UNITED STATES

Oracle Corp's quarterly earnings beat market expectations as profit margins hit a record high and software sales fell less than anticipated, sending its shares up 2.5 percent.

President Barack Obama toughened his criticism of Iran on Tuesday for its crackdown on anti-government protesters, harshly condemning the violence and declaring scenes of death in Tehran heartbreaking.

U.S. stocks were nearly flat on Tuesday while the dollar slipped against its two top rivals, while crude oil futures and Treasuries rose.

The S&P 500 rose on Tuesday as investors hunted for bargains a day after a steep sell-off, but another delay for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner kept the Dow in the red.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose for a second straight month in May but were weaker than expected, adding to growing fears of an anemic economic recovery from a deep recession.

Oracle Corp reported earnings above expectations on Tuesday as the world's No. 3 software maker's profit margin hit a record and software sales fell less than analysts had projected.

U.S. securities regulators are considering shortening a money market fund's maturity limits to protect investors after last year's sudden losses in industry pioneer Reserve Primary Fund, a source familiar with the agency's thinking said on Tuesday.

U.S. limousine companies are laying off workers and closing offices as the recession cuts into demand for the shiny black symbols of wealth and power.

The number of mass layoffs by U.S. employers rose last month to tie a record set in March, according to government data released on Tuesday that suggested the labor market has yet to stabilize.

Oil rose nearly 2 percent on Tuesday as the dollar weakened and disruptions from OPEC member Nigeria stoked supply concerns.

The United States and European Union on Tuesday began a case against China at the World Trade Organization over its export restrictions on industrial raw materials, saying Beijing was trying to tilt the playing field in favor of its own industries.

Sprint Nextel Corp expects shortages of Palm Inc's high-profile Pre smartphone for a while but has not felt any impact from the new iPhone so far, Sprint's chief financial officer said on Tuesday.

The Federal Reserve began a two-day meeting on Tuesday at which it is expected to dampen expectations for interest rate hikes this year, while holding steady on its plans for asset purchases.

U.S. chief executives took a slightly less grim view of the economy in the second quarter, but still plan to cut jobs and capital spending, according to a Business Roundtable survey released on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama told reporters today during a press conference that he has fallen off the wagon sometimes when trying to quit the habit of smoking but never he smokes in the presence of his kids or in front of his family, he said according to the Associated Press.

U.S. chief executives took a slightly less grim view of the economy in the second quarter, but still plan to cut jobs and capital spending, according to a Business Roundtable survey released on Tuesday.

The introduction of a computer code to financial reports was supposed to transform the way investors' could analyze the data. The reality is proving to be a little less exciting.

The United States and European Union are launching a World Trade Organization case against China over its export restrictions on raw materials, officials announced on Tuesday.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose for a second straight month in May but were weaker than expected, adding to growing fears of an anemic economic recovery from a deep recession.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose for a second straight month in May but were weaker than expected, adding to growing fears of an anemic economic recovery from a deep recession.

Netflix chief executive officer predicted in a Tuesday report that DVD rentals at his service will begin to decline at least four years from now as Internet deliveries of movies grow, according to the Wall Street Journal.