Reuters - The United States ushered in a new era in banking on Tuesday with plans to take equity stakes worth up to $250 billion in financial institutions, an incursion into the private sector that U.S. officials called a regrettable last resort.

Reuters - Stocks slid on Tuesday as fears the global economy may not avert recession slammed shares of technology and consumer companies, eclipsing a government rescue plan for banks.

Reuters - Bank stocks soared on Tuesday after the government set plans to inject $250 billion into the battered sector, where exposure to toxic mortgages and other debt has pummeled investor confidence and share prices.

Reuters - Apple Inc on Tuesday cut the price on its entry-level notebook computer to $999 and introduced a line of aluminum-clad machines starting at $1,299 in moves catering to budget-minded buyers at a time when recession fears loom over the global economy.

Reuters - Wells Fargo & Co , which has agreed to buy Wachovia Corp , asked a federal court to void Citigroup Inc's earlier agreement to buy parts of the big North Carolina lender.

Reuters - Best Buy, the world's top consumer electricals retailer, set out bold international growth plans on Tuesday, led by its European venture with Britain's Carphone Warehouse, despite a tough consumer outlook.