INVESTMENT

Goldman Sachs Group Inc may succeed in its bid to pay back U.S. taxpayer money with the help of a $5 billion common share sale, but it may still not get the freedom it wants from intense public scrutiny.

Swiss bank UBS is cutting 3 percent of its Asia-Pacific staff, in what banking sources said was part of a fresh round of global job cuts at the crisis-hit bank.

S&P 500 stock index futures were slightly lower on Tuesday as investors digested Goldman Sachs's plan to issue equity after strong earnings, and prepared for Johnson & Johnson results and economic data.

Futures for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 were up 0.05 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, at 5:47 a.m. EDT, while futures for the Dow Jones industrial average were down 0.2 percent.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing if Bank of America Corp violated federal securities law by failing to disclose to shareholders Merrill Lynch's plan to pay $3.62 billion in bonuses before they voted for the merger of the banks, the Financial Times said.

Swiss bank UBS said it will cut 240 jobs in Asia-Pacific to cut costs, as Asian economies slow in a global financial crisis.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing if Bank of America Corp violated federal securities law by failing to disclose to shareholders Merrill Lynch's plan to pay $3.62 billion in bonuses before they voted for the merger of the banks, the Financial Times said.

World stocks rose toward a three-month high on Tuesday after strong earnings from Goldman Sachs , while jitters about other corporate earnings kept government bonds and the low-yielding yen on a firm footing. Goldman surprised investors by posting a much higher than expected first-quarter profit and said it planned a $5 billion common share sale to pay back government funds. Other bank...

UBS , the world's biggest banker for the rich, will cut 240 jobs in Asia-Pacific across all business lines as part of a global cost cutting exercise, the bank said on Tuesday.

Asian shares rose to a six-month high on Tuesday after Goldman Sachs' stronger-than-expected profit signaled the worst could be behind for U.S. banks, but plenty of concerns about the global economy still remain.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and New York state prosecutors are investigating whether investment firms made improper payments of millions of dollars to intermediaries to gain business from the state's pension fund, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing if Bank of America Corp violated federal securities law by failing to disclose to shareholders Merrill Lynch's plan to pay $3.62 billion in bonuses before they voted for the merger of the banks, the Financial Times said.

Asian shares rose to a six-month high on Tuesday after Goldman Sachs' stronger-than-expected profit signaled the worst could be behind for U.S. banks, emboldening investors to chase after riskier assets.

Chrysler's creditors plan to make a counteroffer to the U.S. Treasury this week, in which they might ask for equity in a firm combining Chrysler with potential partner Fiat SpA in exchange for concessions, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

On Monday Goldman Sachs showed yet another sign proving the recovery of banks after it beat Wall Street expectations with its $1.66 billion profit for the first quarter of 2009.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc posted much higher-than-expected first-quarter profit as it took more trading risk, and said it plans a $5 billion common share sale to help pay back government funds.

On Monday Citigroup Inc's and Bank of America Corp's shares saw a very positive rise and both banks expect to report first quarter profits in the same line as what was forecast last week by Wells Fargo & Co.

An estimated half billion loss at YouTube was predicted by an analyst with Credit Suise because it can't generate worthwhile income from advertising will be cleared next week as Google plans to hold a quarterly conference.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc posted higher-than-expected first-quarter profit as it took more trading risk and said it planned to raise $5 billion of common shares to help pay back government funds.

MetLife , the largest U.S. life insurer, on Monday said it will not take money from the government's $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, saying it already has sufficient capital.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose on Monday as bets that major banks will post reassuring quarterly results fueled a run-up in financials, offsetting uneasiness about the fate of General Motors .