UNITED STATES

Warren Buffett and the rest of Berkshire Hathaway Inc's board of directors were sued by a shareholder on Tuesday over presumed heir apparent David Sokol's trading in the stock of a company that was later bought by Berkshire.

Gold prices continue to defy gravity and barreled past the psychologically important level of $1,500 per ounce in intraday trading on Tuesday. It briefly hit $1,500.50 and settled at $1494.50. Both figures are record highs.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Tuesday said bipartisan framework that sets targets for deficit reduction over the long-term could could be agreed to in the next few months, but exactly how to go about that would not happen soon.

Johnson & Johnson reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, fueled by higher prescription drug sales and stabilizing performance of its consumer products business that has been plagued by recalls.

Research In Motion's PlayBook tablet computer launched in almost empty stores on Tuesday, unable to whip up the frenzy that accompanies the debut of anything from rival Apple.

Mike Huckabee would draw many votes in the key Iowa primaries next year if he chose to run on the Presidential ticket, according to a survey by Public Policy Polling (PPP).

U.S. stocks advanced on Tuesday as stronger-than-expected report on new home starts and encouraging quarterly results from Johnson & Johnson buoyed sentiment.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc posted a 72 percent decline in quarterly earnings as trading revenue dropped, and the bank cautioned that its businesses face headwinds.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday after encouraging earnings from healthcare and materials companies and unexpected strength in housing, but weakness in technology and banks tempered gains.

Brent crude oil futures fell below $120 on Tuesday for the first time in two weeks, pressured by concern over the economic outlook and the risk that high prices could erode demand.

General Electric Co imposed new conditions on a large options award the board granted to Chief Executive Jeff Immelt after shareholders expressed concerns that the terms needed to be more stringent.

The Obama administration fired a fresh salvo at Wall Street on Tuesday, telling critics of the U.S. financial reform law to knock off their attacks.

Nasdaq OMX Group and Intercontinental Exchange Inc promised to pay a $350 million fee to NYSE Euronext if regulators knock down their takeover offer, in a bid to get NYSE to start deal talks.

Research In Motion's PlayBook went on sale in the United States and Canada on Tuesday in a launch the company hopes will win customers away from Apple's dominant iPad tablet computer.

There are some interesting elements from Donald Trump’s own ancestry. For one thing, “Trump” is not his real name.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc posted a 72 percent drop in first-quarter profit to shareholders as it made less money from trading bonds for clients. The largest U.S. investment bank posted a profit to common shareholders of $908 million, or $1.56 per share, compared with $3.3 billion, or $5.59 per share, in the same quarter a year ago.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Tuesday as sliding revenue in financial companies pointed to a struggling economy.

NASA is working to ensure the next generation of space craft is American-made.

Donald Trump’s promise to make foreign countries pay up has become a cornerstone of his unofficial 2012 presidential campaign.

U.S. home building and permits for future construction rebounded strongly last month from February's weather-depressed levels, but a glut of housing on the market will make further gains difficult.

Toyota Motor Co <7203.T> may have to change its U.S. sales targets because of production slowdowns in Japan and North America, the U.S. sales chief of the world's largest automaker said on Tuesday.