G old prices GC-FT cut initial gains to turn lower Tuesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened in choppy trade following disappointing U.S. home sales data and dented sentiment in the bullion market.

O il CL-FT rose on Tuesday, up for the ninth straight day as cold weather in the United States and Europe boosted demand for heating fuel. U.S.

Lord Abbett & Co. is offering discounts to clients who open an individual retirement account by April 15. The mutual fund company announced it will waive its $10 annual custodial fee for such accounts, and will pay FedEx shipping charges for financial advisers who open IRA accounts before the April deadline

G oogle Inc. GOOG-Q officially entered the handset market Tuesday afternoon with the launch of its Nexus One smart phone, a move analysts said was mainly designed to stake out valuable real estate in the burgeoning mobile search market. At a press conference at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., the company unveiled the unlocked, customizable “super phone” and a new Web store where it can be purchased

T oday’s top stories from Report on Business : International investors eye Canada Canada’s economic and fiscal standing are luring international investors. Not only did the Canadian dollar CAD/USD-I shoot higher again today, before retreating somewhat, but the finance department also announced plans for an offering of euro-denominated 10-year bonds, its first in the European common currency since early 1999. Ottawa’s move follows a $30-billion (U.S.) global bond issue last September

I celand, the tiny island nation that briefly became a high-flying banking centre before imploding in the global financial crisis, now faces renewed turmoil that could kill hopes for quick EU membership and undermine its already feeble economic recovery. The country is already a symbol of the worldwide economic crash for the boom-time excesses of its banks and their subsequent collapse.

Adviser Mark Penske requires all of his employees to clean off their desks — including clearing all paperwork — before leaving the office each day. “You have to make sure absolutely no client information or statements are left out,” said Mr. Penske, chairman and chief executive of United Advisors Wealth Management.