IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. stock index futures jumped on Tuesday after a bullish Alcoa forecast boosted the outlook for the commodities sector, signaling a stronger global economy.

Disney confirmed the exit of movie marketing chief MT Carney on Monday after news of her departure spread throughout the media over the weekend.

A French fan accused of stalking Spider-Man actress Kirsten Dunst was ordered on Monday to stay at least 100 yards away from her until 2015.

Kiefer Sutherland is ready to let audiences get in touch with his emotional side.

Police in Orange County said on Monday they do not believe that a transient found dead on Monday was the fourth victim of a suspected serial killer operating in the area.

Stock index futures advanced sharply on Tuesday after a bullish Alcoa forecast boosted the outlook for the commodities sector, signaling a stronger global economy.

UniCredit shares and rights to buy into the Italian bank's 7.5 billion euro ($9.6 billion) capital increase rallied after three days of falls on Tuesday, with traders saying volatility remains high as does a threat of further sharp falls.

Stock index futures pointed to a stronger open for equities on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.9-1.0 percent.

A hedge fund set up by former Goldman Sachs trader Morgan Sze -- the biggest launched in Asia in 2011 -- lost 6.8 percent last year, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, as it was rattled by a sharp drop in Chinese shares.

MF Global UK administrator KPMG has won the backing of the failed broker's clients to push ahead with the return of an estimated $1.2 billion.

Stock index futures pointed to a stronger open for equities on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.9-1.0 percent.

The supervisory council of the Swiss National Bank forced Philipp Hildebrand to step down as chairman after emails about a currency trade by his wife failed to clear him of involvement in the deal, newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Philips Electronics warned fourth-quarter results will be disappointing as it books charges for inventory it can't shift in weak European markets.

European stocks rose and the euro stayed under pressure on Tuesday as investors weighed the debt turmoil in the euro zone against an improved U.S. economic picture that looks set to deliver upbeat corporate results.

Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc trader Morgan Sze's hedge fund Azentus Capital lost 6.79 percent in 2011, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Fast food chain McDonald's and the International Olympic Committee are close to agreeing a new, eight-year sponsorship contract and the deal could be sealed this month, the IOC's marketing chief said on Tuesday.

The Swiss National Bank starts the search for a new board member on Tuesday after the resignation of Philipp Hildebrand as chairman over a controversial currency trade made by his wife.

U.S. authorities are investigating allegations that an Indian government spy unit hacked into emails of an official U.S. commission that monitors economic and security relations between the United States and China, including cyber-security issues.

Ford Motor Co chief financial officer Lewis Booth plans to retire in the first half of this year, two people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Microsoft Corp said on Monday sales of its revolutionary Kinect sensing device for the Xbox game console have hit more than 18 million just over a year since launch.

China's exports and imports grew at their slowest pace in more than two years in December as foreign and domestic demand ebbed, data showed on Tuesday, bolstering expectations of more policy action from Beijing to support the world's number two economy.

YouTube is looking to increase viewership on its online video service by making the service available on an array of connected devices and by adding new content, according to a top executive for the Google Inc unit.

Microsoft Corp said on Monday sales of its revolutionary Kinect sensing device for the Xbox game console have hit more than 18 million just over a year since launch.

Hewlett-Packard Co on Monday unveiled a new glass-encased laptop computer as the largest computer maker stepped up its efforts to chip away at rival Apple Inc's stronghold in high-end PC market.

Microsoft Corp said on Monday sales of its revolutionary Kinect sensing device for the Xbox game console have hit more than 18 million just over a year since launch.

Jan 9 - The Securities and Exchange Commission has urged banks to publish more details about their exposure to European sovereign debt, a factor in the recent bankruptcy of the futures brokerage MF Global Holdings Ltd .

U.S. consumer credit surged 10 percent in November, its biggest jump in a decade in a positive signal for the economy as consumers tapped their credit cards and the government doled out more student loans.

U.S. consumer credit surged 10 percent in November, its biggest jump in a decade in a positive signal for the economy as consumers tapped their credit cards and the government doled out more student loans.

Flight attendant leaders of United Airlines accepted the terms of tentative agreement with the airlines regarding their contract and will send it to 15,000 United Flight attendants for a vote, Association of Flight Attendants said in a statement.