A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Tuesday:

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LONDON _ Britain's two biggest banks, HSBC Holdings PLC and Barclays PLC, reported strong investment banking profits and signaled that bad debts may be nearing their peak, raising hopes the worst of the financial crisis is over for them.

The success of HSBC and Barclays in weathering the storm _ both rebuffed a government bailout of the banking system _ contrasts with their beleaguered taxpayer-supported counterparts, including Lloyds Banking Group PLC, which announced plans to shed 5,000 more jobs.

European stocks were mixed after Monday's big gains. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares and Germany's DAX both closed down 0.1 percent, while the CAC-40 in France ended a minuscule 0.1 point higher at 3,785.59.

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BRUSSELS _ European Union finance ministers confirmed they would start withdrawing billions of euros in government support for their economies by 2011 at the latest.

But Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said it was "premature" to end targeted support to the financial sector.

The EU's executive commission has suggested ending bank aid in June 2010, when it says governments should hike the price of state guarantees for banks.

Governments will also eventually have to shed stakes they bought to rescue banks with extra capital over the last year and end programs that purchase problem assets.

Meanwhile, the finance ministers backed new financial oversight rules for bankers' pay and how much extra capital banks should set aside to cover high-risk investments.

The new rules still need the support of the European Parliament before they could enter into force, in late 2011 at the earliest. Finance ministers said they were prepared to negotiate the details of the rules with lawmakers before they are finalized.

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PARIS _ The global financial crisis has led to a dangerous drop in energy investment around the world, which could choke off the nascent economic recovery, the International Energy Agency said.

The warning comes just a month ahead of the major UN climate conference in Copenhagen, where world leaders hope to agree on so-called climate finance to help developing countries cut emissions by switching from fossil fuels to cleaner energy such as wind and solar.

The IEA, a policy adviser to 28 mostly industrialized oil-consuming nations, estimates that the financial and economic crisis is responsible for a $90 billion drop in global oil and gas investment this year, a 19 percent cut from 2008.