INVESTMENT

Several large U.S. banks undertook big capital-raising efforts on Tuesday, hoping to satisfy regulators who want bigger cushions against a deep recession, or proof that they have enough of a buffer already.

Several large U.S. banks undertook big capital-raising efforts on Tuesday, hoping to satisfy regulators who want to see a bigger cushion against a deep recession, or proof that they have enough of a buffer already.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell on Tuesday on profit taking in financials and technology, while a drop in U.S. exports and fresh stock sales by various companies damped investor enthusiasm.

Europe’s largest bank, BNP Paribas Group, said on Tuesday said it has finalized acquisition to Fortis Bank with the approval of the Europe commissioner, in a deal that the biggest banking group across the Europe.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as investors took profits in the technology and banking sectors while a drop in U.S. exports in March and multiple stock offerings from various companies dampened enthusiasm.

Integrity Mutual Funds, Inc., a mutual fund and financial services company, today reported a revenue drop of 46 percent for the first quarter of 2009.

Nokia, the world's biggest cell phone maker, said on Tuesday it would halt investment in its first major Internet service push, a media sharing site, as part of a revamp of its services strategy.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as investors worried there were too few catalysts to sustain the recent rally near term, sending financial and technology shares lower.

Hopu Investment Management Co., led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc’s China partner Fang Fenglei, on Tuesday acquired a 5.8 percent stake in China construction Bank Corp for about $7.3 billion from struggling Bank of America Corp, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg.

Cash-rich private equity firms are preparing to deploy newly-raised funds, dispelling some of the gloom in the sector and raising hopes that buy-out deals are in the pipeline.

Stock futures pointed to a flat to higher open on Tuesday as investors weighed Bank of America Corp's sale of a stake in a Chinese bank and Ford Motor Co signaled it would take advantage of a recent rally by selling stock to raise cash.

U.S. index stock futures pointed to a nearly flat open on Tuesday, as investors eyed Bank of America's sale of a stake in a Chinese bank and Ford signaled it would take advantage of a recent rally by selling stock to raise cash.

Bank of America sold $7.3 billion worth of shares in China Construction Bank on Tuesday, according to a source, just days after a U.S. government stress test found the struggling U.S. bank needed to find $34 billion worth of capital.

Ford Motor Co said on Monday that it would sell 300 million common shares and use part of the proceeds to pay off its healthcare obligations to the United Auto Workers under the terms of a recently concluded deal with the union.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Tuesday after the previous session's bout of profit taking.

Citigroup Inc, the bank bailed out with $45 billion of U.S. taxpayers' money, is using almost all of that money to make new loans, the Associated Press said citing a report scheduled for release on Tuesday morning.

Bank of America sold about $7.3 billion worth of shares in China Construction Bank , Bloomberg reported citing two people familiar with the transaction, as the struggling U.S. bank seeks to raise money amid the financial crisis.

Cleantech companies received less than half venture capital (VC) investments in the first quarter of 2009, according to an industry analysis, but the industry looks forward for government funds for recovery.

Hedge fund manager William Ackman introduced shareholders on Monday to his five nominees for the Target Corp board, promising their expertise could make the retailer a better company.

Stocks fell on Monday as investors booked profits in financials after a two-month run-up and news of several banks' share offerings heightened worries about their dilutive impact on current shareholders.

Four big U.S. banks on Monday said they would sell $6.55 billion of common stock and repay funds from the government's bank bailout program, after federal stress tests showed they can weather a deep recession without new capital.