UBS can still settle a damaging U.S. tax case even though Washington is pushing ahead with a lawsuit to force the Swiss bank giant to identify offshore clients, the Swiss Finance Minister said.
Stocks advanced on Wednesday as a weaker U.S. dollar lifted commodity prices, boosting shares of natural resource companies, including oil and mining stocks.
Tens of thousands of people marched on Wednesday in Hong Kong's biggest annual protest calling for greater democracy as well as improved economic relief measures and investor protection during the financial crisis.
Iran, stung by European Union criticism of its handling of post-election unrest, on Wednesday accused the 27-nation bloc of meddling and demanded an apology before any more talks on Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
French and U.S. aircraft hunted on Wednesday for survivors from a plane that crashed off Comoros, while in Paris expatriates from the Indian Ocean archipelago tried to block another flight by the same airline.
Honduras faced growing pressure to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya on Wednesday after the Organization of American States set a 72-hour deadline to end a crisis triggered by a military coup.
Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose slightly in May, the fourth straight monthly gain, a real estate trade group said on Wednesday.
U.S. mortgage applications plunged to a seven-month low last week as demand for home refinancing loans tumbled 30 percent, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.
U.S. private sector job cuts fell in June to their lowest in eight months, but they still came in more than expected and the economy may be on track to lose another one million workers by year-end.
UBS can still settle a damaging U.S. tax case even though Washington is pushing ahead with a lawsuit to force the Swiss bank giant to identify offshore clients, the Swiss Finance Minister said.
Investors will be watching the release of U.S. automakers' June auto sales for insight into the resilience of consumers. Economists in a Reuters survey expect annualized sales of 3.33 million cars and 4.00 million trucks. In May, car sales stood at 3.35 million, and truck sales were 4.03 million.
U.S. private employers cut 473,000 jobs in June, more than expected but down from the 485,000 jobs lost in May, a report by a private employment service said on Wednesday.
Oil rose above $71 a barrel on Wednesday following a large drop in crude inventories in the United States, the world's top energy consumer, and output disruptions from militant attacks in Nigeria.
Stock index futures moved higher on Wednesday as commodity prices rose and investors looked ahead to a private sector employment report expected to show an easing of job losses ahead of the government's June payroll data.
Biogen Idec Inc has licensed rights to Acorda Therapeutics Inc's experimental multiple sclerosis drug outside the United States as the large biotech company expands its MS franchise, the companies said on Wednesday.
Japan's Shinsei Bank plans to buy rival Aozora Bank in a deal that brings together two loss-making lenders in hopes of building a stronger bank that can return to growth in both retail and corporate banking.
Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday ahead of a private sector employment report that may give investors a peek into June payroll data, while oil rebounded from its earlier losses.
Microsoft Corp's new Bing search engine gained U.S. market share in its first month in operation but still trails dominant rival Google Inc, according to data released on Wednesday.
California's lawmakers failed to agree on a balanced budget by the start of its new fiscal year on Wednesday morning, clearing the way to suspend payments owed to the state's vendors and local agencies, who instead will get IOU notes promising payment.
Oil rose above $71 a barrel on Wednesday following a large drop in crude inventories in the United States, the world's top energy consumer, and output disruptions from militant attacks in Nigeria.
Ford Motor Corp. will announce results for its sales in June on Wednesday, with the company's chief U.S. sales analyst saying the industry as a whole is improving and the annualized sales rate could hit 10 million in June sales this year.
Auto sales results for June, Windows 7 rebooting, Energy Sec. likely to announce more funds allocations, General Mills releases earnings, B of A completes Countrywide purchase, NASA launches Endeavour, Weekly Petrolum status, Africa Energy Forum, Nevada sales tax hike, Federal student loans rate change
