U.S.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices remained lower on Tuesday despite better-than-expected reading on economic activity as a fresh exchange of fire between North Korea and South Korea weighed on the sentiment.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to lower opening on Tuesday as a fresh exchange of fire between North Korea and South Korea, and concerns over European debt crisis weighed on the sentiment.

Rare earth elements are not exactly rarefied minerals, but the rest of the world played into China's hands by going easy on their exploration and production as environmental priorities complicated a game they were already losing to China on the labor cost front.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to lower opening on Tuesday after North Korea shelled a South Korean island, triggering worries that the lingering tensions between the countries could worsen.

The U.S. economic growth is expected to remain sluggish over the next couple of years, as inflation heads towards zero and unemployment remains high. Official U.S. GDP figures are due on Tuesday, along with sales information of existing homes.

The nation that once gloated over its ability to feed the entire world is seeing an explosion of poverty: The number of people surviving on food stamps is rising as biting unemployment refuses to abate, personal incomes have been falling while the debt bubble is inflating with each passing day and, in a more startling representation of the grim reality, tent cities are mushrooming as more and more people are pushed out of their ‘underwater’ homes.

U.S. and Japanese officials are meeting to discuss whether the U.S. can supply rare earths to Japan. But uncertainties surrounding the American reserves remain, as there are no active mines in the U.S.

S&P 500 Index slid 5.63 points, or 0.49 percent, to trade at 1,190.71 at 09:50 a.m. EST. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 44.77 points, or 0.40 percent, to trade at 11,136.46. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.44 percent to trade at 2,503.47.

Futures on the S&P 500 lost 3.70 points to 1,194.00, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average are down 31.00 points to 11,145.00 and Nasdaq100 futures are down 5.00 points to 2,129.25.

Rubber futures rallied on Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) on Friday, on expectations China may top off its stocks and on continued supply concerns.

Retail sales in October picked up pace, and brightened the outlook for year-end shopping as purchases rose 1.2%, the highest in the last seven months.

Shares of automaker General Motors opened at $35 in its first trading day on the NYSE after recovering from a government funded bailout. The opening price was an increase of 2 percent from its IPO price of $33.

S&P 500 Index gained 13.19 points, or 1.18 percent, to trade at 1,192.55 at 09:50 a.m. EDT. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 122.79 points, or 1.12 percent, to trade at 11,130.67. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.29 percent to trade at 2,508.13.

U.S. initial jobless claims rose less-than-expected for the week ended Nov. 13, after falling sharply to a four month low in the previous week.

GM will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange beginning today after a landmark intial public offering, from which GM is expected to raise as high as $23.1 billion.

Here’s a list of retailers luring Black Friday shoppers with tempting deals

Futures on the S&P 500 gained 11.80 points to 1,189.30, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average are up 87.00 points to 11,082.00 and Nasdaq100 futures are up 25.50 points to 2,122.50.

General Motors Co is inching closer towards returning to the U.S. market in one of the biggest IPOs in the U.S. history and could even become the world's largest.

S&P 500 Index edged up 0.68 points, or 0.06 percent, to trade at 1,179.73 at 09:53 a.m. EDT. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 8.47 points, or 0.08 percent, to trade at 11,015.03. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.24 percent.

Victoria Kolakowski became the first elected transgender judge in United States by defeating deputy district attorney John Creighton in a fiercely contested race for Alameda County Superior Court.

Construction of new homes touched an 18-month low in October, falling much more than expected, according to a report by the U.S. Commerce Department.