EQUITIES

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as natural resource shares gained from higher commodities while Kraft Foods Inc's offer for confectioner Cadbury raised hopes about more mergers and acquisitions.

Stocks climbed on Tuesday as natural resource shares rose alongside commodities and Kraft's bid for Cadbury buoyed hopes that more merger and acquisition activity was on the horizon.

Wall Street was set to open nearly 1 percent higher on Tuesday as rising commodity prices and an uptick in merger and acquisition activity fueled hopes the economy is strengthening.

Emerging markets stocks hit a new year high on Tuesday, rising to levels last seen before the Lehman Brothers collapse, and world stocks headed firmly toward a new 2009 peak.

Brookfield Incorporacoes, the Brazilian real estate unit of Canada's Brookfield Asset Management (BAMa.TO)(BAM.N), plans to sell about 600 million reais ($326 million) of stock, Valor Economico newspaper reported, without citing a source for the information.

A major shareholder in China's Lenovo , the world's No. 4 PC maker, plans to sell 292 million shares at HK$3.55-3.57 per share, according to sources with knowledge of the deal, a discount of 2.5-3 percent from Tuesday's close.

Airlines and their suppliers are reporting tentative signs that a severe industry recession is bottoming out, sending shares higher on Tuesday.

Wall Street was set to enjoy a positive return to trading on Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday, according to stock index futures.

Emerging markets stocks hit a new year high on Tuesday, rising to levels last seen before the Lehman Brothers collapse, and world stocks in general headed toward a new 2009 peak.

U.S. gold futures hit a six-month high of $1,000 and spot gold also rose to six-month high on Tuesday as the dollar's weakness, concerns about the sustainability of the global economic recovery and worries about inflation underpinned sentiment.

Asian shares touched their highest level in a year on Tuesday, while gold futures hit $1,000 an ounce for the first time in six months on investor concerns about the sustainability of the global economic recovery.

U.S. gold futures hit a six-month high of $1,000 and spot gold also rose to six-month high on Tuesday as the dollar's weakness, concerns about the sustainability of global economic recovery and worries about future inflation underpinned sentiment.

Kraft Foods said it was intent on pursuing Britain's Cadbury , which soared in value after it snubbed a premium-rich bid from the U.S. group, reinforcing hopes of a broader-based pick-up in merger activity.

Investors jumped into equities on Monday, sending world stocks close to their highest level for the year, while the dollar weakened across the board as demand for riskier assets took hold.

Investors jumped back into equities on Monday, sending world stocks close to their highest level for the year, while the dollar weakened against a basket of currencies as demand for risky assets rose across the board.

Investors jumped back into equities on Monday, sending world stocks close to their highest level for the year, while the dollar weakened against a basket of currencies as demand for risky assets rose across the board.

Britain's Cadbury , the world's second biggest confectionery group, has rejected a $16.7 billion bid approach by Kraft Foods Inc., but North America's biggest food group still hopes it can clinch a deal.

Shares in Asia rose on Monday after U.S. data showed a slowdown in layoffs, while Chinese shares extended gains on hopes that Beijing will pull out more policy tools as needed to support its volatile stock market.

Shares in Asia rose on Monday after U.S. data showed a slowdown in layoffs, while Chinese shares extended gains on hopes that Beijing will pull out more policy tools as needed to support its volatile stock market.

Chinese shares rose on Monday to extend gains on hopes that Beijing will continue to use policy to support asset prices, while gold prices dipped but kept within striking distance of $1,000 after U.S. unemployment rose to a 26-year high.

Wall Street's mettle will be tested this week as traders return from summer vacations to resurfacing signs of weakness after a six-month rally for stocks.

U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday as investors focused on the bright side of a mixed payrolls report that showed smaller-than-expected job cuts in August, although the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high.

U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday as investors focused on the bright side of a mixed payrolls report that showed smaller-than-expected job cuts in August, even though the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high.

Stocks climbed on Friday as investors focused on the bright side of a mixed payrolls report that showed smaller-than-expected job cuts in August but also an unemployment rate that hit a 26-year high.

Stocks gained ground on Friday after a mixed payrolls report failed to rattle investors as U.S. job losses in August were the smallest in a year, although the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high.

Stocks rose moderately on Friday after a mixed payrolls report that showed U.S. employers cut fewer-than-expected jobs in August even as the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high.

Stocks inched higher on Friday following a mixed payrolls report showing U.S. employers cut fewer-than-expected jobs in August even as the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high.

Stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Friday following data that showed U.S. employers cut fewer-than-expected jobs in August even as the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high.

Stock index futures turned sharply higher on Friday following a brief sell-off after data showed U.S. employers cut fewer-than-expected jobs in August even as the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high.