IBT Staff Reporter

McDonald's announced on Tuesday its worldwide restaurant comparable sales have increased by 6 percent in August from 3.4 percent last year.

Nokia, the world largest cell-phone manufacturer, has teamed up with China Mobile in efforts to expand the cellular networking infrastructure across mainland China, the companies said on Tuesday.

European Union officials warned Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday not to shut out rivals in the security software market as the company plans to upgrade its new Vista operating system

Global financial markets remain strong but risks of an economic slowdown have increased, which could trigger corrections more severe than the one in May, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

Strong rises in the cost of toys and games pushed the inflation rate up more than expected in August, reinforcing expectations that interest rates will rise again before the end of the year.

The FTSE 100 reversed early losses on Tuesday as fresh tensions in the Middle East saw investors return to beleaguered mining stocks on the prospect of more stable commodity prices.

According to Airport operator BAA, there was a 0.3% increase in British passenger numbers in August. Following the plot to blow up airliners last month, BAA spent an additional 13 million pounds to introduce tighter security.

India's second largest petroleum company, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is planning to invest Rs. 200 crore for the purpose of automation of over 1,000 retail outlets by March 2007.

The highly acclaimed US based Healthcare Informatics magazine has listed CBay in the 100 top companies in their annual rankings of the healthcare IT companies by revenue.

A draft of a statement to be issued at the G7 finance ministers' meeting this week says the U.S. economy is moving toward a sustainable growth path but does not yet contain any references to currencies, Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has announced its decision to invest Rs. 120 crore for upgradation of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) airport.

The Nikkei average hit a one-month closing low on Tuesday, declining 0.48 percent as a fall in commodity prices stoked worries about global demand and hit stocks sensitive to the economic cycle such as steel makers.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has urged Bangladesh to consider the economic benefits of the $ 3 billion investment proposal by India's Tata Group, instead of putting it off due to political expediency.

AT&T Inc. said on Tuesday it will launch a new Internet browser based television service that will allow subscribers to watch 20 channels

Business travel company Hogg Robinson set a wide indicative price range on Tuesday for its planned return to the London stock market

India's biggest business conglomerate, the Tata group has indefinitely suspended work on its $ 3 billion investment plan in Bangladesh because of frustrating delays by the Bangladeshi government in approving the proposal.

The inflation rate picked up more than expected in August, boosted by strong rises in toys and computer games

Low cost airline easyJet said on Tuesday it expected tighter security arrangements at UK airports to affect demand.

Chocolate retailer Thorntons Plc posted a 36 percent drop in full year profits on Tuesday because of sluggish high street demand

Oil rebounded above $66 a barrel on Tuesday, with bargain hunting traders ending a six day retreat after Iran sounded a softer note on its atomic programme

Computacenter Plc, the country's biggest seller of computer hardware to businesses, posted a 77 percent rise in first half profit on Tuesday

Thomas Cook, Europe's second biggest tourism firm, said on Tuesday it had narrowed its loss in the first nine months of the year by 21 percent as it cut costs and the number of holidaymakers in Germany rose.

The British government won a partial victory on Tuesday as the top EU court said it could stop companies from making wholly artificial arrangements to avoid tax by setting up foreign units.

Irish state airline Aer Lingus is to price its planned initial public offering at between 2.10 and 2.70 euros per share

Two elderly sisters who have lived together since birth will take the government to a European court on Tuesday to seek the same exemption from death taxes as married and gay couples.

The FTSE 100 index edged lower on Tuesday on fresh tensions in the Middle East and as lower copper prices saw miners turn in another weak start.

Drax Group Plc, which owns Europe's largest coal fired power station, said on Tuesday its first half earnings had more than tripled

Nationwide, the world's biggest building society, is set to merge with rival Portman

Credence Systems Corp. on Monday reported its final results for the third quarter, detailing a $461.4 million loss.