AP - Asian stock markets were mixed in cautious trade Tuesday after Wall Street's relatively flat finish ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Japan's market jumped after being closed for a holiday.

AP - Carmaker BMW AG said Tuesday net profit for the third quarter dropped 63 percent as the global economic turmoil made consumers more reluctant to shell out for its sports and luxury cars and credit costs made it difficult for consumers and the company to borrow.

AP - Swedish construction firm Skanska AB on Tuesday reported a 3 percent drop in third-quarter net profits, mainly from lower sales and higher interest costs. It warned it is reviewing costs and operations as a response to the global financial turmoil.

AP - Bridgestone Corp., the world's largest tire and rubber products maker, said Tuesday its net profit fell 40 percent in the January-September period, dragged by the high cost of raw materials and slowing demand at home and abroad.

AP - Kidney dialysis products maker Fresenius Medical Care AG said Tuesday its third quarter net profit increased 14 percent on better sales and 'above market growth' for some of its products.

AFP - Switzerland's biggest bank UBS on Tuesday posted a net profit of 296 million Swiss francs (200 million euros, 251 million dollars) for the third quarter, but warned that a loss was looming for the next quarter.

AP - Swiss Reinsurance Co. posted a net loss of 304 million Swiss francs ($258 million) for the third quarter Tuesday, blaming its performance on the turmoil in the financial markets and hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

AP - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the country's largest telecommunications group, said Tuesday its net profit in the first nine months fell 2 percent from a year earlier because of the weakening local currency.

AP - Chinese shares dropped for a third day Tuesday, led by mining and metals stocks as economic worries deepened.

AFP - The London stock market dipped 0.07 percent in opening deals on Tuesday to stand at 4,440.30 points.

AP - Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's top automaker, reports earnings for the fiscal second quarter on Thursday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Reuters - Stock futures pointed to a higher start on Wall Street on Tuesday as Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain face the verdict of U.S. voters.

AFP - European stocks rose on Tuesday, after gains in Asia, as voting began in the United States amid hope the next president will give new impetus to action on the financial crisis, analysts said.

AP - Archer Daniels Midland Co. says its fiscal first-quarter earnings more than doubled, beating Wall Street estimates as the company benefited from an accounting change and higher selling prices.

AP - Employment giant Adecco SA on Tuesday reported a 23 percent drop in third-quarter net profit because of difficult global economic conditions.

Reuters - Industrial conglomerate Emerson Electric Co reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, amid strength in its network power business and its process management segment, which makes technology for the oil and gas industry.

AP - Beiersdorf AG, the maker of Nivea skincare products and Tesa tape, said Tuesday third quarter net profits fell 17 percent but stuck with its forecast for the full year.

AP - UBS AG posted a net profit of 296 million Swiss francs ($252 million) for the third quarter Tuesday, its first after four consecutive quarterly losses, and predicted customers would continue withdrawing funds in the last three months of the year.

AFP - Switzerland's biggest bank UBS warned on Tuesday that earnings might be hit in the fourth quarter, but saw 'encouraging signs' of staunching massive asset outflows after the government stepped in with a big rescue package.

AP - European markets moved higher Tuesday on expectations Wall Street will enjoy an election day rally and ahead of Thursday's interest rate decisions from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.

AP - Tenet Healthcare Corp. said Tuesday it swung to a third-quarter profit on an investment sales gain, but the results fell shy of Wall Street expectations and the hospital operator cut its full-year outlook.

Reuters - Archer Daniels Midland Co , one of the largest U.S. food processors and ethanol producers, reported sharply higher quarterly profit on Tuesday, helped by higher selling prices and an accounting change.

AP - The Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc. said Tuesday it swung to a third-quarter loss, cut its full-year sales guidance and slashed its quarterly dividend, saying it doesn't expect the automotive markets to improve anytime soon.

Reuters - Dean Foods Co posted a higher quarterly profit on Tuesday, citing strength in its DSD Dairy segment, lower interest expense and a lower tax rate.

AP - World markets pushed higher Tuesday as America went to the polls and a leading U.S. investment bank told its clients in Europe to buy stocks after the savaging they have taken in the last few weeks.

Reuters - Dean Foods Co , the largest U.S. dairy company, posted a third-quarter profit that missed Wall Street forecasts, hurt by higher costs for organic milk and butter fat.

Reuters - Industrial conglomerate Emerson Electric Co reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday amid strong international sales, cost cuts, and sharply higher profit in a unit that makes technology for the oil and gas industry.

AP - World markets surged higher Tuesday as the uncertainty about who will be the next U.S. president neared an end and a leading U.S. investment bank told its clients in Europe to buy stocks after the savaging they have taken in the last few weeks.

AFP - Investor optimism about a new US president coupled with unexpectedly good company results helped the FTSE100 rise sharply by 4.42 percent on Tuesday.

AFP - Wall Street and European stock markets posted sharp gains Tuesday as voting got underway in a historic US presidential election, with investors hoping a new leader will provide a fresh start out of the financial crisis.

AP - Archer Daniels Midland Co. said Tuesday its fiscal first-quarter earnings more than doubled, beating Wall Street estimates as the company benefited from lower commodity prices and higher selling prices.

AP - Tenet Healthcare Corp. said Tuesday it swung to a third-quarter profit on an investment sales gain, but lowered its outlook as patients struggled to pay bills amid a worsening economy.

AP - Tenet Healthcare Corp. said Tuesday it swung to a third-quarter profit on an investment sales gain, but results fell short of Wall Street forecasts and the company slashed its outlook as patients struggled to pay bills amid a worsening economy.

AP - In an Oct. 31 story about Clorox Co.'s fiscal first-quarter profit, The Associated Press reported erroneously comments from an analyst. Caris & Co. analyst Linda Bolton Weiser made the comments about Colgate-Palmolive Co., not Clorox.

AFP - Wall Street and European stocks rallied as Americans voted Tuesday, with investors hoping that a new president will bring relief from the global financial crisis.

AP - Investors believing that Wall Street is on the verge of a yearend rally piled into the market Tuesday, brushing off more weak economic data while they scarfed up stocks and propelled the Dow Jones industrials up 300 points to its highest close in four weeks.

Reuters - Weight Watchers International Inc posted quarterly earnings that topped market estimates, but cut its full-year outlook to provision for expenses related to its new venture in China and tax charges in the UK.

Reuters - A former Goldman Sachs Group Inc analyst who was in custody for more than two years for leading an insider-trading ring that netted more than $6.7 million is in violation of his probation and may have left the country, according to a court filing.

AP - Investors believing that Wall Street is on the verge of a yearend rally piled into the market Tuesday, brushing off more weak economic data while they scarfed up stocks and propelled the Dow Jones industrials up 300 points to its highest close in four weeks.

Reuters - Canadian mutual fund investors were spooked in October as dismal stock markets prompted redemptions estimated at roughly C$8.5 billion ($7.4 billion), an industry group said on Tuesday.

AP - Asian stocks rose sharply in early trade Wednesday, with Japan's benchmark advancing almost 3 percent, as sentiment turned upbeat after U.S. markets soared on Election Day.

AP - Japanese stocks posted strong gains Wednesday, lifted by an Election Day rally on Wall Street and a weakening yen.