IBT Staff Reporter

Bank of Montreal posted a 44 percent drop in quarterly profit on Tuesday, but the results came in stronger than expected as provisions for bad loans were not as high as analysts had forecast.

Netbook PC pioneer Asustek aims to double its market share to become the world's No.3 laptop vendor, riding the rising popularity of low-cost laptops among budget-conscious consumers during the global downturn.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will urge U.S. President Barack Obama at their first White House talks to press Israel to halt expansion of Jewish settlements, Palestinian officials said on Tuesday.

Mexico's peso reversed losses to firm on Tuesday and stocks jumped after U.S. consumer confidence soared in May to its highest level in eight months, boding well for Mexico's exports.

A U.S. air strike in western Afghanistan early this month was a disproportionate use of force that killed 97 civilians and no more than two Taliban fighters, an Afghan rights watchdog said in a report on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama nominated Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, selecting a woman who would be the court's first Latino to replace retiring Justice David Souter.

Alpha Bank, Greece's third-largest lender, on Tuesday reported a 58.2 percent year-on-year drop in first-quarter net profit to 85.7 million euros ($119.7 million) on slower loan growth and higher provisions.

Gold miner CGA Mining Ltd said it plans to raise C$17 million ($15.10 million) through a private placement of its shares.

President Barack Obama has named Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace outgoing Supreme Court Justice David Souter making her the first Hispanic in history picked to wear the robes of a justice.

Freddie Mac said its sale of $3 billion of bills on Tuesday brought mixed rates and drew stronger demand compared with the most recent sales of the same maturities.

The U.S. economy appears destined for several years of weak growth and high unemployment that leave it vulnerable to a recession relapse after the massive dose of government stimulus wears off.

U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is set to raise $10.6 billion through the sale of a four-part bond, IFR reported on Tuesday, that will help finance its purchase of Wyeth.

As General Motors Corp creeps toward bankruptcy, Japanese auto executives have grown less worried about the turmoil in the supply chain and dealer channels the demise of the No. 1 U.S. car maker would cause.

India's Bharti Airtel and South Africa's MTN have revived merger talks to create a $61 billion telecoms giant spanning Africa, Asia and the Middle East a year after their previous attempt foundered over who would control the combined entity.

Oil pared losses on Tuesday to trade above $61 a barrel, after Saudi Arabia said oil demand was picking up and in response to positive U.S. consumer confidence data.

Recent share placements by renewable energy companies suggest the industry has passed through a financial bottleneck, but investor appetite for further stock sales could vanish as quickly as it surfaced.

U.S. consumer confidence soared in May to its highest level in eight months as severe strains in the labor market showed some signs of easing, though Americans' moods remained depressed by historical standards.

U.S. firm Duke Energy may be building its last two coal plants to bet instead on nuclear power, chief executive James Rogers said on Tuesday.

U.S. consumer confidence soared in May to its highest level in eight months as severe strains in the labor market showed some signs of easing, though Americans' mood remained depressed by historical standards.

Germany pressed the three bidders for General Motors unit Opel to improve their offers for the carmaker on Tuesday, saying they needed to assume greater risks and make credible commitments to preserve jobs and sites.

Prices of U.S. single-family homes fell 18.7 percent in March from a year earlier, while prices in the first quarter dropped at a record pace, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices released on Tuesday.

If there is one industry suited to embrace the online revolution, it’s real estate. After all, the Internet is all about bringing together people and information, making it easier for the right people to find the right information. Substitute the word “houses” for “information”, and you have real estate.

World stocks fell on Tuesday with Asian shares leading the way as tension about North Korean nuclear tests added to questions over the global economic outlook.

Stock index futures pointed to a flat to lower open on Tuesday after a long weekend as tensions surrounding North Korea unsettled investors and hopes for a quick economic recovery in the near-term ebbed.

Obama to nominate Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court

Prices of U.S. single-family homes in March fell 18.7 percent from a year earlier, while prices in the first quarter dropped at a record pace, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices released on Tuesday.

United Auto Workers' officials will gather on Tuesday to hear how many more U.S. factory jobs GM will cut as the embattled automaker enters what could be its last week outside bankruptcy.

Top executives from utilities, electric car, solar and wind power companies demanded on Tuesday that governments turn away from fossil fuels when they sign a new climate pact, expected in December.

Germany denied it was considering a possible breakup of carmaker Opel ahead of a crucial final round of meetings on Tuesday between the government and top executives from Italian suitor Fiat .