WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is slightly lower in quiet trade ahead of the US retail sales report and Federal Reserve meeting.
At 0630 AEDT on Tuesday, the local unit was trading at 96.83 US cents, down from 96.05 cents on Monday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open flat as investors wait for the outcome of the Federal Reserve's meeting that will decide whether the central will start tapering its stimulus measures.
At 0646 AEDT on Tuesday, the December share price index futures contract was up two points at 5,432.
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ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - Utility gains have backed a rise in US industrial production in September, while manufacturing was barely higher, Federal Reserve data shows.
WASHINGTON - US pending home sales fell for the fourth straight month in September, as higher interest rates continued to hit potential buyers, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says.
MADRID - Spain is on the path to recovery after a two-year battle against recession but it must deepen labour market reforms, Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem says.
ATHENS - Austerity-hit Greeks have nothing left to give, Greek President Karolos Papoulias has told the country's EU-IMF creditors ahead of a fiscal audit tied to fresh loans.
NICOSIA - Cyprus' president says he expects international creditors' latest review to approve the country's handling of its bailout program.
NEW YORK - Merck & Co says its third-quarter profit has plunged 35 per cent because of competition from generic drugs, lower sales of its top-selling medicine, and restructuring and acquisition charges.
MIAMI - Burger King's third-quarter net income has surged as it sharply reduces its restaurant expenses mostly due to the refranchising of company-owned outlets and the fast-food provider continues to grow overseas.
LONDON - G4S, the British security services firm, says it has rejected a bid of STG1.55 billion ($A2.63 billion) for its unit responsible for transporting and storing cash and valuables on behalf of businesses.
MADRID - Spanish bank Bankia, nationalised and rescued with European Union help in December, has reported a switch into small profit in the third quarter.
