CHINA

Stock index futures jumped on Wednesday after better-than-expected data out of China and Germany and as Greece inched closer to a debt deal, but recent market action suggested gains could be ephemeral.

The BSE Sensex rebounded in late trade on Wednesday to post its highest close in 12 weeks, as metal producers and auto makers jumped, although investors were doubtful the rally could be sustained after a rise of nearly 12 percent so far this year.

Chinese government representatives directed a U.S. businessman to obtain valuable technology manufactured by chemical giant DuPont and U.S. authorities were seeking on Wednesday to keep him in jail ahead of his trial on charges relating to trade secret theft, prosecutors said in newly released court documents.

China began Wednesday streaming live video footage of its pandas around the world via webcam in an attempt to boost awareness of conservation efforts for its beloved but endangered animal ambassadors.

Facebook Inc. will list a preliminary fund-raising goal of $5 billion on Wednesday, which is smaller than some earlier estimates of the offering. The public stock offering will probably value the company at $80 billion to $100 billion. But how did simple status updates and random photos of users help create what will likely be the biggest tech IPO in till date? Let's try to find out here...

China's factory sector expanded slightly in January, confounding expectations for a contraction and supporting hopes the world's second-biggest economy will avoid a hard landing, a government purchasing managers' index showed.

Stocks rose and the euro steadied on Wednesday as investors remained on guard ahead of the release of manufacturing surveys from the Europe's biggest economies after China's powerful factories showed a slight expansion.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Tuesday were: Molina Healthcare, Brunswick, W.R. Berkley, Manitowoc Co and Gafisa SA. The top aftermarket NYSE losers were: Unisys Corp, Medical Properties Trust, Oasis Petroleum, Skilled Healthcare Group and E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc.

Apple Inc. just can't lose. After becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world (the market cap is currently at $425.61 billion), Apple followed up by becoming the top PC maker in the world. The achievement is a testament to the company's ability to sell innovative products and to its rabid fan base. Whether Apple is able to remain the top PC maker remains largely dependent on new senior vice president of retail operations John Browett's ability to keep sales strong.

A leading indicator of the state of global industry -- whose biggest dips in the past have come just before the world economy fell into recession -- is dropping like a lead anchor. Some savvy market forecasters are saying this should be sounding alarm bells. But what do the experts who actually work in shipping have to say?

The Columbus, Ind.-based company is expected to earn $424 million, or $2.24 per share, up from 362 million or $1.84 per share in the year earlier period, estimates carried by Thomson Reuters said. Analysts expect revenue of $4.7 billion, up from $4.1 billion in the year earlier period.

India's potential combat jet deal with preferred bidder Dassault Aviation is one of the many the country wants to implement. It plans to spend about $50 billion over the next five years to upgrade its military.

Italian luxury shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo is close to agreeing a deal to pay a record UK rent at its Bond Street store that will break the 1,000 pounds per square foot mark for the first time.

Merck & Co., the second-largest U.S. drugmaker, is projected to report stronger fourth-quarter profit on double-digit growth of key products, an increasing emerging markets presence and further cost reductions.

Prices of Mattel Inc toys like Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars have gone up as the company tries to compensate for increasing costs for materials like resin and rising wages in China.

Japanese conglomerate Hitachi Ltd might post a 33 percent fall in its operating profit for the three months ended December, hurt by a strong yen and weak sales, business daily The Nikkei reported.

Investors have begun 2012 in a cautious mood, with U.S. and Japanese asset managers worried about the euro zone debt crisis cutting exposure to stocks and boosting bonds, while European accounts added risky assets, Reuters polls show.

The Burmese python is wrecking the Florida Everglades ecosystem and have devastated small mammal populations in the area, but its not the only species that is causing harm to the ecosystem.

A World Trade Organisation ruling against China's restrictions on raw material exports could force changes to some of its rare earth policies but is unlikely to yield the boost in exports of the metals that consumers want to see.

Hong Kong shares rose on Tuesday with the Hang Seng Index streaking to its best January since 1996, but further upside is expected to be capped going into earnings season after several profit warnings from mainland companies.

Chinese prosecutors cited a poem and messages sent on Skype against a dissident who stood trial on Tuesday, his son and his lawyer said, in the latest case highlighting the Communist Party's drive to silence political challengers.