MARKETS / FINANCE

Stock index futures were lower on Tuesday as investors awaited data on housing and consumer confidence to gauge the pace of the economy recovery.

Stock index futures were lower on Tuesday as investors awaited data on housing and consumer confidence to gauge the pace of the economy recovery.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open for Wall Street on Tuesday, extending a sharp decline in the previous session, on worries about the strength of the global economic recovery.

World stocks fell Tuesday in markets dominated by concerns the U.S. economy is sliding back into recession, prompting further flows into safe-haven assets.

Japanese factory output edged up in July but manufacturing activity in August expanded at its slowest pace in more than a year, suggesting that companies were starting to feel the pinch from an export slowdown and a strong yen.

Japan led Asian stocks lower on Tuesday as worries about the flagging U.S. economy triggered profit taking across the region and fed a five-month rally in U.S. and Japanese government bonds.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Tuesday claimed her Labor Party was best placed to run a stable minority government after the election dead heat, warning of political gridlock if a consensus is not found.

World stocks fell on Tuesday in markets dominated by concerns the U.S. economy is sliding back into recession, prompting further flows into safe-haven assets.

World oil prices continued its southern journey in Asian trade Tuesday and dropped below $74 a barrel as equity markets slump amid concerns over global economic growth.

In an attempt to include every person under the food security scheme, National Advisory Council (NAC) said it will consult the Agriculture Ministry considering the high costs involved in such an exercise.

Gold prices mixed along with dollar in Asian trade Tuesday ahead of couple of key US reports while global stock markets declined. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $ 1236.75 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while U.S. gold futures for December delivery was at $1,238.60 an ounce on the comex division of Nymex.

Attempts to rediscover Russia's lost treasure, the 'Tsarist gold' or 'Kolchak's gold', finally received a morale boost with positive signs from the Baikal exploration. According to Russian authorities, country's Mir-2 mini-sub has found a number of shiny metal objects on the bottom of Lake Baikal that could be the legendary Tsarist gold lost during the Russian civil war.

Tokyo stocks fell 3.6 percent to a 16-month closing low on Tuesday, with disheartened investors bailing out of the market after the Bank of Japan's emergency moves the day before failed to curb the yen's strength.

Fears that policymakers around the world will be slow to support the flagging global recovery lifted the yen on Tuesday, weighed on Asian and European stocks and gave further fuel to a five-month rally in U.S. and Japanese government bonds.

Google is set to unveil a new feature to its Gmail service that aims to separate a user's important emails from the ones that do not get read often.

Taiwan regulators rejected AIG's planned $2.2 billion sale of its Taiwan unit to a China-related group, citing regulations on mainland investment, and leaving the insurer facing another auction.

Japan led Asian stocks lower on Tuesday as worries about the flagging U.S. economy triggered profit taking across the region and fed a five-month rally in U.S. and Japanese government bonds.

Tokyo stocks fell 3 percent on Tuesday, their worst daily drop in three months, after the Bank of Japan's emergency moves the day before failed to curb the yen's strength and disheartened investors bailed out of the market.

British consumer confidence unexpectedly improved in August for the first time since February thanks to a more positive view on the economic outlook, a survey showed on Tuesday.

U.S. consumer spending rose in July at the strongest pace in four months, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope that consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

Billionaire investor Ron Burkle's investment firm said it has no intention of taking control of Barnes & Noble as it fired a new shot in its proxy battle against the top U.S. bookstore chain.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer 3M Co said it would buy Cogent Inc for $943 million, paying a nearly 18 percent premium for the maker of identification systems used to screen travelers at border crossings.

U.S. consumer spending rose at the strongest pace in four months in July, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

Hewlett-Packard Co said on Monday its board approved the buyback of an additional $10 billion of shares to boost investor confidence as it finds itself involved in a bidding war for high-end data storage company 3PAR Inc .

Stocks fell in the year's lightest volume on Monday as worries about the pace of economic recovery overshadowed data showing a rise in consumer spending and income.

U.S. stocks fell in the year's lightest volume on Monday as worries about the pace of economic recovery overshadowed data showing a rise in consumer spending and income.

Consumer spending rose in July at the strongest pace in four months, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope that consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

U.S. consumer spending rose at the strongest pace in four months in July, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday that it was in the country's interest to reach loan agreements with the IMF if necessary -- but not to have the Fund shaping its economic policy.