IBT Staff Reporter

Wall Street equity futures were lower on Tuesday as a last-minute congressional deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling failed to assuage investor concerns that a credit downgrade could be avoided.

Apple?s newly updated Thunderbolt MacBook Air has reportedly been sold out in some stores, as the thin notebook has been in high demand.

Toyota Motor Corp raised its annual profit forecast to a level well below market estimates, warning the stronger yen was hobbling it in the battle against South Korean rivals as it races to restore quake-hit production.

"Skype for iPad" app rolled out to the iOS App Store early Tuesday, starting from New Zealand, the app's debut swept across worldwide storefronts. But soon after, the app disappeared.

Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> reported its first quarterly loss in two years as Japan's biggest earthquake hammered production and the yen's rise hit profitability on exports.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower opening on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.5 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.2 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.5 percent at 0919 GMT.

Apple has finally launched the beta version of iCloud for MobileMe users through Mac OS X desktop but it?s available only to those with a developer account.

Daniel Tiger, son of the character from the original series will be hosting the show in animation

After a lot of drama, heart-break and dithering, Ashley lands herself a man.

Samsung Electronics has delayed the Australian launch of its latest Galaxy tablet due to a patent dispute with Apple Inc, a setback for the South Korean firm's attempt to close the gap with Apple in the booming tablet market.

Sony Computer Entertainment said on Tuesday it was buying Sucker Punch Productions, the studio behind the inFamous franchise, as Sony Corp's unit tries to expand its portfolio of original video games.

Toyota Motor Corp reported its first quarterly loss in two years on Tuesday as Japan's biggest earthquake hammered production and a strong yen hit export profits, and the company raised its profit forecast on a speedy recovery.

World stocks hit a two-week low on Tuesday as markets' focus turned back to weak global growth prospects and the euro zone's debt troubles after a U.S. budget deal that will knock more than $2 trillion off public sector spending in coming years.

Metro , the world's No.4 retailer, said risks to its 2011 profit target had grown as the global economic recovery falters and shoppers fret about the European debt crisis and higher food prices.

A consortium led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing's Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings <1038.HK> agreed to buy British utility Northumbrian Water Group for 2.41 billion pounds ($3.92 billion) in what could be the biggest takeover this year of a British-listed company.

South Korea spent more than a billion dollars in its first gold purchase in more than a decade, as uncertainty about global growth and sovereign debt push central banks around the world to diversify foreign reserves.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd said it has appointed a former British government information official as global cyber-security officer, as the world's second-largest network equipment maker aims to expand its footprint with more global hires.

A week ago when the 11-year-old New Hampshire girl Celina Cass was missing, officials treated her disappearance as a missing person?s case. Now it is a suspicious criminal investigation.

Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> reported its first quarterly loss in two years on Tuesday as Japan's biggest earthquake on record hammered production and the yen's rise hit profitability on exports. The company raised its annual forecast.

Asian shares fell on Tuesday as sluggish U.S. and global manufacturing data added to concerns about the health of the world economy, while a strengthening yen prompted speculation that Tokyo may intervene in the markets to curb the currency.

A consortium led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing's Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings <1038.HK> has agreed to take over Northumbrian Water Group Plc in an all-cash deal which values the British utility at about 2.41 billion pounds ($3.92 billion).

Financial markets will be watching the European Central Bank on Thursday for any hints that recent signs of an economic slowdown and the unrelenting debt crisis have lowered the chances of another rate hike this year.

Pfizer Inc is expected to report lower quarterly earnings on Tuesday, hurt by competition from generic copies of its Lipitor cholesterol fighter, but investors will focus mainly what the company plans to do after Lipitor faces U.S. generics in November.

Metro , the world's No. 4 retailer, missed expectations for second quarter results as high food prices and the European debt crisis hit consumer sentiment and said its 2011 earnings target depended on economic improvements.

Studies show a strong link between different types of cancer and processed meats. Eating 50-grams of processed meat, or one hot dog a day, could give you a 21% risk of colorectal cancer, according to studies at the American Institute of Cancer Research.

The National Security Agency has a challenge for hackers who think they're hot stuff: prove it by working on the hardest problems on Earth.

State-run Air India's plan to join Star Alliance, a consortium of global airlines, has been put on hold as the loss making Indian carrier had not met the minimum joining conditions.

"Skype for iPad" app was released to the iOS App Store early Tuesday. Starting from New Zealand, the app's debut swept across worldwide storefronts.

The week long search for missing 11 year old Celina Cass came to a tragic end as divers and authorities found the missing girl's body in the Connecticut River. The body's location was a quarter of a mile away from her home as mystery surrounds the disappearance and death of Celina Cass.