IBT Staff Reporter

Stocks slid on Tuesday as a smaller-than-expected rise in retail sales raised doubts about a rebound in consumer spending, a vital part of an economic recovery.

CB Richard Ellis Group Inc is buying most of Dutch bank ING's Real Estate Investment Management for about $1 billion to diversify its client base, a deal which would help ING pay down state aid.

Carlos Slim's America Movil may join the 4 billion euro Polkomtel auction, switching its focus away from Serbia, the company's CEO Daniel Hajj told Reuters at a telecoms trade fair on Tuesday.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory has picked up the most powerful solar flare of the current solar cycle, which could cause spectacular auroras on Earth.

John Steinbeck's masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath stands as a chronicle of the Great Depression and as a commentary on the economic and social system that gave rise to it. His themes of man's inhumanity to man, the dignity and rage of the working class, and the selfishness and greed of the moneyed class ring true today.

Apple Inc is launching a long-awaited subscription service for magazines, newspapers, videos and music -- a move that could dent the fortunes of successful services such as Netflix and Hulu.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Tuesday as investors remained wary of indexes at loft levels, although retail sales later in the morning could drive markets.

Ira Glass and his crew at This American Life did some digging and discovered what they believe to be the original recipe of Coca Cola.

In the wake of The Daily, the News Corp.-run iPad-based periodical, Apple now says all content creators can offer such serivces on the iPad.

Wireless industry executives mostly lauded the alliance between Nokia and Microsoft as good for competition and innovation, despite the stock market's disdain for the deal.

Nokia, the world's largest phone maker by volume, is aiming to produce a phone running new partner Microsoft's operating system by the end of the year, its chief executive told Reuters.

Taiwanese phone maker HTC Corp. joined the tablet bandwagon as it released its Android-based 7-inch tablet the Flyer, stoking competition in the 7-inch form factor which includes players like Samsung Galaxy Tab and Dell Streak 7.

(Corrects in 4th paragraph to show retail sales rose less than forecast)

Billy Ray Cyrus speaks out about his daughter's destructive behavior and blames her TV show Hannah Montana.

Watson had an up-and-down first round on Jeopardy! against the game's greatest contestants.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will unveil a new U.S. push for global Internet freedoms on Tuesday, citing Internet-fired protests in Egypt and Iran as examples of how new technologies can spark political transformation.

CIT Group Inc , which emerged from bankruptcy in December 2009, reported a drop in quarterly profit compared with the third quarter, as the commercial lender was hurt by a fall in interest income and higher expenses.

Chinese inflation hit a lower-than-forecast 4.9 percent in January, but price pressures excluding food were their strongest in at least a decade and will force the central bank to keep tightening monetary policy.

Sales at U.S. retailers slowed in January as extreme weather in large parts of the country kept some shoppers at home, but the underlying improving trend in spending remained intact.

The line-up for the summer's hottest music and arts festival will be announced Tuesday. This year's festival will run from June 9-12.

GM plans introduce more than 20 new and upgraded models over the next two years in China, saying the country plays an important role in the automaker's global strategy.

Calling it the most unique honor in entertainment, Baldwin received his star in Los Angeles on Valentine's Day, for his achievements in the entertainment industry.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday after data showed weaker retail sales last month, raising a question mark about a recovery in consumer spending.

Sales at U.S. retailers slowed in January as extreme weather in large parts of the country kept some shoppers at home, but the underlying improving trend in spending remained intact.

Son of the Dalai Lama's late brother Taktser Rinpoche, Jigme K. Norbu was tragically killed when he was hit by an SUV while on a walk to raise awareness about Tibet's struggle for independence from China.

Sales at U.S. retailers increased less than expected in January amid weak receipts at building material and restaurant outlets, a government report showed on Tuesday, likely reflecting the drag from snow storms that slammed large parts of the country during the month.

Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext announced the creation of the world's largest exchange operator on Tuesday, dodging political issues that could threaten completion of a deal.

U.S. stocks opened lower on Tuesday after data showed weaker retail sales last month, raising a question mark about a recovery in consumer spending.

CIT Group Inc reported a sequential drop in quarterly profit as the commercial lender was hurt by a fall in interest income and higher expenses.