INVESTMENT

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), the world's biggest mining company, has announced that its financial first half profit fell 5.5 percent, which is the first decrease in two years for the firm that is affected by rising costs, production disruptions and falling commodity prices.

Renesas Electronics Corp, Fujitsu Ltd and Panasonic Corp are in talks to merge their chip operations, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Japan's Renesas Electronics Corp, Fujitsu Ltd and Panasonic Corp have begun discussions toward integrating their system chip operations, the Nikkei business daily said.

Adding to the outcry against new rules for money-market funds, Fidelity Investments has warned regulators that more than half of its money-fund clients would move some or all of their assets out of the investments if the net asset value of the funds were allowed to fluctuate.

In its chaotic final days, MF Global's floundering brokerage used increasingly large chunks of customer money in an effort to keep the company afloat, creating a massive shortfall in customer funds, the trustee liquidating the brokerage has found.

As the nation's five largest mortgage lenders edge close to a $25 billion settlement over foreclosure abuses, it's becoming clear that the deal will have little or no impact on their future bottom lines.

Money market accounts could soon be joining "free checking" in the dustbin of retail banking history. That's what various portfolio managers who make up a large chunk of the industry are saying could happen if certain regulatory provisions being discussed in Washington are enacted.

Given the fragile state of the global economy and brewing geopolitical risks, investors should be underweight equities while favoring selected commodities such as gold and oil, Mohamed El-Erian, CEO and co-chief investment officer of bond fund giant PIMCO, told CNBC on Tuesday.

Gold prices have been too volatile to play a reliable role as a hedge against inflation, a study of financial assets over the past 112 years showed on Tuesday.

Gold prices rose 1 percent on Tuesday as expectations that a Greek rescue deal will be completed drove the dollar down sharplyagainst the euro.

Electric car startup Fisker Automotive Inc said on Monday it has suspended work at its U.S. manufacturing plant and laid off 26 workers there while it renegotiates the terms of its $529 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The California State Teachers' Retirement System, the second-largest public pension fund, has made what it called one of the largest single U.S. fund management commitments to infrastructure, investing up to $500 million.

When the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 in Sunday's Super Bowl XLVI, it was another notch in the legacy belt of one of the NFL's longest-running family-owned franchises.

The BSE Sensex snapped a five-day rally on Tuesday as investors locked in profits after the government forecast growth may dip below 7 percent, the slowest pace since the 2008 financial crisis.

Gold broke a two-day losing streak on Tuesday on light volume as the euro rose, but sellers matched buyers to keep the price in a narrow range.

The dividend rise marks the firm's first since the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

India's economy is expected to grow at 6.9 percent in the current financial year, its slowest pace in three years, according to the official data released by the government.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Monday were: NCR Corp, Standard Pacific Corp, PHH Corp, InterOil Corp and K12 Inc. The top aftermarket NYSE losers: Loews Corp, Sally Beauty Holdings, HyperDynamics, Enzo Biochem and Covidien plc.

The Indian economy is estimated to grow 6.9 percent this fiscal year, its slowest pace in three years, the government said, as tight monetary policy and a logjam in government policy making coupled with weak global conditions stifles investment.

Asian markets edged up on Tuesday even as Greek resistance to the strict conditions attached to a bailout fund sapped recent momentum and the euro eased on renewed fears of a messy debt default.

Last year's hedge fund losers may be turning into winners again.