Global equity markets and the dollar rose on Tuesday after U.S. economic data ranging from manufacturing and housing to consumer confidence delivered a dose of optimism to investors rattled in recent days by worries over Federal Reserve policy. Orders for durable goods rose more than expected in May and a gauge of planned business spending gained for a third straight month, while prices of single-family homes posted their biggest rise in seven years in April. Also on Tuesday, the Conference Board, a private business research group, reported that its U.S. consumer confidence index rose in June to 81.4, well above ... (full story)