MARKETS / FINANCE

Starbucks Corp posted quarterly earnings on Tuesday that handily topped analysts' estimates as the world's biggest coffee chain began reaping rewards from slashing costs and closing stores, sending its shares up 9 percent.

Stocks rose on Tuesday as a solid profit from Caterpillar Inc overcame some uneasiness about the company's outlook for the current quarter, but the gains were limited as some investors paused following the recent earnings-fueled run-up.

The Treasury Department said on Tuesday it hopes new disclosure and conflict of interest rules will curb the power of credit rating agencies that have been blamed for fueling the recent financial crisis.

Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, today told congress policy makers that the Fed will likely maintain interest rates at exceptionally low levels for extended periods. Following Bernanke's remarks treasury prices increased reversing a earlier losses. Bernanke said despite positive signs of an improvement in the economy, the job loss rate remains high and the unemployment rate continues its steep rise.

Stocks rose on Tuesday as a solid profit from Caterpillar Inc eclipsed unease about the company's outlook for the current quarter, but the gains were limited as some investors paused following the recent earnings-fueled run-up.

Stocks rose on Tuesday as a solid profit from Caterpillar Inc eclipsed some uneasiness about the company's outlook for the current quarter, but gains were limited as some investors paused following the recent earnings-fueled run-up.

Business lender CIT Group's troubles are raising questions about the Federal Reserve's ability to pinpoint a firm's problems and put it back on the right track.

Most men would not want to be in a room with their estranged wife, current girlfriend and two former mistresses, but Allen Stanford is not most men.

CIT Group Inc said it may post a loss exceeding $1.5 billion for the second quarter and could file for bankruptcy protection if bondholders reject a debt restructuring, raising new fears that the lender to some 1 million businesses might fail.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Tuesday it has begun shipping its new class of 2GB DDR3 memory equipped with 40nm technology.

Investors vexed by losses and shoddy treatment last year are not abandoning hedge funds, as feared, but are making fund managers bend.

The Dow rose on Tuesday as a solid profit from Caterpillar Inc eclipsed unease about the company's outlook for the current quarter, while both the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 clung to tiny gains after a round of profit-taking.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Tuesday said the outlook for the long-suffering U.S. economy was improving, but supportive policies would be needed for some time to prevent rising unemployment from undercutting recovery.

JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon made a $2.29 million pretax profit by exercising stock options and then selling most of the resulting shares of the second-largest U.S. bank.

JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon made a $2.29 million pretax profit by exercising stock options and then selling most of the resulting shares of the second-largest U.S. bank.

JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon made a $2.29 million pretax profit by exercising stock options and then selling most of the resulting shares of the second-largest U.S. bank.

The Australian Dollar opens at 0.8150 after another session of increased risk appetite in which equities and commodities all posted gains.. In offshore trade the Aussie climbed steadily and hit a high of 0.8174. Boosting sentiment was news that New York-based lender CIT Group Inc approved a US$3 billion loan from a group of its bondholders.

CIT Group Inc warned on Tuesday it could still file for bankruptcy if a cash tender offer for its outstanding notes fails, one day after securing $3 billion in emergency financing from its bondholders.

U.S. stocks slid on Tuesday, retreating after initial, earnings-fueled gains were overshadowed by cautious comments on the economic outlook from company executives and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Asset manager BlackRock Inc said second-quarter profit fell from a year earlier as assets under management declined, but results rebounded from the first quarter as markets recovered.

Intel on Tuesday unveiled its second generation solid-state drive based on 34-nanometer manufacturing process promising higher performance at less cost.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday, retreating after initial earnings-fueled gains were overshadowed by cautious comments on the economic outlook from company executives and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday, retreating after initial earnings-fueled gains were overshadowed by cautious comments on the economic outlook from company executives and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Freddie Mac on Tuesday named Charles Ed Haldeman as their new chief executive officer effective August.

The Dow Jones industrial average dipped on Tuesday, while the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 added losses, after Caterpillar Inc , a major economic bellwether, said it expected a challenging third quarter.

Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, today told congress policy makers that the Fed will likely maintain interest rates at exceptionally low levels for extended periods. Following Bernanke's remarks treasury prices increased reversing a earlier losses. Bernanke said despite positive signs of an improvement in the economy, the job loss rate remains high and the unemployment rate continues its steep rise.

Stocks rose slightly on Tuesday as upbeat quarterly results from bellwether companies, including Caterpillar Inc, overshadowed Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's cautious outlook for the economy.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking to prevent Ralph Janvey -- the receiver appointed to liquidate Stanford assets -- from suing investors for proceeds they got from Texan financier Allen Stanford.

The Nasdaq briefly turned positive on Tuesday to trade near break-even, along with the S&P 500 index, as optimism about the latest corporate earning results tempered a cautious economic assessment from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.