Industrials

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer confidence fell sharply this month, touching its weakest level in over a year and signaling that recent volatility in financial markets has curbed the enthusiasm of higher-income shoppers, according to data released on Wednesday by Consumer Edge Research.

By Ben Berkowitz

By Nick Zieminski

By Dhanya Skariachan

LONDON (Reuters) - Commodities trader Glencore met forecasts with a 50 percent rise in first-half profit thanks to rising commodity prices and rosy oil trading conditions in the first months of the year, and said it remained optimistic on global growth.

Comcast posted a 16% rise in second-quarter profits as the cable giant capitalized on strength in its cable and NBC Universal businesses.

Heavy equipment makers and rental companies could benefit from reconstruction efforts after Irene damaged roads and other infrastructure up and down the East Coast. 

Battling the anemic housing market, home builder Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL) revealed a 54% leap in fiscal third-quarter profits on Wednesday, but tepid new orders and steeper-than-expected revenue declines.

* Premium Asia airline and Japan-based budget carrier planned

(Reuters) - Billionaire Warren Buffett urged U.S. lawmakers to raise taxes on the country's super-rich to help cut the budget deficit, saying such a move will not hurt investments.

GE will sell its stake in GE SeaCo to Chinas HNA Group and Bravia Capital in a deal valued at $1.05 billion.

By Ai Peng Soo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Boeing said on Monday it is considering building a new supplier system to minimize the impact of natural disasters on its operations, after a massive earthquake in Japan hurt production of the aerospace and defense firm's long-delayed 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

By Paula Rogo

By Rhys Jones

By Scott Malone

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn raised his offer for the household products maker to $80 a share from $76.50 after the company rejected his previous offer.

Textron beat the Street with its second-quarter profits and reaffirmed its full-year guidance. 

Nalco Holding reached a $5.4 billion deal to be acquired by Ecolab.

By Mary Slosson