Japan PM calls election as LDP battles to hold on
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso dissolved parliament's lower house on Tuesday for an August 30 election that polls show could see his conservative party ousted for only the second time in its more than half-century reign.
Iran police chief says opposition incites sedition
Iran's police chief accused the opposition on Tuesday of inciting sedition after last month's disputed presidential election and said his force would act firmly to uphold the law.
APEC decries protectionism, commits to Doha by 2010
Asia-Pacific nations agreed on Tuesday to shun protectionist measures after some criticized the United States and other developed world buy local campaigns at a meeting pushing forward momentum toward a global trade pact.
Earnings drive markets higher; Caterpillar soars
Stocks rose slightly on Tuesday as upbeat quarterly results from bellwether companies, including Caterpillar Inc, overshadowed Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's cautious outlook for the economy.
SEC seeks to stop Stanford receiver's claw backs
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking to prevent Ralph Janvey -- the receiver appointed to liquidate Stanford assets -- from suing investors for proceeds they got from Texan financier Allen Stanford.
Flu death toll at 700, school closures an option: WHO
The H1N1 virus has killed more than 700 people worldwide since emerging in April, and countries could consider closing schools to slow its spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
Israeli settlements political suicide: Merkel ally
A senior member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party on Tuesday urged Israel not to build more settlements, warning it risked political suicide if it continued to do so.
Exelon watches NRG vote amid acquisition attempt
Exelon Corp's ambitious acquisition attempt to form the largest power generation firm in the U.S. may get a boost on Tuesday after a crucial vote at the annual shareholders meeting for NRG Energy, Inc in New Jersey.
Obama says healthcare bills need more work
President Barack Obama said in an interview aired on Tuesday that healthcare reform bills needed more work, but he was optimistic that the final legislation would drive down costs over the long-term.
Caterpillar lifts Dow; Nasdaq and S&P 500 flat
The Nasdaq briefly turned positive on Tuesday to trade near break-even, along with the S&P 500 index, as optimism about the latest corporate earning results tempered a cautious economic assessment from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Corporate cost-cuts: early gains soon turn to pain?
Much of Corporate America has slashed costs to stay in the black during the recession, but wielding the knife too heavily could also remove the ability to grow in a recovery. If you cut into flesh long enough, eventually you find bone, said David Rosenberg, chief economist at Gluskin Sheff in Toronto. Cost cutting is not a bottomless pit.
Nasdaq, S&P 500 dip after Bernanke comments
The S&P 500 index turned negative on Tuesday, while the Nasdaq added to losses and the Dow industrials pared gains after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke cautioned that unemployment was likely to remain high into 2011.
BlackRock profit falls but tops estimates
Asset manager BlackRock Inc said second-quarter profit and revenue fell from a year earlier but improved from the first quarter.
United Tech profit down 23 percent, cuts '09 forecast
United Technologies Corp posted a 23 percent drop in profit and lowered its 2009 forecast as it faces weaker-than-expected orders for equipment used in large buildings and aircraft.
UAE's Etisalat bids for Libyan telecom licence
UAE telecoms firm Emirates Telecommunications Corp (Etisalat) could invest at least $500 million if it wins a tender for a telecom licence in Libya as it looks to boost its customer base into North Africa, a top executive said on Tuesday.
Bernanke sees improvement in economic prospects
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday said the outlook for the long-suffering U.S. economy appears to be improving and the U.S. central bank was carefully reviewing ways to withdraw its massive monetary policy stimulus when conditions permit.
CNOOC explores $15 bln JV with Repsol -source
China's CNOOC is exploring a potential $15 billion joint venture with Repsol, involving the Spanish oil company's global exploration and production assets, a source familiar with the matter said.
Caterpillar beats Street and lifts outlook
U.S. machinery maker Caterpillar Inc posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday and raised its full-year outlook, citing what it said were growing signs of stability in the world's credit markets and economies.
Coke tops view despite strong dollar
Coca-Cola Co reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, aided by growth in emerging markets, but its shares fell as revenue was lighter than anticipated and investors looked for stocks with stronger growth potential.
Bernanke sees some improvement in economic prospects
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday said the outlook for the long-suffering U.S. economy appears to be improving and the U.S. central bank was carefully reviewing ways to withdraw its massive monetary policy stimulus when conditions permit.
Biotech leaps ahead in venture funding - report
Biotechnology leapt ahead as the biggest recipient of U.S. venture capital money in the second quarter, but first-time venture investments in companies overall dropped to a 15-year low, a trade association reported on Monday.
Wynn Resorts files for HK IPO of Macau unit
Las Vegas casino company Wynn Resorts has submitted an application to list its Macau unit on the Hong Kong stock exchange, sources said on Tuesday, hoping to raise between $500 million and $1 billion.
Merck profit falls, but taxes drive profit beat
Merck & Co said second-quarter earnings fell, hurt by the strong dollar and lower sales of its cholesterol drugs, but favorable tax settlements helped the drugmaker soundly beat profit forecasts.
Continental posts Q2 loss
Continental Airlines Inc posted a steeper second-quarter loss on Tuesday as the slump in business travel and fears about the H1N1 virus hurt revenue, and said it will cut its work force by 4 percent.
Dell interested in buying Indian-model IT firms
Dell, the world's second-biggest maker of personal computers after Hewlett-Packard, says it wants to buy lean IT firms with business models similar to those of India's outsourcing pioneers.
Corrected: Continental posts Q2 loss
(Corrects year-ago figures in paragraph 3)
Research in Motion blocked from Nortel wireless bid
Research In Motion Ltd said on Monday Nortel Networks had effectively blocked the BlackBerry maker from bidding potentially $1.1 billion for the bankrupt Canadian company's wireless business.
Caterpillar, Merck results boost stock futures
Stock index futures rose on Tuesday, a day after the S&P 500 hit its highest closing level in eight months, after Caterpillar Inc posted stronger-than-expected quarterly results.
Continental posts loss, to cut 1,700 jobs
Continental Airlines Inc posted a steeper second-quarter loss on Tuesday as the slump in business travel and fears about the H1N1 virus hurt revenue, and said it will cut its work force by 4 percent.
UAL posts net profit, plans new capacity cut
UAL Corp , parent of United Airlines, reported a quarterly profit on Tuesday after big gains from fuel hedges, but said it would cut its international flying capacity by 7 percent to offset sagging demand.