COMPANIES

Daimler is taking a 10 percent stake in Tesla Motors, a U.S. based electric car start-up, as it expands its green auto business, the head of Daimler's research department said on Tuesday.

Home Depot Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings as massive cost cuts offset weak sales, but its shares fell as investors found the results disappointing in comparison with those of smaller rival Lowe's Cos Inc .

U.S. President Barack Obama took aim at climate-warming greenhouse gases on Tuesday and obliged the struggling auto industry to make more efficient cars by imposing tough national standards to cut emissions and increase gas mileage.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Tuesday it is expanding its assortment of hot electronics, like Blu-ray DVD players and high-definition TVs, and freshening the look of its 3,500 U.S. electronics departments as the retailer seeks to grab market share.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc on Tuesday said it would meet shareholders to discuss its future pay policies as investors rejected their pay packages during the Annual General meeting of its 2008 remuneration report held in London and Hague.

Brazilian Company, Petrobras which has acquired 60% of interest in Namibian exploration recently on Tuesday said it has $10 billion credit line from the China Development Bank to refinance its investments and services that has bought from china.

HSBC Holdings, Europe's biggest bank, expects to see consolidation in the financial industry later this year and in early 2010 that will create buying opportunities, Chief Executive Michael Geoghegan said on Tuesday.

Norilsk Nickel Chairman Alexander Voloshin said on Tuesday it would make sense for the world's largest nickel miner to merge with other Russian metals companies after the financial crisis is over.

Luxury goods may have lost their luster for many people due to the recession, but in Australia, some pets are still living the good life.

MTS, Russia's top mobile phone operator, said on Tuesday it had placed in full a five-year bond worth 15 billion roubles ($464.5 million).

Home Depot Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings as massive cost cuts offset weak sales, but its shares fell as investors found the results disappointing in comparison with those of smaller rival Lowe's Cos Inc .

Release Explanation: This report covers the number of new residential Starts and residential Building Permits issued each month, reported on an annualized basis.

Britain has held talks with investors to gauge their interest in buying its stakes in part-nationalized lenders, and could begin selling its holdings within a year, according to a person briefed on the matter.

The flood of follow-on stock issues in the United States will continue for several weeks but start shifting away from banks, a Morgan Stanley executive said Monday.

Porsche declined to comment on Tuesday on rumors that the carmaker could receive a 3-4 billion euro ($4.09-5.45 billion) investment from an unnamed Kuwaiti investor.

After 100 years in business and 10 months of frenzied but failed restructuring, General Motors Corp is weeks from the bankruptcy filing experts say will be required to complete the Obama administration's bid to reshape a fallen icon of American industry.

Upscale retailer Saks Inc posted a first-quarter loss on Tuesday, as inventory reductions and costs cuts were not enough to completely offset a steep drop in sales.

Home Depot Inc's quarterly profit beat Wall Street estimates on Tuesday as the world's largest home improvement chain reined in expenses. The results came the day after rival Lowe's Cos Inc reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings as it saw some strength in outdoor projects during the spring, even though consumers still kept away big-ticket home renovations.

Home Depot Inc reported a higher quarterly profit on Tuesday as the world's largest home improvement chain reined in its expenses.

Comcast Corp and the U.S. National Football League are close to a deal in which the league-owned NFL Network would be put on a widely distributed tier of the cable operator, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the talks.

Walt Disney Co on Tuesday launched a new website offering merchandise from its theme parks and resorts as the entertainment group seeks new revenue sources during a slump in business at Disneyland and other parks.

Israel’s largest oil refineries on Monday said its first quarter fell 11 percent particularly in its diesel demand despite oil prices increases in the current global recession.

The market did some strange things today. Those who follow it (and maybe trade it), will tell you it went up. The catalyst: communists lose some Indian political leverage, which will usher American style... socialism... in India, and homebuilders apparently are building homes again. The first item is open to discussion (mostly by political pundits), however to assume that the Indian market can sho...

Aerospace and defense company shares on Monday fell as Goldman Sachs analyst upgraded aerospace sector and downgraded defense cautiously as spending expected to peak next year.

Clothing retailer American Apparel Inc swung to a first-quarter loss, cut its full-year outlook and said it may have to restate prior financial statements due to the classification of its revolving credit facility, triggering a 20-percent slide in its stock.

Toyota Motor Corp said on Monday its new Prius had received pre-sale orders for 80,000 vehicles in Japan, kicking off what promises to be a fierce battle against hybrid rival Honda Motor Co.

Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, the largest shareholder of MGM Mirage , has acquired more shares of the casino operator, but his overall stake in the company has fallen, according to a securities filing on Monday.

World number two truck maker Volvo said on Monday its Powertrain unit had agreed with unions on cutting working hours and wages at its operations in Koping, in central Sweden.

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc will continue to sell the Ferrlecit iron deficiency treatment in the United States for the rest of the year following an arbitrator's ruling, the company said on Monday, giving Watson a victory for its closely watched product.