ECONOMY & MARKETS

The U.S. Federal Reserve is unlikely to tighten policy by either raising rates or halting the second edition of the asset purchase program known as QE2, when its policy board meets today, according to analysts.

Oppenheimer lowered its profit forecast on phone giant Nokia as the company is seeing greater than market seasonal weakness in demand in the first quarter of 2011.

German economic sentiment fell unexpectedly in March, as the expectations get hit by hawkish stance of the European Central Bank (ECB) and a major earthquake in Japan.

Report that a containment system at the bottom of Unit 2 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi has been breached saw uranium companies' shares to tank on the bourses.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Tuesday are: First Solar, Netflix, MEMC Electronic Materials, U.S. Bancorp, American International Group, Capital One Financial, Motorola Mobility Holdings, Advanced Micro Devices and Jds Uniphase.

The Japan earthquake and tsunami could result in significant shortages of certain electronic components, potentially causing dramatic price increases, a market reaserch firm said.

U.S. stock futures point to a sharply lower opening for Wall Street Tuesday, following slump in European and Asian stock markets amid fears of a nuclear disaster in Japan.

Texas Instruments said it expects loss of revenue in the first quarter and second quarter as the Japan earthquake caused substantial damage to its Miho plant in the country.

U.S. stocks ended lower on Monday, as investors were worried about the impact of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan on the global economy.

The top after-market NYSE gainers on Monday are: Heckmann, Transcananda, Aspen Insurance Holdings, Clean Harbors and KBR, Inc. The top after-market NYSE losers are: Callon Petroleum, American Oriental Bioengineering, Universal Travel, Dole Food and Wuxi Pharmatech.

Japanese stock markets slumped for the second day on Tuesday on escalating fears of a nuclear crisis after a radiation leak was detected at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and residents were warned to stay indoors.

Rock star Bryan Adams exhorted the world's musicians to organize a concert for Japan, which is reeling from the worst disaster in recent history.

U.S. stocks ended lower on Monday, as investors were worried about the impact of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan on the global economy.

Commodity bulls believe we are in early stages of a bullish ‘supercycle’ for commodities that may last several decades.

U.S. stocks declined on Monday, as investors were worried about the impact of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan on the global economy.

Léo Apotheker, the Chief Executive Officer of PC giant Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), is expected to hold an investor briefing on March 14 in San Francisco where he may unveil his much anticipated vision for HP.

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Monday, as investors were worried about the impact of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan on the global economy.

Since, Japan is one of the world's largest economies, it is said that business activities of some of the U.S. communication technology (CommTech) companies could be disrupted in near term.

Gold Bullion prices jumped at the start of Asian trade on Monday, gaining 1% against all major currencies as news broke that a third nuclear reactor north-east of Tokyo has gone into meltdown following last week's Japanese tsunami.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Star Scientific, A-Power Energy Generation, EMCORE, Gulfport Energy and JA Solar Holdings. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: USA Technologies, Neutral Tandem, NXP Semiconductors, Fushi Copperweld and Camtek.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Monday are: Cintas, MEMC Electronic Materials, First Solar, Micron Technology, Xilinx, Southwest Airlines, Exelon, NRG Energy, American International Group and Aflac.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said it has agreed to acquire additives maker Lubrizol for $135 a share in cash, or $9 billion, making it one of the largest acquisitions in its history. Eli Lilly and Co. announced that it has made an irrevocable, unconditional offer to acquire the animal health business of Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a Johnson & Johnson Co.

The economic impact of the quake-tsunami that pulverized the Japanese economy will largely depend on who ultimately pays for the massive reconstruction efforts, according to an analyst.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B) said it has agreed to buy chemical company Lubrizol Corp. (NYSE: LZ) for $135 a share in cash, or $9 billion, making it one of the largest acquisitions in its history.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) said on Monday it will increase the size of the asset purchase program from five trillion yen to 10 trillion yen and promised to inject additional liquidity into the financial system battered by the triple whammy of a disastrous earthquake, a tsunami and an unfolding nuclear crisis.

A new blast occurred at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex on Monday, after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the world's third largest economy.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) said on Monday it will increase the size of the asset purchase program from five trillion yen to 10 trillion yen and promised to inject additional liquidity into the financial system battered by the triple whammy of a disastrous earthquake, a tsunami and an unfolding nuclear crisis.

U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday led by gains from oil refiners after the earthquake disrupted Japan's refining capacity and equipment makers advanced on expectations for increased demand from rebuilding efforts.

U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday led by gains from Oil refiners after the earthquake disrupted Japan's refining capacity and and equipment makers advanced on expectations for increased demand from rebuilding efforts.