UNITED STATES

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as investors scooped up bargains in the commodities sectors a day after Wall Street slid to a 10-week low, but sentiment was dampened by the start of the quarterly earnings season.

The vacancy rate for U.S. apartments reached its highest level in more than 20 years in the second quarter and could soon exceed record highs if the recession persists, real estate research firm Reis Inc said.

A history of strong relations between Switzerland and the United States should help Swiss bank UBS find a settlement in a damaging U.S. bid to access data of wealthy Americans trying to dodge taxes.

A district in Afghanistan's restive east was in danger of falling into Taliban hands after pitched gunbattles with insurgents killed at least eight police, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The global economy is starting to pull out of its deepest recession since World War Two but recovery will be sluggish and policies need to remain supportive, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

Hyundai Motor Co, South Korea's top carmaker, on Wednesday launched its first hybrid car in the domestic market to satisfy a growing appetite for fuel-saving vehicles and to improve the image of the company's technology.

Federal-Mogul Corp (FDML.O) is readying a renewed bid for the assets of Delphi Corp (DPHIQ.PK) after breaking off talks with the bankrupt auto parts maker in late May, three people with knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday.

Suspected U.S. drones fired six missiles into a Pakistani Taliban training camp near the Afghan border on Wednesday, killing six militants, government and intelligence agency officials said.

Car sales in India rose an annual 7.8 percent in June, climbing for a fifth straight month and reinforcing the country was one of the few markets where demand has been picking up.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Washington would call for more sanctions against Iran if the White House policy of engagement with Tehran failed.

U.S. mortgage fraud reports jumped 36 percent last year as desperate homeowners and industry professionals tried to maintain their standard of living from the boom years, the FBI said on Tuesday.

G8 leaders were due to agree a goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels at a summit in Italy Wednesday.

The first day of the meeting will group the leaders of the Group of Eight -- United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, Canada and Japan -- plus European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and current EU president Sweden.

Global economic recovery is not yet guaranteed and governments will worry about the bill for heavy stimulus spending once it has succeeded, world leaders are set to say at a summit in Italy.

Following are analysts' comments on a draft statement drawn up by the Group of Eight at their summit in Italy, covering a range of issues including energy markets and the need for reaching the Doha trade goals.

The leaders of the Group of Eight -- United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, Canada and Japan -- plus European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and current EU president Sweden gathered in Italy to discuss the end of recession, financial regulation, Doha trade round.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as investors searched for bargains a day after shares fell to a 10-week low, while the start of quarterly earnings season was in focus.

The global economy is starting to pull out of its deepest recession since World War Two but recovery will be sluggish and policies need to remain supportive, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

John Meriwether's hedge fund firm JWM Partners LLC plans to close his current hedge fund, which lost 44 percent from September 2007 to February 2009, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Las Vegas Sands, the world's largest casino firm, wants to raise $3-$4 billion and is considering several options including an IPO of its Macau assets in Hong Kong, Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson said on Wednesday.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Wednesday, after shares hit a 10-week low the previous session, as anxious investors awaited the start of the quarterly earnings season.