Reuters - Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc said on Tuesday it will curtail metal production by about 18 percent and cut some 15,200 jobs to save cash and reduce costs as it seeks to counter the impact of the global economic downturn.

Reuters - Stocks gained on Tuesday on the increased likelihood of a government stimulus package after the release of minutes from the last Federal Reserve policy meeting painted a dismal picture of the U.S. economy.

Reuters - A California court has approved a jury verdict against Boeing Co , which means the plane maker and defense contractor must pay former customer ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Ltd $631 million in damages, according to ICO on Tuesday.

Reuters - German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide, in despair over the huge losses suffered by his business empire during the financial crisis, his family said on Tuesday.

Reuters - A judge extended an order on Tuesday barring hedge fund founder Ezra Merkin from shutting down funds that had invested with accused swindler Bernard Madoff or withdrawing money from them.

AP - Two more months of mortgage payments and retiree Allan Goldstein says he'll be broke, just another victim in what may be the biggest Ponzi scheme in history.