IBT Staff Reporter

Fixed income is likely to be less of an engine for profit growth for Wall Street firms as the United States housing market growth shows signs of slowing after two years of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

International Business Machines Corp. on Tuesday unveiled the first in a new line of product bundles encompassing hardware, software and technical assistance as it looks to increase its sales to small and medium-sized companies.

Buyers in the $565 billion market for so-called sub-prime mortgage bonds are clamoring for the high-yield securities, even though experts increasingly warn that pricing has reached irrational levels.

A U.S. industry group called on China on Tuesday to streamline licensing requirements for foreign-invested life insurers seeking to expand their operations and to do away with restrictions on foreign ownership.

The United States fell to sixth place in the World Economic Forum's 2006 global competitiveness rankings, ceding the top place to Switzerland, as macroeconomic concerns eroded prospects for the world's largest economy.

Japanese telecoms and Internet conglomerate Softbank Corp. plans to raise about 1.4 trillion yen (6.31 billion pounds) by securitising the cash flow of its Vodafone Japan operations

Bus and train operator FirstGroup said on Tuesday it had a good first half with new franchises leading to a strong performance across its UK Rail division.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs is set to cash in on changes in the life insurance sector with a new business to buy corporate pension schemes

Video games retailer Game Group said on Tuesday it was confident its full year result would be better than last year despite a delay in the launch of Sony Corp.'s Playstation 3.

RHM reported tough trading at its preserves and baking products business on Tuesday and said annual profit would be even more skewed to the second half than last year

Universal Music, the world's largest music company, is teaming up with advertising conglomerate WPP Group to link bands and brands.

Pay settlements held steady in the three months to August, a survey by a leading pay specialist showed on Tuesday, but most deals were worth less than a year ago.

Over a third of homeowners expect to have to work into retirement just to pay off their mortgage, according to a survey.

The number of blog sites in China reached 34 million last month, a 30 fold increase from four years ago, state media said on Tuesday, despite a series of curbs on media and dissent.

Former Enron Corp. chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, whose off the books deals led to the high flying energy giant's destruction, faces a federal judge on Tuesday to find out how long he will spend in prison.

The oil price might have fallen almost 25 percent from its peak, but the commodities sector as a whole is undervalued by around 30 percent giving further opportunity for growth according to one fund manager.

The number of blog sites in China reached 34 million last month, a 30-fold increase from four years ago, state media said on Tuesday, despite a series of curbs on media and dissent.

Oil held above $61 on Tuesday after rebounding from a six-month low as speculators fear a deepening fall could prompt OPEC to rein in output.

August saw $12.7 billion new mortgage loans approved, up 30.6% on July, while new loans drawn down fell 19.1%, to $8.4 billion, the Monetary Authority says.

August saw the value of total exports of goods rise to $226.2 billion, up 9.9% on the same month last year. The figure comes after a year-on-year rise of 10.7% in July.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Frederick Ma says more than 1,000 submissions have been received for the tax-reform consultaton, adding the proposed sales tax is the best option to maintain Hong Kong's competitiveness and broaden its tax base.

RHM reported continued recovery in its Mr Kipling cakes brand on Tuesday, but said high wheat prices and marketing spend meant annual profit would be even more skewed to the second half than last year.

The FTSE 100 index edged up on Tuesday, led by miners after metal prices rose overnight and oil bounced, but weighed by tobacco stocks.

Dairy Crest Group said on Tuesday it was to sell most of its retailer brand cheese operations for 61.9 million pounds to farmer owned dairy business First Milk.

U.S. stocks have returned 6.47 percent to investors so far this year. But the rest of the world has doubled that performance......

The pace of existing home sales in the United States fell for a fifth straight month in August and prices dropped from year-ago levels......

A group of 16 organizers for writers, artists, and musicians in Japan submitted a petition calling for legislation to extend the period of copyright protection from the current 50 years to 70 years after the death of right-holders, according to Japanese media.

Yamato Transport Co. will start its own international delivery service as a replacement for a service deal with United Parcel Service starting on Oct. 1, the company said on Monday.

Japan's Nissan Motor Co. will sell its all stake in Nissan Diesel Motor Co. to Swedish car and truck maker Volvo, Nissan said on Monday.