WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is treading water as the market pauses ahead of a busy week of international economic data.
At 0630 AEDT on Tuesday, the currency was trading at 72.50 US cents, down from 72.53 cents on Monday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open flat after US and European stocks mainly fell as investors booked gains ahead of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting.
At 0645 AEDT on Tuesday, the share price index futures contract was up two points at 5,334.
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FRANKFURT - German businesses are confident about the outlook for Europe's biggest economy, despite China's slowdown and the Volkswagen scandal, a top survey shows, as the Bundesbank also insisted economic growth was still on track.
WASHINGTON - New-home sales in the United States tumbled to a 10-month low in September, stirring concerns about the economy, but analysts said the overall housing market continues to grow steadily.
NEW YORK - Tyre and car service company Bridgestone is buying automobile parts and repair company Pep Boys for $US835 million ($A1.16 billion) in a deal that will help Bridgestone gain a more dominant position.
NEW YORK - Global markets operator Intercontinental Exchange says it is buying Interactive Data Corporation in a $US5.2 billion ($A7.22 billion) cash-and-stock deal to expand its financial data services.
NEW YORK - US energy giant Duke Energy is buying Piedmont Natural Gas, its partner in a regional natural gas pipeline, for about $US4.9 billion ($A6.8 billion) in cash, the companies say.
TOKYO - Embattled Japanese electronics giant Sharp has warned it is on track to lose nearly $US700 million ($A971.28 million) in the half-year to September because of a slump in demand for its smartphone screens.
