MARKETS / FINANCE

World stocks bounced back on Tuesday after hitting three-month lows a day earlier, but gains were limited ahead of key economic data and rate decisions from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England this week.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower opening on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.27 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.23 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.23 percent.

Oil pared gains on Tuesday as the dollar strengthened, with the market's attention turning to forecasts for steady U.S. crude inventories after prices topped $75 earlier on optimism about the economy.

Australia's central bank kept rates steady at 3.75 percent on Tuesday, confounding expectations of a hike and hammering the local currency as investors slashed estimates for how high rates might go this year. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) surprised almost everyone by saying it wanted to judge the impact of its past three moves before lifting the cash rate further. It had already raised rates by 75 basis points since October, putting it far ahead of most developed nations in removing except...

White House adviser Paul Volcker will urge Congress to curb the risks taken by large banks to help prevent them from being treated as too big to fail, according to testimony obtained by Reuters on Monday.

Online travel companies on Monday won the first of several pending legal battles to roll back tax assessments by California cities that claim they owe tens of millions of dollars in occupancy taxes.

Oil rose for a second day on Tuesday and accelerated gains after reaching $75 on optimism that the U.S. economy has turned the corner following strong manufacturing data for January.

After a bullish session for the U.S. stock market, broad trends mostly continued in after-hours trading.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc is likely to slash its chief executive's bonus from the record $67.9 million he got two years ago, but Lloyd Blankfein's pay package could still fuel criticism the bank has been tone deaf in its approach to the financial crisis.

Exxon Mobil Corp reported a fourth-quarter profit on Monday that topped Wall Street expectations as natural gas projects boosted results at the largest U.S. oil company's exploration arm.

Boston Scientific Corp will pay $1.73 billion to Johnson and Johnson to settle three patent disputes involving heart stents that date back to 2003.

U.S. manufacturing expanded in January at its fastest pace since 2004 but consumers increased their spending only slightly in December, worried by job prospects and the state of the economy.

Oil prices rose to $75 a barrel on Monday as support from a weaker dollar, higher U.S. stocks, and an oil spill in Texas which limited crude oil deliveries to some U.S. refiners.

Oil prices rose to $75 a barrel on Monday as support from a weaker dollar, higher U.S. stocks, and an oil spill in Texas which limited crude oil deliveries to some U.S. refiners.

This morning the AUD opens higher at 0.8906 against the greenback regaining more than 1% from an intraday low of 0.8787 on Monday.

Manufacturing expanded in January at its fastest pace since 2004, data showed on Monday, but consumers increased spending only slightly in December, worried by job prospects and the state of the economy.

The stock market started February with a strong rally as commodities stocks surged on signs of global demand for raw materials and semiconductor stocks received a boost from an industry report.

Stocks rose on Monday as better-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and earnings from Exxon Mobil revived bullish sentiment after stocks closed out their worst month in almost a year.

Stocks rose on Monday as investors scooped up beaten-down shares after the recent sell-off after reassuring manufacturing data and Exxon Mobil Corp's upbeat results fueled a strong start to February. The market's gains were broad-based.

Stocks rose on Monday as better-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and earnings from Exxon Mobil reassured investors that economic growth is on track, after stocks suffered their worst month in almost a year.

Boston Scientific Corp said on Monday it will pay $1.73 billion to Johnson and Johnson to settle three patent disputes involving heart stents that date back to 2003.

(Corrects to show Morgan Stanley comment on Warner Chilcott in paragraph 11 refers to only one of the company's products)

Wall St rose on Monday after closing its worst month in almost a year as U.S. manufacturing expanded the most in six years and Exxon Mobil Corp beat earnings estimates.

U.S. manufacturing expanded for the sixth straight month in January to its highest since 2004, data showed on Monday, but U.S. consumers increased spending only slightly in December, worried by job prospects and the state of the economy.

Wall St rose on Monday after closing its worst month in almost a year as U.S. manufacturing expanded the most in six years and Exxon Mobil Corp beat earnings estimates.

While investors were bullish on Monday on global demand for raw materials, firms that rely on consumer spending were mixed amid a broad market recovery.

President Barack Obama on Monday projected the budget deficit would peak at a fresh record in 2010 before easing as he pushes for fiscal responsibility while battling double-digit unemployment.

Toyota Motor Corp started shipping parts on Monday to U.S. dealers who were prepared to stay open late to fix vehicles that are affected by the most damaging recall in the automaker's history.

U.S. stocks rose on Monday, following three weeks of losses, on stronger-than-expected U.S. manufacturing data and results from Exxon Mobil Corp that beat Wall Street estimates.