WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is lower amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
At 0630 AEST on Tuesday, the local currency was trading at 92.59 US cents, down from 92.96 cents on Monday.
And the Australian share market looks set to follow Wall Street's lead and open higher as investors absorb new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.
At 0645 AEST on Tuesday, the June share price index futures contract was up 21 points at 5,554.0.
ELSEWHERE:
KOSTYANTYNIVKA, Ukraine - The United States and Europe have whacked Russia with fresh sanctions for failing to stop tensions soaring in eastern Ukraine, where rebels have seized another town and a pro-Moscow mayor has been badly wounded.
LONDON - Britain's Serious Fraud Office says three more ex-employees of Barclays bank have been charged over the Libor rate-rigging affair.
OTTAWA - Canada's Barrick Gold says it's been in merger talks with its American rival Newmont to create the world's largest gold miner but the discussions have failed.
WASHINGTON - The US Federal Reserve has ordered Bank of America to halt its planned dividend payout and share buyback, saying the bank submitted incorrect data for recent capital strength tests.
WASHINGTON - The US Supreme Court has declined to take up software maker Novell Inc's appeal in a long-running antitrust case against Microsoft Corp.
WASHINGTON - More Americans signed contracts to buy homes in March, the first increase since June and a sign the US housing market may pick up after a sluggish start to the year.
SHANGHAI - Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and a private equity fund backed by its founder Jack Ma will pay $US1.22 billion ($A1.32 billion) for a stake in China's leading online video platform Youku Tudou, the companies say.
LONDON - Fast food chain KFC says it plans to open 150 new outlets in the UK and Ireland over the next five years, creating as many as 6000 jobs.
WASHINGTON - Toyota has unveiled an overhaul of its far-flung US operations into a single, new headquarters in Texas, with California set to lose most jobs.
HELSINKI - Rovio, the Finnish maker of the popular mobile game Angry Birds, has reported a 50 per cent drop in profits in 2013 as it increased investment to face growing competition.
