UNITED STATES

The pace of U.S. home construction fell 2.1 percent in May to a slightly lower rate than analysts had expected while building permit activity, a signal of future building plans, increased more than anticipated, a government report showed on Tuesday.

Top U.S. consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co. Inc. on Tuesday posted a weaker-than-expected quarterly profit, dragged down by sales of lower margin products such as notebook computers and video game consoles.

U.S. video rental chain Blockbuster Inc. has come out in favor of the Blu-ray DVD format disc, tipping the balance against the rival HD DVD in the battle over next-generation discs.

Boeing's top commercial airplanes executive on Tuesday dismissed a $45 billion order blitz unveiled by rival Airbus as the Paris air show awaited a potential $8 billion order for the Boeing 787.

The world's largest mining group is considering a bid to rival a $28.7 billion offer for the aluminum giant.

Globaliz ation is good, but people are earning less of the wealth generated by economic growth and integration as the decades go by, the OECD said on Tuesday.

The euro lost momentum on Tuesday after hitting a lifetime peak against the low-yielding Japanese yen, with sentiment hurt after a surprising fall in a measure of German investor confidence.

Literally, it might be known as Voustube, Voitubo or Vocetubo, but the world's most popular video-sharing site introduced local-language sites in nine countries on Tuesday that will all just go by YouTube.

U.S. stocks edged higher on Tuesday as a dip in Treasury bond yields tempered investors' interest-rate worries and boosted financial stocks. Shares General Electric Co., the second largest U.S. company rose more than 3 percent.

U.S. phone company Verizon Communications Inc. said it plans to offer high-definition video on demand over its advanced Internet and video service called FiOS, although it has not yet set a date.

Cadbury Schweppes Plc, the world's largest confectionery group, plans to cut 7,500 jobs and close around ten plants as it seeks to catch up with the profitability of U.S. rivals after the sale of its drinks arm.

Airbus racked up a series of big orders at the opening Monday of the world's biggest air show, stealing some early limelight from U.S. rival Boeing Co.

Documentarian Michael Moore expects drug and insurance companies to oppose his latest film.

Microsoft Corp. launched a redesigned MSN portal optimized for mobile phones on Sunday, stepping up its offering at a time when more powerful devices increase the demand for richer content on handsets.

Asian stocks rose to record highs on Monday on growing optimism about the U.S. economy, but diminished expectations for an imminent Japanese interest rate rise pushed the yen to an all-time low versus the euro.

The 47th Paris air show opens on Monday with France-based planemaker Airbus expected to announce major deals from Middle East-based airlines as it seeks to make up ground on sales by U.S. rival Boeing Co.

Apple Inc.'s iPhone may be too expensive for most Americans, but the much-hyped device is expected to help AT&T Inc. win quality customers and drive shoppers into its stores.

UBS cut its earnings forecasts and share target prices for South Korean chip makers Samsung Electronics and Hynix Semiconductor Inc., citing bigger-than-expected price declines for DRAM memory chips.

Microsoft Corp. has agreed to pay 94 million yuan ($12.3 million) for a stake in Sichuan Changhong Electric Co. and will form a cooperative alliance with the TV and electrical appliance maker, the Chinese company said on Monday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in an emergency government on Sunday in a move that could bolster him in his power struggle with Islamist rivals by unlocking foreign aid in the West Bank.

Bigger is becoming better.