the end of his first term in office, but made tackling double-digit unemployment his immediate priority with a spending plan that risked public ire and a rough battle in Congress.

Stocks rose on Monday as better-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and earnings from Exxon Mobil revived bullish sentiment after stocks closed out their worst month in almost a year.

Oil rose over 2 percent on Monday as stronger U.S. manufacturing data prompted optimism about economic recovery and a weaker dollar helped boost crude demand after oil prices fell to five-week lows on Friday.

Fifty-five nations accounting for almost 80 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions have set national goals for fighting climate change by a deadline in the Copenhagen Accord, the United Nations said on Monday.

Stocks rose on Monday as better-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and earnings from Exxon Mobil reassured investors that economic growth is on track, after stocks suffered their worst month in almost a year.

Boston Scientific Corp said on Monday it will pay $1.73 billion to Johnson and Johnson to settle three patent disputes involving heart stents that date back to 2003.

On February 2, 2010 - halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox- will be celebrated the Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, an annual event in the United States that is said to predict the weather for the rest of winter.