IBT Staff Reporter

Private equity group CVC Capital Partners is prepared to offer up to 1.5 billion euros ($2.1 billion) for Anheuser-Busch InBev's Central and Eastern European assets, newspaper De Tijd said on Tuesday.

Home prices are stabilizing after steep declines last year, although prices are still down about 17 percent compared to last year, according to new home prices index report released on Tuesday which gives further support to the belief that the housing market is reaching a bottom.

Viacom Inc reported a steep fall in quarterly earnings, hit by poor advertising revenue and a dropoff in sales of its Rock Band video game.

Office Depot Inc reported a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday as troubles in corporate America weighed on sales at the No. 2 U.S. office supplies retailer.

The major music labels are planning a new digital album format that will debut with a tablet-like personal computer from Apple Inc in September, people familiar with the plans said on Monday.

Our high on the day so far was just after 10 AM when the new home sales report came out. Predictably, the headlines are in and

Interpublic Group reported a sharp drop in quarterly earnings on Tuesday, the latest advertising giant undercut by the prolonged downturn in spending by clients.

Bank of America Corp said on Tuesday it plans to modestly reduce the size of its U.S. branch network over the next three to five years, but does not have plans to eliminate 10 percent of its branches.

U.S. single-family home prices rose in May from April, the first monthly increase in nearly three years, suggesting prices may be stabilizing, according to Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller home price indexes on Tuesday.

Viacom Inc reported a steep fall in quarterly earnings, hit by poor advertising revenue and a dropoff in sales of its Rock Band video game.

Stocks were set to dip at Tuesday's opening after a handful of companies, including Viacom Inc and Office Depot Inc, posted disappointing quarterly results and investors sought more evidence of the economic rebound.

IBM Corp. said Tuesday it plans to acquire SPSS Inc., a technology services company that helps businesses predict future trends and observe consumer patterns and behavior, for $1.2 billion.

Auto dealership chain Sonic Automotive Inc (SAH.N) posted a plunge in second-quarter profit on Tuesday as the economic recession hurt consumer demand for new vehicles.

Canadian auto parts maker Magna (MGa.TO) has increased the amount of upfront capital it will inject in its offer for General Motors' European unit Opel, a German government source said on Tuesday.

Canadian auto parts maker Magnahas increased the amount of upfront capital it would inject into Opel in its offer for the General Motors European unit, a German government source said on Tuesday.

Viacom Inc reported a steep fall in quarterly earnings, hit by poor advertising revenue and a dropoff in sales of its Rock Band video game.

Japan's Toyota Motor Corp plans to launch a hybrid compact for around 1.5 million yen ($15,760) in Japan in late 2011, broadening its hybrid car line-up, the Asahi newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Stocks headed for a lower open on Tuesday as a handful of companies, including Office Depot Inc , posted disappointing quarterly results and investors turned cautious before key data on home prices and consumer confidence.

International Business Machines Corp plans to buy technology services company SPSS Inc for about $1.2 billion in cash, the companies said on Tuesday.

Office Depot Inc reported a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday as the recession weighed on sales at the No. 2 U.S. office supplies retailer, and its shares fell 13 percent.

The greenback recovered from its earlier losses against the majors as the US equity bourses slipped into negative territory by afternoon trading.

Deutsche Bank AG braced for an economic slump by raising loan loss provisions in the second quarter, overshadowing a nearly 70 percent rise in net profit driven mainly by its investment bank.

Senior U.S. housing officials and leading mortgage companies on Tuesday will make a fresh commitment to help troubled borrowers keep their homes and will promise to expand foreclosure-prevention aid, sources familiar with the plans said.

International Business Machines plans to buy technology services company SPSS Inc for $50 a share, in a cash deal valued at about $1.2 billion, the companies said on Tuesday.

Weak demand for energy and slumping prices hurt utilities in Spain and Austria in the first half as the financial crisis dents power sales to key industrial customers and prevents companies from raising prices.

Bank of America Corp is planning to reduce its 6,100-branch network by about 10 percent, the Wall Street Journal cited the bank's chief executive Kenneth Lewis as telling investors.

China is bringing 150 senior officials, including nearly its whole Cabinet, to the United States this week for talks whose symbolic value is likely to trump concrete achievements.

Stock index futures dropped to session lows on Tuesday as several companies, including Office Depot Inc , posted lackluster quarterly results and investors turned cautious ahead of key reports on home prices and consumer confidence.

Australia's government is considering doubling compensation for coal miners under its carbon trade scheme, media reports said on Tuesday, as a new poll found Australians want carbon laws delayed to next year.