MARKETS / FINANCE

Defense contractors ITT Exelis Inc , Harris Corp and Lockheed Martin Corp are vying for a contract expected to be awarded in June to build a data communications system for the Federal Aviation Administration's NextGen program.

A lawsuit filed against Symantec Corp claims that the software maker seeks to persuade consumers to buy its products by scaring them with misleading information about the health of their computers.

MetLife will shut down its mortgage operations, the largest U.S. life insurer said on Tuesday, giving up on the unit three months after it said it would seek a buyer.

Eastman Kodak Co announced a new business structure on Tuesday that divides its film group into its two other business units as the once-iconic photography company tries to refocus as a digital company to help fend off financial difficulties.

Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday signaled more help for the U.S. economy may be necessary despite recent data that suggested the recovery was picking up steam going into 2012.

U.S. orange juice futures surged almost 11 percent to an all-time high on Tuesday, after U.S. health regulators announced a clampdown on imports from top producer Brazil following the discovery of small doses of a fungicide that is not approved in the United States.

Stocks climbed to a five-month high on Tuesday, led by materials stocks after an upbeat forecast by aluminum company Alcoa and strong gains in bank shares.

Inventories at U.S. wholesalers barely rose in November and growth in October was revised lower, suggesting the economy did not get as big a boost as expected from companies restocking their shelves.

Wall Street banks lowered their outlook for U.S. economic growth due to concerns over the European debt crisis, oil prices, regulatory uncertainties and continued disarray in Washington, according to a financial industry survey released on Tuesday.

Gold prices rose 1.5 percent near a closely watched level Tuesday to a three-week high as the dollar weakened and stocks rallied.

Telecom startup LightSquared is mounting a last-ditch effort to win U.S. regulatory approval for a new wireless network after being outmaneuvered by the GPS industry, which has spun doomsday scenarios of interference problems that could cause planes to fall out of the sky and threaten national security.

Wall Street banks lowered their outlook for U.S. economic growth due to concerns over the European debt crisis, oil prices, regulatory uncertainties and continued disarray in Washington, according to a financial industry survey released on Tuesday.

Eastman Kodak Co announced a new business structure on Tuesday that eliminates its film group as the once-iconic photography company tries to refocus as a digital company to help fend off financial difficulties.

Stocks climbed to a five-month high on Tuesday after trade data showed strong Chinese demand for metals and a bullish forecast by aluminum company Alcoa pointed to a stronger global economy.

If the current Republican primary has taught us anything, having rich supporters with high incomes has become the difference between first and fifth place. Thank the Supreme Court. Its controversial Citizens United decision has prolonged the shelf life of candidates that once would have been long dead. Ask Newt Gingrich.

Gold rose towards $1,640 an ounce on Tuesday and other precious metals rallied, with a rebound in the euro versus the dollar making dollar-priced assets more attractive to holders of other currencies, and after bullion breached a key chart level.

Regarding its banking system, the United States has now experienced its third generation of "heads the banks win, tails the taxpayer and the public loses.” Is there a better way? Is it possible to create a bank that serves the people of the United States?

A group of specialist banks are profiting from Europe's financial crisis, thanks to a surge in demand for securities which allow traders to bet against bank stocks and government bonds.

Germany's Deutsche Telekom and Groupon, the world's largest daily deals company, will cooperate in mobile internet businesses, German business daily Financial Times Deutschland reported, citing company executives at both groups.

Alcoa Inc shares rose on Tuesday after the aluminum producer gave a bullish outlook for the industry, but some Wall Street analysts were skeptical and lowered the company's stock price target.

One woman was killed on Tuesday when prospective students waiting outside the University of Johannesburg in South Africa stampeded to get into the school's admissions office.

Alcoa Inc shares rose more than 4 percent on Tuesday after the aluminum producer gave a bullish outlook for the industry, but some Wall Street analysts were skeptical and lowered the company's stock price target.

Stocks hit a five-month high on Tuesday after strong import data from major metals consumer China and a bullish forecast by Alcoa boosted the outlook for commodities companies and pointed to a stronger global economy.

Jasjit Bhattal, the highest-ranking ex-Lehman executive at Nomura Holdings , resigned on Tuesday after the wholesale division he led suffered heavy losses and forced the Japanese investment bank to scale back its global expansion.

Compared to the year earlier period, silver production was up 25 percent for the quarter to 1.12 million ounces, while gold production was up 45 percent to 7,045 ounces.

The Christian presence in Egypt stretches as far back to the earliest days of Christendom.

Silvercorp Metals Inc., whose shares plummeted after reports of accounting and resource statement fraud, has amended its lawsuit against those it sees as responsible for the allegedly defamatory reports.

Stocks were set to jump at the open on Tuesday after a bullish Alcoa forecast boosted the outlook for the commodities sector and pointed to a stronger global economy.

U.S. stock index futures jumped on Tuesday after a bullish Alcoa forecast boosted the outlook for the commodities sector, signaling a stronger global economy.