With cheap loans, electricity and labor, Chinese companies are pulling ahead on solar products.

Kickstarter, an Internet start-up, chooses artistic projects it deems worthy of support, then invites mini-patrons to contribute money.

Entering a fiercely competitive, fast-growing market, Nokia said its first netbook, the Nokia Booklet 3G, will offer up to 12 hours of battery life and weigh about 2.5 pounds.

The price of crude oil hit its highest point of the year while Wall Street gave back earlier gains as the trading day closed.

In the years since it parted ways with its private equity arm, JPMorgan has collected billions in fees advising buyout firms.

US President Barack Obama is to announce he is reappointing Ben Bernanke to a second term as chairman of the US central bank, the Federal Reserve.

A US jury orders Philip Morris to pay compensation to the daughter of a lifelong smoker who died of lung cancer.

The UK's net contribution to the European Union will rise by almost 60% next year from £4.1bn to £6.4bn, the Treasury says.

Reuters - Asian shares slipped along with commodities on Tuesday in a reversal of the previous day's solid gains, with many investors sticking to the sidelines and awaiting more clues on whether the economic recovery is picking up steam.

AFP - Australia's biggest retailer Woolworths on Tuesday announced a joint venture with US home improvement chain Lowe's to break into the hardware sector, in a major challenge to rival Wesfarmers.

Airlines are again turning more attention to customers who travel most often, increasingly offering them incentives like double-mile awards.

The price of crude oil hit its highest point of the year while Wall Street gave back earlier gains as the trading day closed.

Reports say that General Motors may be about to do a U-turn on its decision to sell its struggling Opel-Vauxhall division.

UK retailers who sell violent video games and 18-rated DVDs to children cannot be prosecuted because of a legal blunder.

The UK's largest housebuilder by volume, Persimmon, says the housing market appears to be stabilising after months of falls.

UK pub-owner Punch Taverns says that bad weather during most of the summer was bad news for its profits.

A business plan to save the Diageo plant in Kilmarnock from closure will be handed to the Scottish Government.

The Irish food company Kerry Group has reported an increase in profits in the first half of this year.

Reuters - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed start for Wall Street on Tuesday after U.S. shares ended flat in the previous session as investors took a breather from a four-day rally.

Oil prices fall back below $74 a barrel after reaching a ten-month-high of almost $75 on Monday.

China's main share index falls after a three-day winning streak on fears about possible bad bank loans.

A court orders a Swedish ISP to take file-sharing website The Pirate Bay offline as its looming sale is cast into doubt.

Persistent pirates could be cut off from the web as Lord Mandelson pushes for a U-turn on UK file-sharing law.

Lloyds Banking Group says it will cut a further 200 jobs, taking its total number of job losses to 7,500 this year.

The Edinburgh-based firm Cairn Energy announces a half year loss but says production will begin from Rajasthan this week.

The number of mortgages approved for house purchases by the major banks has risen to a 17-month high, figures show.

Reuters - Big Lots Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday as the close-out retailer offset falling sales with tight expense controls.

Reuters - General Motors may make clear, within the next 24 hours, whether it wants to keep its European carmaker Opel rather than sell it, a German labor representative said on Tuesday.

Reuters - Oil fell below $74 a barrel on Tuesday in a drop on broader global stock markets from 10 month highs hit in the previous session .

With cheap loans, labor and electricity, Chinese companies are pulling ahead in the solar industry.

Asian shares and commodities slipped on Tuesday in a partial reversal of the previous day?s solid gains, but many investors stuck to the sidelines awaiting more clues on whether the global economic recovery is picking up.

The medical device maker said that its profit fell 38 percent in the first quarter after it paid Abbott Laboratories to resolve a patent infringement lawsuit.

The hamburger chain said that fourth-quarter profit rose to $58.9 million despite a drop in sales as it opened more outlets and better managed costs in the United States.

Second-quarter profit dropped 39 percent on a hefty charge, but adjusted results at the office supply retailer met analysts? estimates.

Bangladesh awards US and Irish firms the rights to explore for gas in disputed waters of the Bay of Bengal.

Massive shortages in sugar stocks in India and Pakistan lead to soaring prices and consumer unrest.

Clothes sales rose but alcohol dipped in popularity among UK online shoppers in July owing to the mixed weather, a survey says.

High Street bank RBS is to scale back on the benefits to existing members of its final salary pension scheme, it confirms.

British and Scottish Gas owner Centrica has won its battle to acquire oil and gas firm Venture Production.

Reuters - Stock index futures were higher on Tuesday on news that Ben Bernanke will be renominated as chairman of the Federal Reserve and ahead of key consumer confidence and housing data.

Reuters - General Motors' chief negotiator in the sale of Opel will on Tuesday meet a task force created by the German government to discuss the U.S. carmaker's plans for the European unit, a German politician said.

Reuters - Burger King Holdings reported higher quarterly profit, helped by lower costs for food and paper, but sales suffered as consumers ate out less in order to save money.

Reuters - Top office products retailer Staples Inc on Tuesday reported a 38 percent drop in quarterly profit as costs increased.

AP - Women's specialty retailer Chico's FAS Inc. said Tuesday that its profit more than doubled in the second quarter, helped by stronger sales and a leaner inventory.

In making the announcement, President Obama cited Ben S. Bernanke?s ?bold action? and his ?calm and wisdom.?

The Obama administration blamed an unexpectedly deep downturn for the higher estimate, which rose from $7.1 trillion.

The Standard & Poor?s/Case-Shiller?s index shows that home prices in 20 major cities increased 1.4 percent in June, but are still off 15.4 percent.from a year ago.

Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August, an indication that Americans? pessimism about the economy may be lifting.

Stocks were moderately higher in early trading on Wall Street after President Obama announced the reappointment of Ben S. Bernanke as Federal Reserve chairman.

With cheap loans, labor and electricity, Chinese companies are pulling ahead in the solar product industry.

The British government made a proposal that could require Internet providers to suspend unrepentant pirates? accounts.

The bookseller posted a loss of $45.6 million in its second quarter on charges and declining sales at its bookstores.

President Obama nominates Ben Bernanke for a second term as chairman of the US central bank, the Federal Reserve.

High Street bank RBS is set to scale back on the benefits to existing members of its final-salary pension scheme.

Reuters - Stocks extended gains on Tuesday, with each of the major indexes briefly rising more than 1 percent, after a report showed consumer confidence rose more than expected in August.

Reuters - U.S. consumer confidence climbed more than expected in August on an improved outlook on the job market and the overall economy, according to a private report released on Tuesday.

Reuters - Prices of U.S. single-family homes rose for the second consecutive month in June, exceeding expectations and adding to evidence that the three-year housing slump is easing, Standard & Poor's reported on Tuesday.

AP - Private equity firm Apax Partners said Tuesday that it completed a tender offer for the common shares of Bankrate Inc. as part of its plan to acquire the consumer finance Web site operator and take it private in a deal valued at about $570.8 million.

Stocks were moderately higher in early trading on Wall Street after President Obama announced the reappointment of Ben S. Bernanke as Federal Reserve chairman.

The US budget deficit will soar to almost $1.6tn this year, the highest on record, both the White House and Congress warn.

Oil prices rebound above $75 a barrel on Tuesday for the first time in ten months, despite falling earlier in the day.

US consumer confidence rose more than expected this month, a report finds, the latest sign that the economy is improving.

Can hormones explain female high fliers?

UK service providers have pledged to fight government proposals to toughen penalties for online pirates.

File-sharing website The Pirate Bay was back online shortly after a court ordered a Swedish ISP to take it down.

Reuters - U.S. stocks pushed ahead on Tuesday after strong housing and consumer confidence data briefly sent indexes to 2009 highs, and investors were relieved about Ben Bernanke's renomination as Fed chairman.

Reuters - Larger-than-expected improvements in U.S. housing prices and consumer confidence on Tuesday lent new weight to signs the economy is emerging from the longest and deepest recession since the 1930s.

Reuters - Shares of U.S. government-controlled mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac soared for a second straight day on Tuesday after attracting the attention of day-traders looking to turn a quick profit with these low-priced household names.

AP - Shares of Big Lots Inc. surged Tuesday after its second-quarter results beat analysts' expectations and the discount retailer raised its full-year earnings forecast range.

French banks agree with President Sarkozy to bring in a new system of performance-related pay.

Reuters - Stocks climbed on Tuesday, briefly hitting 2009 highs after strong housing and consumer confidence data, while Ben Bernanke's renomination as Fed chairman ended uncertainty about the central bank's leadership as the economy recovers.

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), the world's biggest automaker, will cut its global production capacity by 10 percent, or 1 million vehicles, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Reuters - In late August's quiet trading, four troubled financial companies have accounted for a big piece of total volume on the New York Stock Exchange, with all four rallying on little news.

Initially, investors took in a series of announcements and then found a reason to push higher. But as the day continued, the enthusiasm faded.

The accord was announced after a meeting with President Sarkozy, who said he would like to see a global limit on bonus payments.

General Motors is having second thoughts about the sale, as Chancellor Angela Merkel campaigns for re-election in Germany, where retaining jobs is a huge issue.

While other investors wait on the sidelines, Inland Real Estate has put $1 billion into commercial property acquisitions so far this year.

InterContinental Hotels has started renovating some of its Holiday Inns and is honoring the chain?s founder, C. Kemmons Wilson.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Big Lots Inc. surged Tuesday after its second-quarter results beat analysts' expectations and the discount retailer raised its full-year earnings forecast range.

Reuters - U.S. stocks ended higher on Tuesday as economic data and the renomination of Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke reassured investors and offset concerns about red ink in the federal budget.

Reuters - Autodealer Cliff Johnson sold 70 vehicles under the government's 'cash-for-clunkers' program, which offered rebates of up to $4,500 to trade in older gas guzzlers.

AP - Staples Inc., the nation's largest office supplies retailer, reported its fiscal second-quarter profit fell 39 percent compared with a year earlier, hurt by its acquisition of Corporate Express. Here's a look at some of the highlights of the earnings report.

The judge has refused to sign off on Bank of America?s $33 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Initially, investors took in a series of announcements and then found a reason to push higher. But as the day continued, the enthusiasm faded.

General Motors is having second thoughts about the sale, as Chancellor Angela Merkel campaigns for re-election in Germany, where retaining jobs is a huge issue.

InterContinental Hotels has started renovating some of its Holiday Inns and is honoring the chain?s founder, C. Kemmons Wilson.

General Motors has told the German government it is still interested in selling European car firm Opel, according to reports.

Oil prices end Tuesday trading near $72 a barrel, falling back from highs of $75 on profit taking.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as economic data and the renomination of Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke reassured investors and offset concerns about red ink in the federal budget.

Reuters - Larger-than-expected gains in U.S. housing prices and consumer confidence on Tuesday lent new weight to views that the economy is emerging from the longest recession since the 1930s.

Reuters - A major fund-raiser for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats was charged by federal prosecutors in New York in connection with a scheme to defraud Citigroup Inc.

Despite their reputation as early adopters of online services, young people are not flocking to Twitter. But their parents are.

The British government may require Internet service providers to suspend the accounts of online pirates.

Rosatom will form a joint venture that will have access to a deposit that could produce about a quarter of Russia?s total current uranium output.

Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August, an indication that Americans? pessimism about the economy may be lifting.

Reuters - Colonial BancGroup Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, 11 days after regulators seized its banking operations and sold most of those assets to BB&T Corp .

The Agriculture Department says the economic recovery will probably mean higher prices for grocery staples.

The judge has refused to sign off on Bank of America?s $33 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The cable channel commissioned a study that suggested core fans of its late-night hosts were especially committed.

The Fed chief made one big mistake in his first term, but a compensating success is still possible.

The show is expected to be an outgrowth of a one-hour special that the network announced before Michael Jackson?s death.

Sales at the office supplier rose 9 percent, and the chairman said, ?We are feeling like the economy is coming back a bit.?

Consumers have headed online to buy from companies like Amazon.com instead of going to bookstores.

The company, the second-largest hamburger chain, declined to provide a forecast for the year ahead.

Reuters - The U.S. Postal Service, the nation's second-largest employer, offered buyouts on Tuesday to quickly slash up to 30,000 jobs as it grapples with declining mail volume and embraces more automation.

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp will cut its global production capacity to match lower sales, a company source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday.

Australia gives final approval for a huge natural gas project to be built on an island nature reserve off west Australia.