IBT Staff Reporter

Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc plans to open 180 dual-branded Wendy's and Arby's restaurants in Russia over the next 10 years, becoming the latest U.S. fast food chain to look to that market for growth.

U.S. non-farm productivity declined for the first time in 1-1/2 years during the second quarter this year and labor costs barely edged up, according to a Labor Department report on Tuesday that underlined a slowing pace of economic recovery.

JA Solar Holdings Co posted a second-quarter profit, meeting Wall Street estimates, and it raised its full-year sales forecast as demand topped its expectations..

Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc said on Tuesday it plans to open 180 dual-branded Wendy's and Arby's restaurants in Russia over the next ten years.

JA Solar Holdings Co posted a second-quarter profit and raised its full-year sales forecast.

Oil dropped more than a dollar below $80 a barrel on Tuesday, sapped by hints of weaker demand for fuel in the world's top energy users and a strengthening U.S. dollar. U.S. crude for September delivery fell $1.80 to $79.68 a barrel by 1304 GMT, off a session low of $79.55. London Brent crude was down $1.90 at $79.09.

Silver is unlikely to lose its charm in the coming days even as analysts predicted that the metals is expected to remain bullish this week, supported by technical indicators, a weak dollar and weaker China economic data.

The Federal Reserve's monetary policy committee gathered for a one-day meeting on Tuesday to consider, and perhaps adopt, additional measures to prop up a softening U.S. economic recovery.

Stocks were poised for a sharp decline at the open on Tuesday as uncertainty built up ahead of the Federal Reserve's latest assessment of the economy from its monetary policy meeting later in the day.

Non-farm productivity fell for the first time in 1-1/2 years during the second quarter and labor costs barely edged up, according to a Labor Department report on Tuesday that underlined a slowing pace of economic recovery.

The World Health Organization is likely to announce on Tuesday that the H1N1 flu pandemic is over, indicating infection levels in most places have returned to those normal for seasonal influenza, health officials said.

Measuring certain proteins in spinal fluid can accurately diagnose Alzheimer's and predict which patients with memory problems will develop the fatal brain-wasting disease, Belgian researchers said on Monday.

Stock index futures fell on Tuesday, weighed by worries over weaker-than-expected import data from China and a cautious mood ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting on monetary policy.

China's trade surplus surged unexpectedly in July to an 18-month high of $28.7 billion as exports beat forecasts, but a government-induced slowdown in investment took a toll on imports.

Stock index futures fell on Tuesday, weighed by worries over weaker-than-expected import data from China and a cautious mood ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting on monetary policy.

Small business owners became more downbeat in July as expectations of weaker economic growth in the second half of the year reinforced a reluctance to hire, according to a survey published on Tuesday.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Tuesday ahead of the outcome of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.58 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.52 percent and Nasdaq 100 down 0.67 percent at 4:45 a.m. EDT.

Asian wheat importers were reluctant to commit to deals on Tuesday, as Australian cash prices eased following two straight sessions of decline in Chicago futures from two-year highs.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc has hired Michael Wise, a Morgan Stanley veteran, to run its financial institutions group, the Wall Street Journal said.

It seems disasters are set to hit gold production in a big way this year. As reports come in from China about fire at a gold mine at Yantai in Shandong province killing 16 people, Chile also reported major accidents at its mines last week.

Gold retreated in Asian trade Tuesday, ahead of a crucial US Fed policy meeting. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1199.74 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while US gold futures for December delivery was at $1201.8 an ounce. Analysts said investors are hopeful of Fed taking steps to ease monetary policy later in the day, boosting bullion's safe-haven appeal.

Gold prices eased below $1,200 an ounce in Europe on Tuesday as the dollar strengthened, but remained supported by uncertainty ahead of a monetary policy meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve later in the day.

Oil dropped a dollar to below $81 a barrel on Tuesday, sapped by hints of weaker demand for fuel in the world's top energy users and a strengthening U.S. dollar. U.S. crude for September delivery fell $1.03 to $80.45 a barrel at 6:20 a.m. ET, off a session low of $80.30. London Brent crude was down $1.30 at $79.69.

McAfee Inc, the No. 2 security software maker, said production of software code known as malware, which can harm computers and steal user passwords, reached a new high in the first six months of 2010.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Tuesday ahead of the outcome of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.58 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.52 percent and Nasdaq 100 down 0.67 percent at 4:45 a.m. ET.

Gold steadied around $1,200 on Tuesday on bargain hunting as investors bet the U.S. Federal Reserve would take further steps to ease monetary policy later in the day, boosting bullion's safe-haven appeal.

Oil fell below $81 on Tuesday as China's crude imports slowed sharply in July, raising the prospect of less purchases by the world's second largest energy consumer as its economic growth cools in the second half. China imported 19 million tonnes or 4.47 million barrels per day of crude oil in July, down 17.5 percent from June's record 5.4 million bpd, official data showed.

Saudi Arabia will allow BlackBerry's Messenger service to continue beyond a 48-hour deadline due to positive progress made with manufacturer Research In Motion, the regulator said on Tuesday.

The dollar rose on Friday and world stocks slipped as investors stayed cautious ahead of likely moves by the U.S. Federal Reserve to warn about and possibly prop up a softening economic recovery.