UAW asks Volkswagen to accept NLRB order on Tennessee plant row

(Reuters) - The United Auto Workers (UAW) urged Volkswagen to accept the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) latest order that requires the carmaker to collectively bargain with UAW local union as the representative of a portion of workers at its Tennessee plant.

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Samsung warns of more Galaxy Note delays amid battery explosion claims

SEOUL (Reuters) - Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Wednesday shipments of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone are being delayed as the firm conducts additional quality control testing for the premium device.

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SolarCity advisor Lazard made mistake in deal with Tesla

(Reuters) - Lazard Ltd, the investment bank that advised SolarCity Corp on its $2.6 billion sale to Tesla Motors Inc, made an error in its analysis that discounted the value of the U.S. solar energy company by $400 million, a regulatory filing by Tesla showed on Wednesday.

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McDonald's names new head of U.S. unit

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp on Wednesday said Michael Andres will retire as president of McDonald's USA at the end of the year as the fast-food chain fights to maintain the momentum of its turnaround plan amid intense competition from industry rivals and low grocery prices.

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U.S. tax code may allow dramatic retaliation in EU Apple case

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. tax law gives the Obama administration power to double tax rates for European companies should it choose to dramatically escalate a dispute with the European Union over Apple's tax bill.

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U.S. private payrolls rise solidly; pending home sales jump

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. private employers maintained a steady pace of hiring in August and contracts to buy previously owned homes surged in July, suggesting the economy was regaining sufficient momentum for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.

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Irish cabinet delays decision on Apple tax appeal

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's cabinet could not agree on Wednesday whether to fight a European Commission ruling against Dublin's tax dealings with Apple , raising questions over any appeal and the government's stability.

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U.S. senators seek federal probe of Takata-linked explosion

(Reuters) - Two U.S. senators on Wednesday called on the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate the Aug. 22 crash and explosion of a truck carrying Takata Corp air bag parts that killed a woman and injured four others.

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U.S. pending home sales jump in July

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes surged in July after two straight months of declines as demand rose almost across the board, suggesting the housing market remains on solid ground despite last month's drop in home resales.

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Faced with crunch, Tesla plans to raise additional cash this year

(Reuters) - Facing a severe cash crunch, Tesla Motors Inc plans to raise additional money this year to help fund development and production of its new Model 3 sedan and build out a giant battery factory, the company said on Wednesday.

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Wall St opens lower as oil prices drop

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened slightly lower on Wednesday as oil prices dropped more than 1 percent on the back of a stronger dollar.

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U.S. private sector adds 177,000 jobs in August: ADP

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. private employers added 177,000 jobs in August, above economists' expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

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U.S. 10-year yield heads for biggest monthly rise in over a year

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury 10-year yields were on course for their biggest monthly increase in more than a year on Wednesday as investors built up bets that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates before the year is out.

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G20 watchdog says bank rules working well, digs deeper into markets

LONDON (Reuters) - The financial system's ability to cope with Britain's vote to leave the European Union and with doubts over growth prospects show the benefits of rules introduced since the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers bank, a global watchdog said on Wednesday.

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Fed's Evans, citing slow growth, says low U.S. rates are here to stay

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans on Wednesday said he is increasingly convinced that U.S. economic growth has slowed permanently, a situation that will keep U.S. interest rates low for a long time ahead.

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VW could agree U.S. large-car diesel fix by October: Audi exec

Hong Kong (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG's global Audi sales chief said on Wednesday that talks with U.S. authorities over large-engined diesel cars found to have cheated emissions tests are progressing well and a technical and financial settlement could be agreed as soon as October.

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Exclusive: SWIFT discloses more cyber thefts, pressures banks on security

(Reuters) - SWIFT, the global financial messaging system, on Tuesday disclosed new hacking attacks on its member banks as it pressured them to comply with security procedures instituted after February's high-profile $81 million heist at Bangladesh Bank.

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SEC awards $22 million to Monsanto whistleblower

(Reuters) - A former Monsanto Co executive who tipped the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to accounting improprieties involving the company's top-selling Roundup product has been awarded more than $22 million from the agency's whistleblower program, the executive's lawyer said on Tuesday.

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Washington warns of strain on EU economic relationship after Apple ruling

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A European Commission order requiring Apple Inc to pay $13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in taxes on Tuesday drew swift and angry rebukes from the Obama administration and lawmakers in Congress, while re-igniting calls for international tax reform.

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U.S. consumer confidence hits 11-month high; house prices gain

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence rose to an 11-month high in August, with households more upbeat about the labor market, in a further sign that the economy was regaining steam after faltering in the first half of the year.

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Mitsubishi says overstated mileage for more vehicle models

TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp said on Tuesday more of its vehicle models were involved in a mileage cheating scandal than initially stated, and that it would temporarily stop domestic sales of affected vehicles and compensate owners.

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Stock futures flat as investors await more clues from Fed

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Tuesday as investors waited for more clues on the timing of the next interest rate hike.

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Fed's Fischer says U.S. job market 'very close' to full strength

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. job market is nearly at full strength and the pace of interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve will depend on how well the economy is doing, Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said on Tuesday.

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Buyout firms' hushed deals with top investors risk SECs' ire

NEW YORK(Reuters) - Some U.S. private equity firms are courting their biggest and savviest investors with privileged access to special fee-saving deals without telling other investors, according to people involved in buyout firms' fundraising.

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Dollar, shares rise on expectations for a U.S. rate increase

LONDON (Reuters) - Growing expectations the Federal Reserve will raise U.S. interest rates this year pushed the dollar up for a seventh time in eight days on Tuesday. Stocks rose.

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Oil prices rise as dollar comes off two-week high

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil futures edged up on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar backed off a two-week high hit the day before, although doubts that crude producers would agree next month to an output freeze continued to drag on prices.

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In twist, Caesars wins brief extension on lawsuit shield

(Reuters) - In a case full of twists, Caesars Entertainment Corp late on Monday won a two-week extension on a shield from lawsuits worth billions of dollars just days after a different U.S. court allowed those cases to proceed.

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Sycamore Partners confirms bid for bankrupt Aeropostale

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sycamore Partners on Monday confirmed it submitted a bid for Aeropostale Inc after a judge issued an opinion rejecting the teen-focused retailer's attempt to block an offer and blame its bankruptcy on the private equity firm.

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Oreo cookie maker Mondelez abandons bid for Hershey

(Reuters) - Mondelez International Inc said it was "no longer pursuing" the acquisition of Hershey Co , a month after the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office unveiled the terms of a reform deal with the trust that controls Hershey.

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Boeing keeps jetliner prices steady amid slowing sales

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co , which has been dealing with a sharp slowdown in sales of new planes, said on Monday that it would refrain from increasing jetliner prices for the coming year, the first time it has held prices steady since 2009.

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Valeant is sued over Philidor ties, alleged racketeering

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc was sued on Monday by buyers of its drugs, who claimed they were forced to pay exorbitant prices stemming from the Canadian company's ties to a specialty pharmacy that helped boost sales.

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EU to hand Apple Irish tax bill of over 1 billion euro, source says

DUBLIN (Reuters) - The European Commission will rule against Ireland's tax dealings with Apple on Tuesday, two source familiar with the decision told Reuters, one of whom said Dublin would be told to recoup over 1 billion euros in back taxes.

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Apple is sued over unresponsive iPhone 6 touchscreens

(Reuters) - Apple Inc has been sued by owners of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones who say a design defect causes the phones' touchscreens to become unresponsive, making them unusable.

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Mylan to launch generic EpiPen at half the price of original

(Reuters) - Mylan NV said it would launch the first generic version of its allergy auto-injector EpiPen at half the price of the branded product, the drugmaker's second step in less than a week to counter a wave of criticism over the product's high price.

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Stock futures flat as investors fathom Fed comments on rates

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Monday as investors tried to decipher comments from top Federal Reserve officials on the timing of the next interest rate hike.

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U.S. FDA issues emergency use authorization for Zika test: Roche

ZURICH (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday issued emergency authorization for a Zika diagnostics test from Swiss drugmaker Roche, skirting normal approval channels as the regulator moves to fight the disease's spread.

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Oil prices fall on rising Iraq output, doubt over producer talk prospects

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices fell early on Monday as output from Iraq rose and as Iran said it would only cooperate in upcoming producer talks to freeze output if fellow exporters recognized its right to fully regain market share.

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Herbalife may have misled investors, SEC on impact of FTC deal, one short-seller says

BOSTON (Reuters) - After U.S. multi-level marketing company Herbalife settled a probe of its sales practices with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission last month, top executives assured investors that the company would be able to thrive under the new rules.

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As Fed nears rate hikes, policymakers plan for 'brave new world'

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. (Reuters) - Federal Reserve policymakers are signaling they could raise U.S. interest rates soon but they are already weighing new tools they may need to fight the next recession.

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Germany's economy minister: U.S.-EU free trade talks have failed

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday that talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a free trade deal being negotiated by the United States and the European Union, had essentially failed.

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Fed's Yellen sees stronger case for interest rate hike

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is getting closer to raising interest rates again, the head of the U.S. central bankand other policymakers said on Friday in comments that left the door open for a hike as early as next month.

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Jobs data to be a big deal for record-high stocks

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Wall Street will fixate on a wave of U.S. economic data next week, crested by payrolls data on Friday that could sway expectations about the timing of future interest rate hikes and spark volatility in record-high stock prices.

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For the Fed's Yellen 'conventional' unconventional policy is enough

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For all the talk of a radical shift in central banking policy, from the permanent use of negative rates to helicopter money drops, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen appears to believe she can tackle any future downturn using the tools currently at her disposal.

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Wall Street pares gains after Yellen comments

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks pared gains after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the case for raising U.S. interest rates has strengthened in recent months because of improvements in the labor market and expectations for moderate economic growth.

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Declining inventories curb U.S. second-quarter growth; consumption surges

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic growth was a bit more sluggish than initially thought in the second quarter as businesses aggressively ran down stocks of unsold goods, offsetting a spurt in consumer spending.

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Mazda recalling 190,000 CX-7 vehicles in U.S.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Mazda Motor Corp will recall 190,000 of its CX-7 sport utility vehicles from model years 2007 to 2012 in the United States because of an issue that may cause a loss of steering control, U.S. safety regulators said on Friday.

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AB InBev expects to cut three percent of jobs after SABMiller takeover

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Anheuser-Busch InBev expects to cut some 3 percent of its combined workforce after it has acquired rival SABMiller , according to takeover documents published on Friday.

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Schooled in the short run, central banks struggle with a long-term role

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. (Reuters) - Schooled in economic thinking that confines monetary policy to the short run, central bankers gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are grappling with a singular change: whether they can take over as guardians of long-term growth with programs that may stay in place and influence markets for decades to come.

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Senior executive of South Korea's Lotte Group has died: Lotte official

SEOUL (Reuters) - A senior executive of South Korea's Lotte Group has died, an official at the country's fifth-largest family-run conglomerate told Reuters on Friday, amid a sweeping criminal probe into the business.

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GM cleared in second verdict over crash blamed on ignition switch

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Texas jury said on Thursday a General Motors Co ignition switch was not to blame for a fatal 2011 crash, according to a statement from the company.

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U.S. agency rolls out refinance program for homeowners

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac unveiled on Thursday a program aimed at homeowners who are paying their mortgages on time but whose loan-to-value (LTV) ratios are too high to qualify for traditional refinance programs.

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Volkswagen to spend at least $1.2 billion to compensate U.S. dealers: sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG has agreed to spend more than $1.2 billion to compensate its 650 U.S. dealers for their losses from the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal, two sources briefed on the matter said on Thursday.

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U.S. SEC fines 13 advisers for false claims involving F-Squared

(Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission fined 13 investment advisory firms on Thursday for spreading false claims made by the now-defunct F-Squared Investments Inc, which had been one of the largest marketers of investment products using exchange-traded funds.

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Dollar General takes the battle to Wal-Mart with price cuts

(Reuters) - Discount retailer Dollar General Corp said it was cutting prices on its most popular items such as bread, eggs and milk, intensifying a price war with retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc to win back market share.

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Wall Street opens lower as investors await Yellen

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened lower on Thursday as investors nervously awaited Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's take on interest rate hikes.

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U.S. core capital goods orders surge; jobless claims fall

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders for U.S. manufactured capital goods rose for a second straight month in July as demand for machinery and a range of other products picked up, offering a tentative sign that a business spending downturn was starting to ease.

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Exchanges call for regulatory clarity over blockchain use

LONDON (Reuters) - A lack of clarity over regulation is holding back the development of blockchain technology for cutting the cost of share trading, the world's trade body for exchanges said on Thursday.

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ANA to cancel Boeing 787s flights to fix Rolls-Royce engines

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's biggest carrier, ANA Holdings said on Thursday it has experienced trouble with the Rolls-Royce engines powering its Boeing 787 Dreamliners and will schedule some aircraft for servicing over coming days.

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Global stocks wilt ahead of Fed gathering, dollar wobbles

LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks saw their biggest fall in three weeks on Thursday and currency markets were noticeably subdued as investors took to sidelines ahead of one of the big global central banker gatherings of the year.

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Central bankers eye public spending to plug $1 trillion investment gap

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming(Reuters) - While markets wait for Janet Yellen's latest message about the direction of monetary policy, the Federal Reserve chief and her colleagues already have one for politicians: the U.S. economy needs more public spending to shift into higher gear.

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U.S. banking regulators focused on cybersecurity after SWIFT attack

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. banking regulators said in a letter released on Wednesday that they are continuing to focus on cybersecurity risks and controls for U.S. financial institutions after attacks earlier this year on the global financial network known as SWIFT.

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HP Inc forecasts weak profit on low demand for printers

(Reuters) - HP Inc forecast fourth-quarter profit below analysts' estimates as the company, which was split off from the former Hewlett-Packard Co, struggles with weak demand for its printers.

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Ex-Comverse CEO pleads guilty to fraud, a decade after fleeing U.S.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The former chief executive officer of Comverse Technology Inc pleaded guilty on Wednesday to securities fraud, a decade after he fled to Namibia from the United States to avoid prosecution.

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More U.S. retailers probing phony Egyptian cotton

CHICAGO/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - U.S. retailer Bed Bath & Beyond on Wednesday said it ordered an external audit of textiles from Welspun India , after Target Corp last week accused the Indian manufacturer of passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton for two years.

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U.S. existing home sales decline, prices still strong

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. home resales fell more than expected in July after four straight months of strong gains, as a lack of inventory limited choice for buyers, but further price rises suggested the housing market remained on solid ground.

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Ford to recall 91,000 cars in North America to fix fuel-pump issue

(Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Wednesday it was recalling about 91,000 vehicles in North America to replace faulty fuel-pump parts that could potentially cause a car to stall without warning.

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UBS leads team of banks working on blockchain settlement system

LONDON (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS is leading a team of four of the world's biggest banks developing a system to enable financial markets to make payments and settle transactions quickly using blockchain technology.

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Wall Street opens little changed as investors eye Fed

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed at the open on Wednesday as investors kept up their wait for Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's speech on Friday for clues on the timing of an interest rate hike.

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Clinton details plans to boost small businesses

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Democrat Hillary Clinton on Tuesday vowed to make starting a small business in the United States as easy as opening a lemonade stand if elected president, targeting a large economic sector and a significant voting bloc.

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Tesla touts speed and driving range with new upgraded battery

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc crowned itself the maker of the world's fastest production car on Tuesday, saying a new version of its Model S all-electric sedan can accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in just 2-1/2 seconds.

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U.S. CBO says budget deficit to reach $590 billion for fiscal 2016

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. budget deficit is expected to grow to $590 billion in fiscal year 2016 due to slower than expected growth in revenues and higher spending for programs including Social Security and Medicare, the Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday.

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Eight Fed banks urge discount rate increase: minutes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of regional Federal Reserve banks calling on the central bank to raise the rate it charges commercial banks for emergency loans rose to eight in July, minutes from the Fed's discount rate meeting released on Tuesday showed.

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Exclusive: China's richest man set to seal two billion-dollar U.S. film deals

BEIJING (Reuters) - Real estate and entertainment conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group Co expects to seal two billion-dollar film-related deals in the United States this year, chairman Wang Jianlin said on Tuesday, as China's richest man steps up his push into Hollywood.

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VW, states agree to hold settlement talks over environmental claims

(Reuters) - Volkswagen AG and several U.S. states that sued the German automaker seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for state law violations agreed to hold settlement talks, the automaker said in a court filing Tuesday.

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U.S. new home sales race to near nine-year high; supply dwindles

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. single-family home sales unexpectedly rose in July, reaching their highest level in nearly nine years as demand increased broadly, brightening the housing market outlook.

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Best Buy reports surprise rise comparable-stores sales

(Reuters) - Best Buy Co Inc reported a surprise rise in quarterly comparable stores sales, helped by strong demand for appliances and consumer electronics.

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VW, suppliers settle dispute after marathon talks

BERLIN (Reuters) - Volkswagen and two of its parts suppliers on Tuesday resolved a contract dispute that had hit output at more than half of the carmaker's German plants and threatened to undermine its recovery from a diesel emissions scandal.

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Investors skeptical of Fed's rate policy ahead of Yellen speech

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen may struggle later this week to convince financial markets she can steer a divided U.S. central bank to raise interest rates at least once in 2016 after it started the year with four hikes on its radar.

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Toll Brothers revenue beats estimates on higher home sales

(Reuters) - Toll Brothers Inc reported a rise in revenue for the fourth straight quarter, beating analysts' estimates, as it sold more luxury homes at higher prices, suggesting a steady growth in the U.S. housing market.

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Stocks creep up amid Fed limbo, dollar dips

LONDON (Reuters) - World shares crept up on Tuesday while the dollar lost ground as investors awaited further clues on whether the Federal Reserve will raise U.S. interest rates this year.

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Federal Reserve under growing pressure to reform system, goals

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve has two guiding goals when designing monetary policy: maximum employment and stable inflation.

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U.S. appeals court declines to reconsider Bank of America ruling

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday refused to reconsider its decision to overturn a $1.27 billion penalty against Bank of America Corp and a jury verdict finding it liable for mortgage fraud leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.

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U.S. banks want to cut branches, but customers keep coming

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Despite banks' nudging toward online tools, many U.S. customers are not ready to give up regular visits to their nearest branch, complicating the industry's efforts to slim down.

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Wall Street set to open lower as oil prices drop

(Reuters) - Wall Street looked set for a lower open on Monday as oil prices dropped the most in four weeks and dollar strengthened on bets of an interest rate hike in the coming months.

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U.S. clearance for ChemChina deal sends Syngenta stock soaring

ZURICH (Reuters) - A U.S. national security panel has cleared ChemChina's $43 billion takeover of Swiss pesticides and seeds group Syngenta, the companies said, boosting chances that the largest foreign acquisition ever by a Chinese company will go through.

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From the Olympics to Wall Street: The athletes who become brokers

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Emily Samuelson competed at the highest level as an ice dancer over the course of her 15-year career, retiring after skating in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. But like many Olympians, she never earned enough to cover her expenses.

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Asian shares slip, dollar stands tall on Fed hike bets

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares slipped on Monday and the dollar pulled away from last week's lows on expectations that a signal might emerge from a Federal Reserve gathering this week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming that the U.S. central bank is gearing up to hike interest rates.

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Pfizer nears deal to acquire Medivation for close to $14 billion

(Reuters) - Pfizer Inc is in advanced talks to acquire U.S. cancer drug company Medivation Inc for close to $14 billion, as it seeks to boost its oncology portfolio, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

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Analysis: Focus on VIX futures shorts hides the real story

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Judging by the way hedge funds have been betting on Wall Street, they see U.S. stock market volatility remaining low, but it may not be that simple.

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Viacom says CEO Dauman to resign post immediately; Dooley steps in

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Viacom Inc said on Saturday that Chief Executive Philippe Dauman will resign immediately, marking a victory for the family of controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone in the battle for the $40 billion media empire.

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Fed close to hitting job and inflation targets: Fischer

(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is close to hitting its targets for full employment and 2 percent inflation, the Fed's No. 2 policymaker said on Sunday in comments that did not address when the U.S. central bank should next raise interest rates.

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Incoming Viacom CEO plans investor campaign as shakeup looms

NEW YORK (Reuters) - As Viacom Inc prepares for the impending departure of CEO Philippe Dauman, his interim replacement, Thomas Dooley, is planning to reach out to investors, setting a new tone for a company that has kept communications minimal.

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BOJ's Kuroda says won't rule out deepening negative rate cut-Sankei

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan will not rule out deepening a cut to negative rates it introduced in February, the Sankei newspaper quoted Governor Haruhiko Kuroda as saying, even as the controversial policy has failed to spur inflation or economic growth.

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Stock rotation to continue as Fed seen open to 2016 hike

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The rotation to cyclical sectors of the S&P 500 and away from defensive stocks could continue next week if Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen strikes a tone more welcoming to an interest rate increase later this year.

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New York nabs global property crown from London on Brexit fears

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York has knocked off London as the world's premier city for foreign investment in commercial real estate due to fears the vote to leave the European Union would diminish the British capital's appeal as a global financial center.

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Pricey U.S. stock valuations may warrant second look

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors questioning whether record high U.S. stock prices mean it is time to bail out of equities should look beyond the elevated levels found in the widely used valuation tool, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, experts say.

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Pokemon Go spurs lifestyle changes, business boom as it rolls out in Asia

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Asian fans of smartphone game Pokemon Go are hunting out the best telecom providers and network gear to overcome the hurdle posed by patchy network signals in their race to capture virtual cartoon characters.

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Asia rides Wall St. higher, buoyant crude nears six-week highs

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian stocks edged up on Friday as Wall Street benefited from buoyant crude oil prices and expectations U.S. borrowing costs will remain at stimulatory levels at least until year-end.

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Exclusive: Viacom board expected to meet tonight to discuss settlement with Redstone

NEW YORK (Reuters) - - Viacom Inc's board of directors is expected to meet on Thursday night to discuss a settlement with controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone that would result in the departure of Chief Executive Philippe Dauman, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters.

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Fed's Williams says rate hikes 'make sense,' and sooner than later

ANCHORAGE (Reuters) - San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams on Thursday joined a growing chorus of his colleagues signaling support for an interest rate hike in coming months, saying that waiting too long could be costly for the economy.

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Exclusive: Monte dei Paschi CEO, former chairman under investigation - source

FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - The chief executive of Monte dei Paschi di Siena , Fabrizio Viola, and the Italian bank's former chairman, Alessandro Profumo, are under investigation for alleged false accounting and market manipulation, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

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Wall Street set to open flat as Fed divided on rates

(Reuters) - Wall Street looked set to open little changed on Thursday, a day after minutes of the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed policymakers were divided over whether to raise interest rates in the near-term.

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Wal-Mart's comparable sales beat estimates

(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly comparable sales on Thursday, helped by a rise in online sales and a higher average ticket at Walmart and Sam's Club stores.

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Citi CEO seen asking for more patience as targets still elusive

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Earlier this year, an analyst asked Citigroup Inc Chief Executive Michael Corbat what he would do if activist investors tried to shake things up after what seems like eons of underperformance.

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Cisco to cut 5,500 jobs in shift away from switches, routers

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc said it would cut nearly 7 percent of its workforce, posting charges of up to $400 million in its first quarter, as the world's largest networking gear maker shifts focus away from its legacy hardware towards higher-margin software.

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Fed policymakers divided over whether to raise rates soon: minutes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve policymakers agree that more economic data is needed before raising interest rates, although some see a need to tighten policy soon, according to the minutes from the U.S. central bank's July 26-27 policy meeting.

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Ex-Wall Street banker convicted for giving father insider tips

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An ex-Wall Street investment banker was convicted on Wednesday of engaging in insider trading by tipping his father off to unannounced healthcare mergers, a victory for prosecutors after an appellate ruling made it harder to pursue such cases harder.

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U.S. mortgage demand to buy homes hits six-month low: MBA

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Weekly applications for U.S. mortgages to buy homes slipped to a six-month low even as interest rates on fixed-rate home loans fell, according to data from an industry group released on Wednesday.

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Target cuts full-year profit forecast as sales decline

(Reuters) - Retail chain Target Corp cut its fiscal-year profit outlook on Wednesday after quarterly sales fell more than expected, sending its shares down nearly 5 percent.

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Special Report: Not so SWIFT - Bank messaging system slow to address weak points

LA HULPE, Belgium (Reuters) - More than a dozen current and former board directors and senior managers of SWIFT, the bank messaging system that helps transmit billions of dollars around the world every day, have told Reuters the organization for years suspected there were weaknesses in the way smaller banks used its messaging terminals – but did not address such vulnerabilities.

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U.S. inflation tame despite economy gaining momentum

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices were unchanged in July but a rise in industrial output and home building suggested a pickup in economic activity that could allow the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.

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Univision to buy Gawker out of bankruptcy for $135 million

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Univision Holdings Inc won a bankruptcy auction on Tuesday to acquire U.S. internet publisher Gawker Media LLC for $135 million, outbidding media company Ziff Davis LLC, which had made an initial offer of $90 million.

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Gaining confidence, Fed officials eye U.S. interest rate hike this year

NEW YORK/KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is raising expectations for an interest rate rise this year, even as early as next month, after two policymakers on Tuesday said the economic stars now appear to be aligning despite weak U.S. economic growth in the first half of 2016.

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Wall Street lower on NY Fed chief's rate hike comments

(Reuters) - Wall Street was sharply lower on Tuesday morning, with indexes pulling away from record levels, after New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley said an interest rate in September was possible.

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Fed's Dudley says 'possible' to hike rates next month: FBN

(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve could possibly raise U.S. interest rates as soon as next month as the labor market tightens and as evidence builds of wage gains, influential New York Fed President William Dudley said on Tuesday.

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Apple to increase investment in increasingly tough China

BEIJING (Reuters) - Apple Inc will boost its investment in China, one of its most important but increasingly difficult markets, and build its first Asia-Pacific research and development center in the country, Chief Executive Tim Cook said on Tuesday.

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Asia stocks at one-year high on global easy money policy, oil jumps

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares rose to one-year highs, expanding their gains this year to 10 percent, supported by a jump in oil prices and investor expectations of an extended phase of easy monetary policy around the globe.

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Airbus, Boeing brace for crucial phase in subsidies dispute

GENEVA/PARIS (Reuters) - The world's two largest jetmakers are bracing for the next round in a transatlantic spat over billions of dollars of aircraft subsidies, amid accusations of widening U.S. support for Boeing and persistent European aid to Airbus.

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Univision bids for Gawker, challenging Ziff Davis: sources

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Univision Holdings Inc has offered to acquire Gawker Media LLC, challenging a $90 million stalking horse bid from media company Ziff Davis LLC in the auction for the U.S. internet publisher, people familiar with the matter said.

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Berkshire takes bigger bite of Apple, pares Wal-Mart

(Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Monday said it has increased its stake in Apple Inc by 55 percent, boosting its bet on the iPhone and iPod maker even as prominent investors like Carl Icahn and George Soros have reduced theirs.

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Billionaire investors turn bearish as U.S. stocks hit record highs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A number of big-name hedge fund investors soured on U.S. stocks in the second quarter and moved to gold and other bearish bets, failing to anticipate the stock market rally in the current quarter.

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UPS CEO sees 'sense of urgency' over TPP as China seeks own deal

LOUISVILLE (Reuters) - The head of United Parcel Service Inc said on Monday the United States runs the risk of missing out on setting the terms for international trade by not approving the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and said the company is lobbying members of Congress to approve the deal.

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AIG nearing deal to sell unit to Arch Capital for $3.4 billion: WSJ

(Reuters) - American International Group Inc is nearing a deal to sell its mortgage-guaranty unit to Arch Capital Group Ltd for about $3.4 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

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Tesla removes 'autopilot' from China website after Beijing crash

SHANGHAI/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tesla removed the word "autopilot" and a Chinese term for "self-driving" from its China website after a driver in Beijing who crashed in "autopilot" mode complained that the car maker overplayed the function's capability and misled buyers.

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Japan's economy stalls in April-June, casts doubts on Abe's policies

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's economic growth ground to a halt in April-June after a stellar expansion in the previous quarter on weak exports and capital expenditure, putting even more pressure on premier Shinzo Abe to come up with policies that produce more sustainable growth.

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Oil prices firm on potential producer action to prop up market

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up early on Monday and have risen more than 10 percent since the start of the month as speculation intensifies about potential producer action to support prices in an oversupplied market.

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U.S. judge in Anthem merger trial sets trial for November 21, plans ruling by late January 2017

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The judge overseeing the U.S. Justice Department's bid to stop health insurer Anthem from merging with competitor Cigna said on Friday her goal was to have a ruling by the end of January, later than the Dec. 30 date sought by Anthem.

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Europe's boutique firms stealing M&A market share, dealmakers, data shows

LONDON (Reuters) - Boutique advisory firms now receive nearly half of all mergers and acquisition fees in Europe, stealing market share and top dealmakers from global investment banks hamstrung by a renewed focus on cost-cutting and regulations on how much they can pay.

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Negative rates seen reducing Japan big banks' profits by $2.96 billion: Nikkei

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's financial watchdog estimates that negative interest rates under the Bank of Japan's monetary easing policy will reduce profits for the country's three big banks by at least 300 billion yen ($2.96 billion) for the year through March 2017, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.

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Global monetary taps still open wide, Fed minutes in focus

LONDON (Reuters) - The glue binding a still-aggressive global monetary policy response to a struggling world economy and almost daily record highs for world stock markets along with record low bond yields is set to remain intact in the coming week.

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Ackman cheers as Fidelity funds unload more Herbalife shares

BOSTON (Reuters) - One of Herbalife Ltd's largest investors sold more of the company's stock, just weeks after the U.S. government told the protein shake maker to reorganize its business, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SunEdison shareholders denied official role in bankruptcy

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge denied a request by shareholders of SunEdison Inc for an official committee to represent them in the bankruptcy of the U.S. renewable power plant developer, which the judge described as "hopelessly insolvent."

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Weak retail sales, inflation data dim prospect of Fed rate hike

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales were unexpectedly flat in July as Americans cut back on purchases of clothing and other goods, pointing to a moderation in consumer spending that could temper expectations of an acceleration in economic growth in the third quarter.

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Wall Street set to open flat after hitting record highs

(Reuters) - Wall Street was set to open little changed on Friday as investors take a breather after all three major indexes closed at record highs for the first time since 1999.

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U.S. producer prices fall on services, energy costs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fell in July on declining costs for services and energy products, pointing to a tame inflation environment that could make it difficult for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

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U.S. labor market firming; inflation remains benign

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week, pointing to sustained labor market strength in early August that could help spur faster economic growth.

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Fed should raise interest rates this year, Williams says

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve should raise interest rates further this year, a top U.S. central banker said in an interview published on Thursday, reflecting improved labor market conditions and the likelihood that inflation is heading higher.

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Department store earnings power Wall Street rally

(Reuters) - U.S. stock indexes came at shouting distance from their record highs as strong results from department store chains and robust labor market data buoyed investor sentiment about economic growth.

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Valeant under criminal investigation over Philidor ties: WSJ

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc over whether it hid from insurers its relationship with a specialty pharmacy that helped boost its drug sales, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

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Oil prices fall on U.S. crude inventory build, record Saudi output

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices fell early on Thursday as a build in U.S. crude inventories and record Saudi Arabian production weighed on markets.

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Wall Street dip halts Asian shares' rising streak, oil slips

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Thursday, reversing recent gains as investors took profits after Wall Street declined overnight, and oil prices tumbled on news of a surprising jump in U.S. government stockpiles.

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Delta cancels hundreds more flights, expects normal operations soon

(Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc on Wednesday canceled more than 250 flights and upended thousands of travelers' plans for the third day in a row after a power outage hit its computer systems, though it forecast a return to normal operations later this afternoon.

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Wall Street bonuses expected to decline for bankers, traders: report

(Reuters) - Wall Street bonuses are expected to decline this year for both bankers and traders, compensation consulting firm Johnson Associates Inc. said on Wednesday.

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U.S. jobs openings increase in June, layoffs near two-year low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. job openings increased in June and layoffs dropped to their lowest in nearly two years as labor market conditions tightened further, according a government report on Wednesday.

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Exclusive: ACT shakes up security unit, plans audit after cheating reports

LONDON/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - ACT Inc, maker of America’s most popular university entrance exam, is laying off its head of test security and plans to audit nearly 200 education centers after Reuters detailed widespread cheating in an ACT-owned college-prep program for international students.

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Boeing may not raise 787 production to 14 a month, will follow market: CFO

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co may not raise production of its 787 Dreamliner jet to 14 a month but will generate more cash even if it does not lift output from the current rate of 12 a month, Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said on Wednesday.

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HSBC, BofA apply blockchain to trade finance, seek more partners

HONG KONG (Reuters) - HSBC and Bank of America Merrill Lynch said on Wednesday they had created the world's first application using blockchain technology to simplify one of the most cumbersome aspects of trade finance.

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'Self-driving' in spotlight again as China sees first Tesla autopilot crash

BEIJING (Reuters) - Tesla said on Wednesday that one of its cars had crashed in Beijing while in 'autopilot' mode, with the driver contending sales staff sold the function as 'self-driving', overplaying its actual capabilities.

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Oil dips on oversupply; calls for producer meeting met with scepticism

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices dipped on Wednesday as a global supply overhang weighed on markets, while talk of a potential producer meeting to discuss propping up prices lent some support but was met with scepticism by analysts.

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Money laundering rule on prepaid cards stalled after industry pushback

NEW YORK/ST. LOUIS, AUGUST 10 (Reuters) - In 2011, amid a crackdown on international money laundering, the U.S. Treasury Department tried to close a loophole that authorities said allows drug cartels to move bulk cash across borders on gift and other prepaid cards.

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Before Valeant overhaul, Ackman met investors at brainstorming event

BOSTON (Reuters) - Six weeks before Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc revealed plans to reorganize and pay down debt, similar ideas to improve the drugmaker's fortunes were discussed at a private shareholder dinner attended by top investor and board member William Ackman, according to a source who participated.

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Disney results beat, picks up stake in streaming company

(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue on Tuesday, fueled by a near 40 percent jump in revenue at its studio unit.

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Several U.S. states unprepared for a recession: S&P

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Several U.S. states studied by S&P Global Ratings are ill-equipped to deal with an economic recession, hampered by the slow rebound in U.S. economic growth after the damage wrought by the Great Recession.

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U.S. wholesale inventories rise more than expected in June

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. wholesale inventories unexpectedly rose in June on gains in stocks of farm products and other nondurable goods, suggesting an upward revision to the second-quarter economic growth estimate.

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Wall Street near record highs as oil, tech stocks lift

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks traded near record highs on Tuesday morning as a rise in technology stocks added to the lift from steadying oil prices.

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Delta Air Lines to cancel nearly 250 flights on Tuesday

(Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc said it was cancelling nearly 250 flights on Tuesday as it looks to restore operations after a power outage hit its computer systems on Monday, causing the cancellation of about 1,000 flights.

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U.S. productivity falls for third consecutive quarter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. nonfarm productivity unexpectedly fell in the second quarter, pointing to sustained weakness that could raise concerns about corporate profits and companies' ability to maintain their recent robust pace of hiring.

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Exclusive: BP seeks buyers for its half of China petchem venture

FRANKFURT/HONG KONG (Reuters) - British oil major BP is seeking buyers for its 50 percent stake in Chinese petrochemicals joint venture SECCO, its largest investment in China, in a deal sources said could fetch $2-$3 billion.

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China's slowing wholesale deflation takes pressure off central bank

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's factory price deflation moderated further in July, with prices falling at their slowest pace in two years, taking pressure off the central bank to cut rates as policymakers turn their focus to structural reforms and ballooning credit.

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LendingClub posts bigger-than-expected loss; CFO resigns

(Reuters) - LendingClub Corp, which matches borrowers and lenders online, on Monday posted a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss as growth slowed, and said its chief financial officer had resigned.

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Wal-Mart to buy Jet.com in bid to strengthen e-commerce offering

(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Monday it would buy online retailer Jet.com for about $3 billion, the largest-ever deal for an e-commerce startup, as it races to build a Web business to better compete with Amazon.com Inc.

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Delta hit by computer outage, flights delayed worldwide

(Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc said a "major system-wide network outage" on Monday had delayed flights worldwide and technicians were working to resolve the computer problem as soon as possible.

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China's July exports, imports fall more than expected

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's exports and imports fell more than expected in July in a rocky start to the third quarter, suggesting global demand remains weak in the aftermath of Britain's decision to leave the EU.

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Gawker, Hulk Hogan in settlement talks over privacy case: WSJ

(Reuters) - Gawker Media Group is engaged in preliminary talks with the former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan to reach a settlement over a $140 million court judgment that led the company to file for bankruptcy protection, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

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China's July forex reserves fall to $3.20 trillion

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's foreign exchange reserves fell to $3.20 trillion in July, central bank data showed on Sunday, in line with analyst expectations.

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Nissan in talks with Panasonic, others to sell battery operations: sources

TOKYO (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co is in talks with Panasonic Corp and overseas companies including Chinese firms over the possible sale of its controlling stake in a car battery manufacturing venture, sources said.

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Strong U.S. employment report brightens economic outlook

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employment rose more than expected for the second month in a row in July and wages picked up, bolstering expectations of faster economic growth, and raising the probability of a Federal Reserve interest rate increase this year.

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Wall Street Week Ahead: Again at highs, stocks to take cues from consumer

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. stock market that rose again to record highs on Friday on the back of a robust employment report will take its cues next week from a facet of the economy that also has shown signs of strength: the consumer.

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PwC must face $1 billion MF Global malpractice lawsuit: U.S. judge

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge rejected PricewaterhouseCoopers' [PWC.UL] bid to dismiss a $1 billion lawsuit accusing the accounting firm of professional malpractice for helping cause the October 2011 bankruptcy of MF Global Holdings Ltd [MGHL.UL], a brokerage once run by former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine.

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U.S. trade deficit rises to ten-month high in June

WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit rose to a 10-month high in June as rising domestic demand and higher oil prices boosted the import bill while the lagging effects of a strong dollar continued to hamper export growth.

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Wall Street set to open higher on strong jobs data

(Reuters) - Wall Street was set to open higher on Friday after robust monthly payrolls data pointed to strength in the U.S. economy.

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Asia stocks gain, pound weakens on BoE easing, U.S. jobs data awaited

SINGAPORE/TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares followed global stock markets higher on Friday after the Bank of England launched a larger-than-expected post-Brexit stimulus package that sent the British pound tumbling.

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Oil prices dip as short covering rally fizzles out

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices eased in early trading on Friday, but remained well above this week's lows as traders covered short positions after profiting from sharp declines since June.

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New U.S. mortgage rules aim to stop wrongful foreclosures

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. agency charged with protecting consumers' finances approved rules on Thursday that will help prevent wrongful home foreclosures, as the regulator continues to press on with reforming the country's massive lending market.

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Away from spotlight, U.S. manufacturers battle back from 'China shock'

HICKORY, North Carolina (Reuters) - As furniture makers left Hickory and headed to China at the start of the century, the local community college shuttered its courses in furniture production, abandoning an industry that had sustained this North Carolina community for generations.

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Wall Street opens little changed after BoE cuts rates

(Reuters) - Wall Street was little changed on Thursday after the Bank of England cut its main lending rate to a record low and revived its bond-buying program.

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U.S. factory orders fall, business spending shows signs of stabilizing

New orders for U.S. factory goods fell for a second straight month in June on weak demand for transportation equipment and capital goods, but signs of stabilization in business spending offered some hope for struggling industries.

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Bank of England cuts rates for first time since 2009, restarts bond purchases

LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England cut interest rates for the first time since 2009 on Thursday and said it would buy 60 billion pounds of government debt to ease the blow from Britain's June 23 vote to leave the European Union.

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Time Inc's quarterly revenue misses estimates

(Reuters) - Magazine publisher Time Inc reported lower-than-expected quarterly revenue as higher digital advertising revenue failed to make up for a fall in income from print ads.

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Biogen not pursuing a sale: source

(Reuters) - U.S. biotechnology company Biogen Inc has not received any formal expressions of interest from potential acquirers and is not actively soliciting takeover offers, according to a person familiar with the matter.

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BoE rate call looms, Asian shares firm as oil rebounds for now

TOKYO (Reuters) - Investors are counting on the Bank of England to cut interest rates to a record low 0.25 percent later on Thursday to support an economy that has slumped since the Brexit vote.

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Tesla posts 13th straight loss, says on track for second-half deliveries

(Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc reported its 13th straight quarterly loss as a rise in sales of its Model S and Model X electric cars failed to make up for the huge cost of ramping up production.

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MetLife profit falls 94 percent on higher derivative losses

(Reuters) - MetLife Inc , the largest U.S. life insurer, reported a 94 percent fall in quarterly profit as the company booked higher derivative losses.

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U.S. loan demand for home purchases lowest since February: MBA

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Weekly applications for U.S. home mortgages fell to their lowest level in five months even as borrowing costs declined, according to data from an industry group released on Wednesday.

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U.S. private sector adds 179,000 jobs in July: ADP

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. private employers added 179,000 jobs in July, above economists' expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

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Bill Gross favors real assets, wary of stocks and bonds

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors should cut risk by placing money in real assets and accept lower returns, given that markets no longer offer double-digit gains in a zero interest-rate environment, said Bill Gross, a portfolio manager at Janus Capital Group Inc .

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Under Tesla's wing, SolarCity's future remains uncertain

(Reuters) - After four rocky years as a publicly traded company in the volatile renewable energy sector, SolarCity Corp may now be wading into an equally uncertain future.

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Bitcoin worth $72 million stolen from Bitfinex exchange in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Nearly 120,000 units of digital currency bitcoin worth about US$72 million was stolen from the exchange platform Bitfinex in Hong Kong, making it the second-biggest security breach ever of such an exchange.

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The 'what if' spooking markets: policy success

LONDON (Reuters) - Voter rebellions? A protectionist wave? Looming recession? Islamic militancy? Perhaps the biggest shock to world markets now would be if central banks met their inflation goals.

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Exclusive: Delta's refinery sacrifices profits for lower fuel cost - memo

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc is flooding the New York market with jet fuel from its refinery, sacrificing refining profits in order to lower the carrier’s fuel costs, according to a company memo seen by Reuters.

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U.S. consumer spending exits second quarter with strong momentum

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending rose more than expected in June as households bought goods and services, suggesting strength that appeared to be sustained early in the third quarter with auto sales surging to an eight-month high in July.

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U.S. crude oil remains below $40 as oversupply still weighs

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up early on Wednesday, supported by a weaker dollar, but U.S. crude futures remained below $40 per barrel and Brent was below $42 as ongoing fuel oversupply and stuttering economic growth weighed on markets.

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Too soon to rule out rate hike at next Fed meeting: Lockhart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart said on Tuesday it was too soon to rule out an interest rate increase at the U.S. central bank's next meeting in September, with a lot of data set to come in on the health of the economy.

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Fed's Kaplan urges patience in raising rates, points to global risks

(Reuters) - A raft of global risks that could adversely affect the United States remain on the horizon and require close monitoring, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan said on Tuesday.

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Futures lower ahead of economic data

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were slightly lower ahead of a set of economic data, including a report on consumer spending, and as investors assessed earnings from major companies.

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China regulator says Didi, Uber deal will need Mofcom approval

BEIJING (Reuters) - A merger between Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing and the China unit of U.S. rival Uber could face its first hiccup after China's commerce ministry (Mofcom) said on Tuesday it had not received a necessary application to allow the deal to go ahead.

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U.S. crude oil edges back over $40, but oversupply still weighs

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up in early trading on Tuesday after U.S. crude broke below $40 per barrel the previous session, but traders said fuel markets continued to be dogged by excess production.

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Didi's dominance of Uber in China offers roadmap for ride-hailing rivals

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - China ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing's dominance of Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] in the China market may provide a play book for other regional rivals to fend off the biggest U.S. ride-hailing company, especially in other Asian countries.

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U.S. factory activity slips; construction spending hits one-year low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. manufacturing activity eased in July amid shrinking order backlogs and declining employment, while an unexpected drop in construction spending in June suggested second-quarter economic was probably even weaker than reported last week.

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Buffett rebukes Trump, unveils voter turnout effort

OMAHA, Neb. (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett on Monday campaigned alongside Democrat Hillary Clinton at a rowdy rally in his home state of Nebraska, where he challenged Republican Donald Trump to release his tax returns and said he would personally drive people to the polls in November.

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AB InBev and SABMiller expect megabrew merger to complete October 10

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller , the world's two largest brewers, set out a timetable on Monday for the final stages of their $100 billion-plus merger, with completion of the deal expected in a little more than two months.

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Wall Street opens lower as energy stocks weigh

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks were slightly lower on Monday as a drop in oil prices weighed on energy stocks.

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Tesla to buy SolarCity in $2.6 billion stock deal

(Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc said it would buy solar panel installer SolarCity Corp for $2.6 billion in shares to form a one-stop clean energy shop.

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