UNITED STATES

The United States is awaiting official results of Sudan's referendum on whether to split the country into two, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday.

Citigroup Inc posted a $1.3 billion quarterly profit on Tuesday, as losses on bad loans fell, but the bank missed estimates on its earnings as it struggled with a slump in investment banking revenue.

Gold priced in US dollars rose for a second day on Tuesday. Reflecting the improved consumer appetite for gold in Asia, premiums for gold bars rose on Monday to hit another two-year high as jewelers from China rushed to buy ahead of the Lunar New Year, while purchases from the electronics sector helped stir up physical trading in Japan, dealers said.

Rusnano will invest $700 million in British Plastic technology firm Plastic Logic to produce basic plastic computer components in Russia.

The People’s Bank of China could hike interest rates in the first quarter of the year, an adviser to the central bank said on Tuesday.

S&P and Dow index futures were higher on Tuesday as investors were upbeat about corporate earnings, but Nasdaq futures were weighed by Apple after the iPad maker said its chief executive was taking another medical leave.

- World stocks hit a fresh 28-month high on Tuesday, while the euro climbed on new evidence of robust growth in Germany and signs that policymakers will eventually firm up plans to ease the euro zone's debt crisis.

U.S. President Barack Obama will host Chinese President Hu Jintao for a state visit on Tuesday in a crucial summit of the world's two biggest powers that some analysts have called the most important since Deng Xiaoping's visit 30 years ago.

Even as the rest of Europe remains on an edge about its economic recovery, Germany continues to post strong growth, as shown by the German investor confidence indicator on Tuesday.

Japan's JFE Steel Corp (5411.T) said on Tuesday it is boosting purchases of coking coal from the United States, China, Russia and Indonesia after heavy floods hit production sites in Australia, its biggest supplier.

China is committed to reforming its exchange rate policy, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, after senior U.S. senators pressed for Congress to get tough with China over manipulating its currency.

U.S. chipmaker Intel will invest $2.7 billion over the next two years upgrading its chip plant in southern Israel to produce 22 nanometer technology.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday flew to the United States for a state visit buffeted before he even lands by senior U.S. senators demanding tough action against China for manipulating its currency.

World stocks hit a fresh 28-month high on Tuesday, while the euro climbed on hopes for an easing of the euro zone debt crisis.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.02 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.11 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.7 percent at 3:45 a.m. EST.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.02 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.11 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.7 percent at 3:45 a.m. EST.

China said on Tuesday its rare earth exports rose 14.5 per cent in the Jan-Nov period of 2010 as prices more than doubled, with most of the shipments going to Japan, Europe and the United States.

A debate rages on over the role that educational institutions could play in preventing individuals like Loughner from causing a threat to public safety.

Apple Inc is set to report a stunning 50 percent jump in quarterly sales on Tuesday, as its iPhone and iPad excited holiday shoppers, but the consumer electronics powerhouse may face more pressing questions about the health of iconic chief executive Steve Jobs.

Vision Airlines, Atlanta’s charter flight provider that started services from Northwest Florida Regional Airport a while ago, is all set to lure travelers to Florida vacations by offering low-cost flights to the Southeastern state of United States.

The U.S. futures regulator hopes to fully implement its biggest crackdown on commodity market speculators by early 2012, a year after the deadline set by lawmakers, it said in a filing that gave the most detailed legal argument and timeline yet for the controversial plan.