Also

* A federal appeals court upheld a ruling that invalidated a Maryland law that would have forced Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to spend more on employee healthcare, agreeing that the state law interfered with federal law.

* Six Flags Inc. granted 750,000 stock options to Chief Executive Mark Shapiro valued at $2.4 million. Shapiro was also awarded 250,000 shares of restricted stock that would vest in January 2011. Both grants were made Tuesday, the New York-based theme park operator said.

* Hewlett-Packard Co. beat Dell Inc. in personal computer sales for the second straight quarter. HP’s worldwide market share increased to 17.4% from 15%, Gartner Inc. said. Dell slipped to 13.9% from 16.4%.