MARKETS / FINANCE

Oil fell below $66 a barrel on Tuesday as a weak demand outlook was expected to be reinforced by weekly inventory data from the United States.

U.S. single-family home prices in July rose from the previous month, surpassing forecasts and bolstering the case for housing market stability after a three-year plunge, Standard & Poor's said on Tuesday.

Walgreen Co, the largest U.S. drugstore chain, reported a quarterly profit that topped expectations as it began to benefit from a make-over that includes sprucing up stores and cutting jobs, sending its shares 10 percent higher.

The economy is still spooking shoppers. U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $56.31 on Halloween this year, down from $66.54 in 2008, according to a National Retail Federation survey.

JPMorgan Chase & Co said on Tuesday its co-chief executive of investment banking is leaving, one of several management changes that are part the bank's succession plan.

Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.9 percent on Tuesday, with exporters such as Kyocera Corp (6971.T) rebounding after the yen pulled back from an eight-month high against the dollar.

European shares dipped on Tuesday after the previous session's sharp gains, dragged lower by commodity stocks, but financials offered support after BNP Paribas raised capital to shake off government influence.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Tuesday following solid gains in the previous session as investors awaited data on home prices and consumer confidence.

Walgreen Co , the largest U.S. drugstore chain, reported a quarterly profit that topped expectations, as it began to benefit from a make-over that includes sprucing up stores and cutting jobs, sending its shares higher.

Britain's leading share index was 0.4 percent weaker in mid-session trade on Tuesday, with weakness in commodity stocks outweighing gains in financials as investors booked profit after recent gains.

U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Tuesday as investors awaited data on home prices and consumer confidence, following solid gains in the previous session.

Oil dipped toward $66.50 a barrel on Tuesday as a weak demand outlook was expected to be reinforced by weekly inventory data from the United States.

U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Tuesday as investors awaited data on home prices and consumer confidence, following solid gains in the previous session.

Hedge fund manager John Paulson is considering merging troubled U.S. finance company CIT Group with failed mortgage lender IndyMac Federal Bank , the New York Post said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Stock futures were down on Tuesday morning, indicating a weaker start for Wall Street. The futures for Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were down 0.1 to 0.3 percent by 4:20 a.m. EDT.

World stocks edged higher while the dollar steadied on Tuesday as BNP Paribas' move to pay back state financial support and growing corporate takeover activity bolstered confidence about economic recovery.

BNP Paribas, France's biggest bank by market capitalization, on Tuesday joined the rush to pay back governments for their financial support during the credit crisis.

UBS chief executive Oswald Gruebel said Paine Webber, the bank's U.S. wealth management unit, is non-core but the bank will not sell at present, the Financial Times quoted him as saying.

Oil held steady around $67 a barrel on Tuesday after climbing more than 1 percent a day ago, boosted by strong equities markets and Iran's missile tests, but gains were moderated by expected builds in U.S. fuel stocks.

Xerox Corp plans to buy Affiliated Computer Services Inc for $5.5 billion to move into the outsourcing business, but shares of the printing company plunged on concerns that it was gambling on a major shift in strategy.

A federal judge on Monday agreed to move accused swindler Allen Stanford to a federal lockup in downtown Houston to be closer to his attorneys, who are sifting through over 4 million documents in his case.

Media players like Apple's iPod will be set by default to a new, lower, safe volume level in Europe, according to a new rule passed by the European Commission on Monday.

The Australian Dollar opens higher against the greenback on Tuesday at 0.8720.

Toshiba Corp, Japan's largest chipmaker, would scale back research and development at its semiconductor segment, as well as the wider electronic device business, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Technology companies have been beefing up their portfolios by buying up service providers, which are proven to be attractive targets with their relatively high-margin businesses and stability during tough economic times.

Webcasts of recent club shows by rock bands Weezer, Wolfmother and the Killers are rolling out on Yahoo through a partnership with the latest edition of the Guitar Hero videogame.

Stocks rallied on Monday, snapping a three-day losing streak, as a spurt of corporate takeovers in the technology and health-care sectors fueled optimism about share values.

U.S. non-farm payrolls for September probably fell by the smallest amount in a year, more proof the economy is pulling out of recession, but the jobless rate likely ticked up, according to a Reuters survey.

Stocks rallied on Monday, snapping a three-day losing streak, as a spurt of corporate takeovers in the technology and health-care sectors fueled optimism about share values.