NYSE

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (NYSE:RDS) signed Wednesday the first-ever production sharing contract with China's state-owned China National Petroleum Corp., or CNPC, as the world's second largest economy seeks to develop its untapped reserves, similar to those that gave rise to the U.S. natural gas boom, with the help of foreign technology.

Discount shoe retailer DSW Inc. (NYSE: DSW) posted a higher than expected quarterly profit, fueled by cost-conscious shoppers looking for discounts, the Columbus, Ohio-based retailer reported Tuesday.

AcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, announced Tuesday it would keep an operating unit in Luxembourg shuttered indefinitely, the result of poor demand amidst a weak housing market in Europe.

Deutsche Börse AG, the operator of the Frankfurt stock exchange, announced Tuesday that it will appeal the decision by European antitrust regulators to block its planned merger with NYSE Euronext, the New York Times said.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Monday were: Michael Kors Holdings Ltd, Enersys, SunTrust Banks, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, SunCoke Energy and Headwaters. The top aftermarket NYSE Losers were: Regency Energy Partners, Excel Maritime Carriers, Roundy's, Williams-Sonoma, Beazer Homes USA and Mueller Water Products.

Square-shaped burger paddies have surpassed charbroiled slabs of meat, as Wendys' Co. (NASDAQ: WEN) leapfrogged Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) to become the second-largest U.S. hamburger chain, according to Technomic Inc.'s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.

At the height of the boom, commercial banks and investors gorged themselves on real estate, building unsustainable towers of debt that finally collapsed in 2008. But with the housing market improving, they may soon return for second helpings.

QuestBack, a fast-growing Norwegian developer of feedback software, is making a play for the U.S. market by opening an office and beefing up local personnel.

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) closed above $600 a share for the first time after announcing a $10 billion share buyback with plans for a $2.65 share dividend later this year.

China will raise its heavily regulated retail gasoline and diesel prices Tuesday by 6.4 percent and 7 percent, respectively, marking the biggest increase in 33 months, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) will chair a Congressional hearing next month to examine the effect closing of several refineries serving the East Coast has on gas prices.

Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL), the No. 3 software developer and No. 1 in databases, is scheduled to report third-quarter results Tuesday. Last quarter, it missed estimates and the shares plunged 15 percent, shaving as much as $5.3 billion from the net worth of CEO Larry Ellison.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Monday called for public comment on plans to extend oil and natural gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico.

U.S. and European investment banks may face headline risk again from credit ratings downgrades by Moody's Investors Service Inc. in the coming weeks, Nomura Securities warned Monday.

CEO Tim Cook decided on a new course for the Cupertino, Calif., company regarding shareholders. We have plenty of cash to run our business, he said.

Apple announced it will repurchase as many as $10 billion worth of shares now. Later this year, it plans to pay an initial dividend of $2.65 a share.

Chevron, before a recent leak off Brazil, was blamed for spilling about 3,000 barrels of oil last November. The detention of the foreign executives raises questions about Brazil's willingness to pursue offshore drilling.

European markets lost ground as the lack of positive catalysts prompted a pause in the recent string of gains, while Asian stocks were mostly higher.

UPS will pay €9.50 a share in cash for Europe's second-biggest express-delivery provider, up from a February bid of €9 a share and 54 percent above TNT shares' closing price on Feb. 16. The deal is the biggest in UPS's 105-year history.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suggested more clinical trials to back up Watson Pharmaceuticals' New Drug Application (NDA 22-139) for Progesterone Vaginal Gel 8%.

A whistleblower with a pending lawsuit against BP PLC (NYSE: BP) in a federal court in Houston alleged the company has an offshore platform that faces present and imminent danger.