Reuters - The Nikkei average rose 1.92 percent to end at a four-year high on Tuesday as investors snapped up banks and other stocks on optimism about the economy, in a shortened session after a computer systems failure caused the worst disruption ever on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Reuters - A computer systems failure closed down stock trading at the Tokyo Stock Exchange for most of Tuesday, the worst disruption ever for Asia's largest bourse.

Reuters - General Growth Properties Inc. , one of the largest U.S. mall owners, said its quarterly funds from operations (FFO), a key operating measure, grew 18 percent on increased sales and higher occupancies.

AP - Swiss banking giant UBS AG increased its third-quarter net profit by 71 percent due to higher revenues 'in practically all businesses and across income categories,' the group said Tuesday.

AP - Technology stocks on Tuesday looked set to return some of the prior session's gains after the world's top maker of personal computers, Dell Inc., said third-quarter sales would come in below Wall Street expectations. But broader markets looked steady ahead of a likely quarter-point interest rate hike.

Reuters - Shares on Wall Street were set to open mixed on Tuesday with technology shares suffering after computer giant Dell issued a profit warning and with investors expecting another interest rate hike later.

AP - Procter & Gamble Co., maker of Pampers, Pringles, Tide and other consumer products, said Tuesday its fiscal first-quarter net income grew 4 percent, helped by strong revenue growth and despite the effects of hurricanes and rising energy and commodity costs.

Reuters - Diversified manufacturer Emerson Electric Co. on Tuesday reported an 18 percent increase in quarterly profits on double-digit sales gains at three of Emerson's five divisions.

AP - Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., the nation's largest insurance brokerage, reported Tuesday that its profits rose in the third quarter despite a drop in revenue.

AP - Viacom Inc., the media conglomerate that owns MTV, CBS and the Paramount movie studio, swung to a profit of $708.5 million in the third quarter, bouncing back from a loss in the year-ago period when results were hit by a charge for the Blockbuster Inc. video rental business.

Reuters - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc on Tuesday said its quarterly net loss widened with higher spending for programing and other costs, but posted an increase in subscribers for its fee-based radio service.

Reuters - Qwest Communications International Inc. on Tuesday said its third-quarter loss narrowed on continued cost cutting.

AP - Medco Health Solutions Inc., a pharmacy benefits management company, said Tuesday its third-quarter net income rose 33 percent, helped by a tax benefit and the impact of new clients.

AP - U.S. stocks are trading mixed Tuesday as investors eye Dell Inc.'s disappointing third-quarter sales report and a likely quarter-point interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Global indicators were mixed for North American stock markets early Tuesday as oil prices eased and investors awaited a possible interest rate hike in the United States.

AP - Viacom Inc., the media conglomerate that owns MTV, CBS and the Paramount movie studio, swung to a profit of $708.5 million in the third quarter, bouncing back from a loss in the year-ago period when results were hit by a charge for the Blockbuster Inc. video rental business.

USATODAY.com - Dell, the world's biggest personal computer maker, warned that third-quarter earnings and revenue would be below Wall Street expectations, and cited weaker-than-expected U.S. consumer and U.K. businesses.

AP - Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday posted a sharply wider loss for the third quarter, hurt by legal and tax-related charges and costs from facilities affected by Hurricane Katrina. Its shares fell nearly 5 percent in premarket trading.

AP - Utility holding company Entergy Corp. on Tuesday posted a 24 percent rise in third-quarter earnings — despite extensive hurricane damages that pushed one of the New Orleans-based company's units into bankruptcy — as warmer weather spawned greater electricity use.

Reuters - Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday reported a wider quarterly loss as the struggling hospital operator was particularly hard hit by destruction from Hurricane Katrina.

AP - IAC/InterActiveCorp., owner of Ticketmaster, HSN shopping channel and the Ask Jeeves Web site, reported Tuesday that third-quarter profit slid 24 percent, as costs related to the spinoff of travel Web site Expedia and other deals outstripped higher revenue.

AP - Qwest Communications International Inc., which provides local phone service in 14 mostly Western states, on Tuesday reported a smaller loss for the third quarter as revenue edged higher with the help of a big government contract while operating costs fell.

Reuters - Diversified manufacturer Emerson Electric Co. on Tuesday reported an 18 percent increase in quarterly profit on double-digit sales gains at three of Emerson's five divisions.

AP - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., the smaller of the nation's two satellite radio broadcasters, on Tuesday posted a wider third-quarter loss on higher expenses, despite tripling revenue on strong subscriber growth during the period. However, the company raised its full-year guidance for subscriber growth.

AP - Colgate-Palmolive Co., the world's biggest toothpaste seller, reported Tuesday that third-quarter profit rose nearly 6 percent, aided by strong volume worldwide and improved profit margins as the consumer products company reined in costs and bolstered prices.

AP - Car-parts maker TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. said Tuesday its third-quarter profit dropped 23 percent because of higher restructuring costs and increased commodity prices.

Reuters - Colgate-Palmolive Co. , the maker of its namesake toothpaste and other consumer products, posted higher quarterly profit on Tuesday, helped by the first overall rise in prices in two years and strong oral-care sales.

AP - Stocks dropped Tuesday after Dell Inc. warned that its third-quarter earnings would miss profit forecasts, stoking fears that consumer spending is slowing down.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto stock market rose Tuesday morning, but U.S. indexes were negative ahead of an afternoon announcement by the U.S. Federal Reserve on a widely expected interest rate hike.

AP - Emerson Electric Co. on Tuesday posted an 18 percent surge in profit for its latest quarter as sales grew across all the manufacturer's divisions.

AP - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. posted a wider loss in the third quarter Tuesday but edged up its estimates for full-year subscriber growth and said it anticipates a "blowout" fourth quarter as it rolls out new products and gears up for the January arrival of shock jock Howard Stern.

AP - Utility operator Entergy Corp. on Tuesday posted a 24 percent rise in third-quarter earnings, despite extensive damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita that pushed the company's New Orleans unit into bankruptcy.

AP - Swiss banking giant UBS AG said Tuesday its profit rose 71 percent in the third quarter, boosted by higher sales 'in practically all businesses and across income categories.'

AP - Molson Coors Brewing Co., maker of Coors Light and other beers, said the addition of the business of Canadian brewing company Molson Inc. pushed third-quarter profit up 69 percent from a year ago.

AP - Charter Communications Inc., one of the nation's largest cable companies, said Tuesday it returned to a profit for the third quarter as increased revenue from high-speed Internet customers boosted results and the year-ago period reflected a hefty writedown on the value of its assets.

AP - Qwest Communications International Inc., which provides local phone service in 14 mostly Western states, on Tuesday reported a smaller loss for the third quarter as revenue edged higher with the help of a big government contract while operating costs fell.

AFP - Procter and Gamble Co., the world's biggest consumer goods company, recorded a four percent rise in quarterly profit to 2.03 billion dollars.

AP - Stocks dropped Tuesday after Dell Inc. warned that its third-quarter earnings would miss profit forecasts, stoking fears that consumer spending is slowing down.

AP - Earnings at Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., which buys bad consumer debt to collect on it, missed Wall Street expectations for the third quarter.

AP - Despite an increase in sales, nut and snack company John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc. reported a loss for its most recent quarter due to declining sales of private-label products.

AP - TXU Corp. Tuesday said earnings in the latest quarter fell, as comparisons with a year ago were hampered by the effect of discontinued operations.

AP - Qwest Communications International Inc. said Tuesday it narrowed its losses in the third quarter as a $52 million government contract and higher sales of phone and data services helped boost revenue.

AP - TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., an auto-parts supplier that specializes in safety equipment such as seat belts and air bags, said Tuesday its third-quarter profit dropped 23 percent because of higher restructuring costs and increased commodity prices.

AP - The world's largest newsprint maker, Norske Skog, said profit fell in the third quarter partly because of a strong Norwegian krone and low European prices for newsprint.

Reuters - Consumer products giants Procter & Gamble Co. and Colgate-Palmolive Co. posted higher quarterly profits on Tuesday, as price increases offset higher costs.

AP - Colgate-Palmolive Co., the world's biggest seller of toothpaste, said Tuesday profit rose nearly 6 percent in the third quarter, aided by strong volume growth worldwide and improved profit margins as the company reined in costs and bolstered prices. It also backed its previous financial forecast.

AP - Medco Health Solutions Inc., a pharmacy benefits management company, said Tuesday its third-quarter net income rose 33 percent, helped by a tax benefit and the impact of new clients.

AP - Stocks' declines widened slightly Tuesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected, though the central bank said inflation pressures had remained relatively mild. The news exacerbated traders' bad mood after a disappointing profit forecast from Dell Inc.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - North American stock markets were mixed after the U.S. Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for a 12th time since June, 2004, to keep a lid on inflation.

AP - MCG Capital Corp., which lends money to and invests in small businesses, Tuesday said its third-quarter profit rose 90 percent, as the company posted investment gains, but results fell short of Wall Street expectations.

AP - The Mills Corp. stock fell Tuesday after the real-estate investment trust delayed the release of its third-quarter earnings and said the period's results would be 'substantially below' expectations.

AP - Stocks fell slightly Tuesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected, exacerbating traders' ill humor following a disappointing profit forecast from Dell Inc.

AP - A Manhattan judge said he will probably deny a motion that would have dismissed most of a lawsuit challenging the $187.5 million severance package that Richard A. Grasso got when he quit his chairmanship of the New York Stock Exchange in 2003.

Reuters - U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as a disappointing earnings forecast from computer maker Dell Inc.

AP - TXU Corp. Tuesday said earnings in the latest quarter fell, as comparisons with a year ago were hampered by the effect of discontinued operations.

AP - Emerson Electric Co. on Tuesday posted an 18 percent surge in profit for its latest quarter as sales grew across all the manufacturer's divisions.

AP - Molson Coors Brewing Co., the world's fifth-largest brewer, said Tuesday its third-quarter net income climbed 69 percent, bolstered by Canadian sales that were included as part of the merged company.

AP - Electronic Data Systems Corp. posted a narrow third-quarter profit on Tuesday and reported that new contract signings, an indicator of future revenue, nearly doubled from a year ago.

AP - IAC/InterActiveCorp., owner of Ticketmaster, HSN shopping channel and the Ask Jeeves Web site, reported Tuesday that third-quarter profit slid 24 percent, as costs related to the spinoff of travel Web site Expedia and other deals outstripped higher revenue.

AP - Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., the nation's largest insurance brokerage, said Tuesday its profits rose in the third quarter despite a drop in revenue.

AP - Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday posted a sharply wider loss for the third quarter, hurt by legal and tax-related charges and costs from facilities affected by Hurricane Katrina. Its shares fell more than 2 percent in early trading.

AP - TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., an auto-parts supplier that specializes in safety equipment such as seat belts and air bags, said Tuesday its third-quarter profit dropped 23 percent because of higher restructuring costs and increased commodity prices.

AP - Procter & Gamble Co. and Colgate-Palmolive Co. on Tuesday posted quarterly profit increases, attributed to strong brand performances boosted by new products and booming growth in developing markets.

AP - Cable TV company Charter Communications Inc. said Tuesday it returned to a profit for the third quarter as increased revenue from high-speed Internet customers boosted results and the year-ago period reflected a hefty writedown on the value of its assets.

AP - Security-software company Symantec Corp. reported a loss for the latest quarter as a big charge from its acquisition of Veritas Software Corp. weighed down results.

AP - Electronic Arts Inc. reported a smaller profit in the second quarter from a year ago, but the world's largest video-game maker still surpassed Wall Street expectations on strong sales of its sports titles.

AP - Mazda Motor Corp. on Wednesday reported a 66 percent jump in profit for the first half ended Sept. 30 as strong sales and a pension-related gain boosted earnings.

AP - Electronic Data Systems Corp. posted a narrow third-quarter profit on Tuesday and reported that new contract signings, an indicator of future revenue, nearly doubled from a year ago. EDS shares rose 4 percent in late-session trading.

AP - Stocks fell slightly Tuesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected, exacerbating traders' ill humor following a disappointing profit forecast from Dell Inc.