Sears sees quarterly profit decline; shares down

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp. on Tuesday forecast lower quarterly profit and admitted that it needed to become more relevant to consumers and control its costs, sending its shares down as much as 7 percent in premarket trading.

Home Depot cuts 2007 outlook, cites housing

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Home improvement retailer Home Depot cut its 2007 earnings outlook on Tuesday, citing weakness in the U.S. housing market and said it was launching a tender offer for 250 million shares.

Pfizer wins Lipitor patent case in Ireland

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc. said on Tuesday that it had won a patent case over its Lipitor drug in an Irish court, which ruled a patent protecting the blockbuster cholesterol fighter would be infringed by a competing product from India's Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.

China's trade surplus soars to record in June

BEIJING (Reuters) - China posted a record trade surplus of $26.9 billion in June as exporters rushed shipments ahead of tax rebate cuts, handing more ammunition to critics who say Beijing's weak currency gives it an unfair trade advantage.

BMW says mainland China vehicle sales 38 pct

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - BMW , the world's largest premium car maker, said on Tuesday it sold 38 percent more cars in mainland China in the first half of 2007, as the country's growing ranks of nouveau riche snapped up the latest models.

Wal-Mart says online-to-store results strong

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , the world's largest retailer, said on Tuesday that it has seen strong results from its service that allows customers to order products on its Web site and have them shipped to a local Wal-Mart store for free.

BHP seeks partner for Alcoa bid: report

LONDON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc , the world's biggest miner, is in talks with private equity firms to team up for a possible $40 billion bid for U.S. aluminum company Alcoa Inc , the Times said on Tuesday.

Pepsi Bottling posts higher net, raises outlook

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. on Tuesday reported higher quarterly profit, helped by price increases it placed on its drinks, and raised its full-year forecast.

Dutch court to rule on ABN's LaSalle

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch Supreme Court will issue its ruling on ABN AMRO's suspended sale of its U.S. unit LaSalle on Friday and the decision could sway an acrimonious takeover battle for the Dutch bank.

Ford to boost Russia output, launch Mondeo

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. said on Tuesday it would boost output in Russia to 125,000 cars per year by 2009 from 72,000 as it seeks to satisfy booming demand in Europe's fastest growing major car market.