MARKETS / FINANCE

Oil fell more than $1 per barrel toward $77 on Tuesday as the dollar rose against a basket of currencies and as stock markets slipped in Europe and Asia.

For-profit insurance companies use a smaller amount of premium dollars on medical claims than consumers are being told, according to a Senate analysis of data filed with insurance regulators.

Britain's two largest retail lenders have agreed to a massive shake-up of the banking sector that will see both sell hundreds of branches and key businesses to appease EU concerns over state aid and competition.

Britain's two largest retail lenders have agreed to a massive shake-up of the banking sector that will see both sell hundreds of branches and key businesses to appease EU concerns over state aid and competition.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

NetEase.com, one of China's top online game developers, will speed its push into the mobile sector as it looks to capitalize on the country's recent launch of high-speed 3G services, a top executive said.

A Chinese regulator has ordered top online game firm NetEase.com to stop operating a popular title, the result of an apparent governmental turf war highlighting the risks the sector faces.

World stocks dipped toward the previous session's four-week lows on Tuesday as investors continued to fret over the early removal of government stimulus, particularly in the financial sector.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Oil slipped below $78 per barrel on Tuesday ahead of data expected to show a rise in U.S. crude oil stocks and before key U.S. economic figures later in the week.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Lloyds Banking Group launched a record 13.5 billion pound ($22 billion) rights issue and along with rival Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to sell off some businesses to limit their reliance on government support.

Oil held steady above $78 a barrel on Tuesday, after rising more than 1.5 percent a day ago, as traders weighed the impact of a possible rise in U.S. crude stocks against positive manufacturing and home sales data.

Kraft Foods Inc will need to show progress in cutting costs and improving organic revenue when it reports earnings on Tuesday, in a bid to convince Cadbury shareholders it is a viable deal partner.

Crude oil rose and the dollar fell on Monday on strong worldwide factory data and a surprise jump in U.S. pending home sales, but U.S. stocks see-sawed before ending higher after a sell-off in banking shares.

Oil edged further above $78 a barrel on Tuesday, after rising more than 1.5 percent a day ago, as traders weighed the impact of a possible rise in U.S. crude stocks against positive manufacturing and home sales data.

China's reluctance to let markets play a freer hand in setting the value of the yuan, also called the renminbi, is a festering irritant that both the United States and China want to keep from getting out of hand.

General Motors Co had $13.6 billion remaining in its U.S. government-funded escrow account as of October, after making payments related to the restructuring of its former parts subsidiary Delphi, the company said on Monday.

Ford Motor Co posted a $1 billion quarterly profit on Monday, defying Wall Street forecasts of a loss, as it cut costs and gained market share, leading it to raise its 2011 outlook to solidly profitable from break-even.

The Australian Dollar opens at 0.9022 after a volatile session on Monday. With local equities opening in negative territory the Aussie fell in quick fashion down to an intraday low of US89 cents.

U.S. stocks rose on Monday after another round of solid economic reports but pulled off session highs after a Federal Reserve official's warning about banks' loan losses.

U.S. stocks rose on Monday after another round of solid economic reports but pulled off session highs after a Federal Reserve official's warning about banks' loan losses.

U.S. manufacturing activity hit its highest level in 3-1/2 years last month and pending home sales contracts unexpectedly surged in September, allaying fears the economy's budding recovery would falter.

U.S. stocks rose on Monday after another round of solid economic reports, but pulled off session highs after a Fed official's warning about banks' loan losses.

U.S. Federal Reserve officials meeting this week must weigh improving economic data against the risk, reinforced by a persistently weak job market, that a burgeoning recovery remains on shaky ground.

Human Genome Sciences Inc said its experimental lupus drug Benlysta eased symptoms in more than 43 percent of patients who took it in a clinical trial, paving the way for approval of the first new treatment for the disease in 50 years.

China's No.2 Internet games operator NetEase.com Inc said it has been notified by a Chinese government agency that its operation of the World of Warcraft game does not have proper approval.