UNITED STATES

The exit of a popular CEO at World Wrestling Entertainment Inc (WWE.N) comes at a time when the sports entertainer has seen shares rise more than 60 percent since last November, helped by a loyal fan base and aggressive cost cutting.

Top U.S. telecom executives gave a mixed outlook for the U.S. economy on Thursday, citing a lack of job creation, even as AT&T Inc CEO said the company will add more mobile customers this quarter than last.

Electric Co's deal to provide the parent of No. 2 U.S. carrier American Airlines with $1.88 billion of financing and also to sell engines for up to 100 new jets is its largest aviation finance deal in about a decade, a GE executive said on Thursday.

Chemical shipments on U.S. railroads fell 9.1 percent last week, the Association of American Railroads said on Thursday.

U.S. stocks were little changed in choppy trading on Thursday as investors paused after an extended period of gains, expressing worries about a pullback.

President Barack Obama on Thursday dumped a Bush-era missile defense plan for Europe that Russia had bitterly opposed and offered what he said would be faster, more flexible defense systems to protect against Iran.

World leaders are likely to agree to curb bank bonuses at next week's G20 summit and want evidence recession is over before they stop spending to prop up their economies, European heads of government said on Thursday.

Oil prices slipped slightly in seesaw trading Thursday as U.S. equities fell, again raising concern about the economy and a rebound in energy demand.

Puerto Rican rap duo Calle 13 led the contenders for the 10th annual Latin Grammys with five nominations, organizers said on Thursday, while Brazilian star Caetano Veloso and alternative Mexican band Cafe Tacvba were among the diverse acts with multiple mentions.

Germany's Siemens aims to build on its leading position in offshore wind turbines to become the world's third-biggest supplier to the wind industry overall by 2012, a senior executive said.

U.S.-based solar panel maker First Solar Inc said on Thursday that it will supply 27 megawatts of solar panels for utility projects in the United States to a unit of juwi Holding AG.

Employers may bear the brunt; Billions for AMR; AT&T's Flat Projections

Shares of American Airlines parent AMR Corp soared as much as 25 percent Thursday after the company said it had raised $2.9 billion and would shift flying to more profitable routes.

FedEx Corp reported a 53 percent drop in quarterly profit on Thursday as the worldwide economic downturn continued to weigh on shipping volumes.

Solar power makers will get a boost in California, already their largest U.S. market, as it sharpens its focus on small-scale projects as part of efforts to get a third of its power from renewable energy.

A stretch of Enbridge Inc's crude oil pipeline from Canada to the United States was operating normally after being shut by a power outage last week, the company said on Thursday.

U.S. stocks declined on Thursday, weighed down by materials and financial shares as investors paused following a three-day run-up.

Genetic analysis products maker Sequenom Inc said on Thursday it launched its cystic fibrosis carrier screening test, sending its shares up 12 percent.

Prosecutors expect a mainstream international bank to reach a settlement within 30 days over illicit links with Iran, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said on Thursday.

Investors betting on renewable or clean energy and related green themes are looking for healthy and sustainable returns, but the road is full of pitfalls for the unwary, investment managers warned on Thursday.

Dollar interbank lending rates paused at record lows on Thursday after a report that Federal Reserve policymakers were divided on when to begin raising interest rates.