EQUITIES

U.S. stocks slid to session lows on Tuesday after the credit ratings of both Greece and Portugal were cut, escalating worries about their sovereign debt.

Performance sports car maker Porsche AG's sterling reputation for quality took a severe dent on Tuesday, when it recalled every Panamera it built only months after the model line was launched to much fanfare.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Tuesday as worries mounted over Greek debt after Germany demanded new austerity measures and investors awaited another round of earnings and economic data.

Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 were little changed on Tuesday after U.S. equities edged lower in the previous session.

World stocks remained troubled by worries over Greek debt on Tuesday after Germany demanded new austerity measures, offsetting strong U.S. earnings, and driving down the euro on contagion fears.

The euro slid on Tuesday as Germany demanded painful new austerity measures from Greece in return for badly needed financial aid, while Asian stocks fell as investors took profits in sectors that have been outperforming in recent weeks.

U.S. stocks edged lower on Monday as bank shares fell on fears that financial reform making its way through Congress will curb profits, while Caterpillar's strong results buoyed the Dow.

The Dow industrials briefly turned negative in late afternoon trading on Monday and the S&P 500 extended losses as bank shares continued to slide, weighed by the uncertainty surrounding a financial regulation proposal.

Pay czar Kenneth Feinberg sees early signs some Wall Street firms are voluntarily toughening up on the way they pay executives, but he cautions it remains to be seen whether such behavior becomes permanent.

The Dow industrials rose on Monday on strong results from Caterpillar, while weakness in financial shares left the broad S&P 500 index little changed.

Caterpillar Inc reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday and raised its full-year sales forecast above Wall Street estimates, citing an improving global economy, especially in Asia and Latin America.

Caterpillar Inc , the world's largest maker of earth-moving equipment, reported stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday and raised its full-year forecast, saying economic conditions are definitely improving, especially in Asia and Latin America.

Caterpillar Inc reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday and raised its full-year sales forecast above Wall Street estimates, citing an improving global economy, especially in Asia and Latin America.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Monday on a flurry of merger-and-acquisition activity and after Caterpillar reported stronger-than-expected quarterly profit.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday after a new flurry of merger-and-acquisition activity and Caterpillar reported stronger-than-expected quarterly profit.

U.S. stock index futures were modestly higher on Monday, the first session after hitting a 19-month high, as investors awaited key earnings reports and a Greek official said an aid package would help avert a sovereign debt default.

Whirlpool Corp's quarterly profit blew past estimates on strong sales in North America, Brazil and Asia, prompting the world's largest appliance maker to raise its full-year outlook.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.16 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.16 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.1 percent at 5:06 a.m. ET.

World stocks bounced sharply higher on Monday as a raft of U.S. data showed economic recovery was gathering strength, but investors remained wary over Greece's debt bailout plans.

The euro stabilized on Monday and Asian share markets rose after Greece requested emergency aid and as a raft of U.S. data showed its economic recovery was gathering strength.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Sunday that proposals to more tightly regulate the financial sector are not a threat and will ultimately be a benefit to banks by making them more credible.

Senate Republicans vow to oppose a Democratic effort to begin debate next week on a proposed crackdown on Wall Street unless a bipartisan accord is reached, senior Republican aides said on Friday.

U.S. stocks rose to a 19-month high on Friday as Merck eased concerns about the impact of healthcare reform, saying its costs will be relatively low.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday as news from Merck soothed worries about the corporate cost of healthcare reform and energy shares were boosted by higher oil prices.

The Dow and S&P 500 edged higher on Friday, led by gains in energy and healthcare stocks.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Friday as a morning rally lost steam and worries about the long-term outlook for Greece's shaky finances curbed investors' appetite for risk.

Xerox Corp posted a higher-than-expected first-quarter operating profit, on rising demand for its document management and printing services from small businesses and developing markets.

U.S. stocks edged higher on Friday as a sharp jump in new home sales suggested the economic recovery was on track, adding to optimism about corporate earnings.

Wall Street was set to open little changed on Friday as investors weighed strong earnings against Greece's move to trigger an aid package that could become the largest state bailout ever attempted.