IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a 1 percent drop at the open on Tuesday as poor results from Swiss lender UBS and a shake-up in British banks weighed on investor sentiment ahead of the start of a two-day Fed meeting.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a 1 percent drop at the open on Tuesday as poor results from Swiss lender UBS and a shake-up in British banks weighed on investor sentiment ahead of the start of a two-day Fed meeting.

European stocks fell sharply to a new one-month low on Tuesday, with banks suffering after poor results from UBS (UBSN.VX) and a shake-up of the UK retail banking sector.

European shares extended losses on Tuesday morning, with banks the biggest fallers after disappointing results from UBS (UBSN.VX) and a shake-up of UK banks.

Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE fell below the 5,000 level for the first time in a month on Tuesday, while European stocks also extended losses, weighed by weakness in banks and miners.

Executives do not expect the U.S. commercial real estate market to emerge from critical condition any time soon, according to a survey by The Real Estate Roundtable.

Federal Reserve officials meeting this week must weigh improving economic data against the risk, reinforced by a persistently weak job market, that a burgeoning recovery remains on shaky ground.

Oil fell more than $1 per barrel toward $77 on Tuesday as the dollar rose against a basket of currencies and as stock markets slipped in Europe and Asia.

For-profit insurance companies use a smaller amount of premium dollars on medical claims than consumers are being told, according to a Senate analysis of data filed with insurance regulators.

Britain's two largest retail lenders have agreed to a massive shake-up of the banking sector that will see both sell hundreds of branches and key businesses to appease EU concerns over state aid and competition.

Britain's two largest retail lenders have agreed to a massive shake-up of the banking sector that will see both sell hundreds of branches and key businesses to appease EU concerns over state aid and competition.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

NetEase.com, one of China's top online game developers, will speed its push into the mobile sector as it looks to capitalize on the country's recent launch of high-speed 3G services, a top executive said.

A Chinese regulator has ordered top online game firm NetEase.com to stop operating a popular title, the result of an apparent governmental turf war highlighting the risks the sector faces.

World stocks dipped toward the previous session's four-week lows on Tuesday as investors continued to fret over the early removal of government stimulus, particularly in the financial sector.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Oil slipped below $78 per barrel on Tuesday ahead of data expected to show a rise in U.S. crude oil stocks and before key U.S. economic figures later in the week.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

The dollar slid on Tuesday, pushing gold prices to near record highs, while Asian stocks eased as investors awaited policy announcements from some key central banks this week for clues on the timing of eventual shifts in policy.

Oil held steady above $78 a barrel on Tuesday, after rising more than 1.5 percent a day ago, as traders weighed the impact of a possible rise in U.S. crude stocks against positive manufacturing and home sales data.

Kraft Foods Inc will need to show progress in cutting costs and improving organic revenue when it reports earnings on Tuesday, in a bid to convince Cadbury shareholders it is a viable deal partner.

Crude oil rose and the dollar fell on Monday on strong worldwide factory data and a surprise jump in U.S. pending home sales, but U.S. stocks see-sawed before ending higher after a sell-off in banking shares.

Speeding Up Climate Reform; Fed Weighs Economy; U.S.-China Currency Stake

Oil edged further above $78 a barrel on Tuesday, after rising more than 1.5 percent a day ago, as traders weighed the impact of a possible rise in U.S. crude stocks against positive manufacturing and home sales data.

The top Republican on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee wants bipartisan financial reform, but sees key issues as unsettled and opposes a new consumer protection watchdog, an aide told Reuters on Monday.

Britain is set to announce on Tuesday a long-awaited deal with its bailed-out banks, including a record rights issue for Lloyds Banking Group and hefty disposals for Royal Bank of Scotland to appease the EU competition regulator and boost competition.