IBT Staff Reporter

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.

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

Tiffany & Co sales over the holiday season weakened markedly in the United States and Europe, prompting the upscale jeweler to lower its full-year profit forecast and sending its shares down more than 10 percent in early trading.

Shares of WebMD were down 30.68 percent to $25.46 in mid-morning trading.

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.

Small businesses grew more confident in the economy's future in December, marking a fourth straight month of improvement on a more optimistic outlook for business conditions and real estate gains, a survey released on Tuesday showed.

Microsoft Corp said on Monday sales of its revolutionary Kinect sensing device for the Xbox game console have hit more than 18 million just over a year since launch.

Philips Electronics NV warned of soft fourth quarter profits due to weak European consumer markets that is leading to charges for inventory it cannot shift.

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.

Disney confirmed the exit of movie marketing chief MT Carney on Monday after news of her departure spread throughout the media over the weekend.

A French fan accused of stalking Spider-Man actress Kirsten Dunst was ordered on Monday to stay at least 100 yards away from her until 2015.

Kiefer Sutherland is ready to let audiences get in touch with his emotional side.

Police in Orange County said on Monday they do not believe that a transient found dead on Monday was the fourth victim of a suspected serial killer operating in the area.

Stock index futures advanced sharply on Tuesday after a bullish Alcoa forecast boosted the outlook for the commodities sector, signaling a stronger global economy.

UniCredit shares and rights to buy into the Italian bank's 7.5 billion euro ($9.6 billion) capital increase rallied after three days of falls on Tuesday, with traders saying volatility remains high as does a threat of further sharp falls.

Stock index futures pointed to a stronger open for equities on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.9-1.0 percent.

A hedge fund set up by former Goldman Sachs trader Morgan Sze -- the biggest launched in Asia in 2011 -- lost 6.8 percent last year, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, as it was rattled by a sharp drop in Chinese shares.

MF Global UK administrator KPMG has won the backing of the failed broker's clients to push ahead with the return of an estimated $1.2 billion.

Stock index futures pointed to a stronger open for equities on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.9-1.0 percent.

The supervisory council of the Swiss National Bank forced Philipp Hildebrand to step down as chairman after emails about a currency trade by his wife failed to clear him of involvement in the deal, newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Philips Electronics warned fourth-quarter results will be disappointing as it books charges for inventory it can't shift in weak European markets.

European stocks rose and the euro stayed under pressure on Tuesday as investors weighed the debt turmoil in the euro zone against an improved U.S. economic picture that looks set to deliver upbeat corporate results.

Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc trader Morgan Sze's hedge fund Azentus Capital lost 6.79 percent in 2011, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Fast food chain McDonald's and the International Olympic Committee are close to agreeing a new, eight-year sponsorship contract and the deal could be sealed this month, the IOC's marketing chief said on Tuesday.

The Swiss National Bank starts the search for a new board member on Tuesday after the resignation of Philipp Hildebrand as chairman over a controversial currency trade made by his wife.

U.S. authorities are investigating allegations that an Indian government spy unit hacked into emails of an official U.S. commission that monitors economic and security relations between the United States and China, including cyber-security issues.