UNITED STATES

Environment ministers from rich and poor nations discussed a green technology stimulus on Wednesday to help tackle global warming and overcome the global economic crisis.

The U.S. economy is starting to show signs of shrinking more slowly but positive growth is not expected until sometime next year, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

McDonald's Corp reported a higher quarterly profit on Wednesday, as global sales at established restaurants rose despite a recession, and the company said its April same-store sales are trending at least as strong or better than results from the first quarter.

Wells Fargo & Co on Wednesday posted a $3.05 billion first-quarter profit, in line with its prior forecast, as a surge in mortgage banking as well as benefits from the purchase of Wachovia Corp offset rising credit losses.

U.S. banks will be briefed by regulators as early as Friday on how they performed in government stress tests, before the results are made public later, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing government officials.

Yahoo Inc., owner of the second- most popular U.S. search engine, said Tuesday it will cut hundreds of people from its work force after reporting a 78 percent drop in first quarter profit.

Pepsi Bottling Group Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and raised its full-year earnings forecast on Wednesday, helped by price increases and cost cuts.

McDonald's Corp posted a 3.5 percent increase in quarterly profit on Wednesday, as sales at established restaurants rose despite a recession, and the company said April same-store sales are trending at least as strong or better than results in first quarter.

The mother of a teenager facing trial in the United States for piracy off Somalia wants President Barack Obama to pardon her son because he was misled into joining a sea gang.

Wall Street was poised for a lower open on Wednesday as investors took in a slew of mixed results from major companies and a quarterly loss from Morgan Stanley increased jitters over the financial sector.

The United States is pushing the use of plug-in hybrids but these cars, which sip gasoline and are low in greenhouse gas emissions, face cost and infrastructure hurdles that will keep them out of the mainstream for years.

Health insurer WellPoint Inc posted slightly lower first-quarter profit on Wednesday, hurt by large investment losses, but results far surpassed Wall Street forecasts.

U.S. credit card companies are expected to use a White House meeting to put their best foot forward, despite an avalanche of negative publicity, aiming to blunt a congressional push for tougher regulations.

Israel demolished a Palestinian house in Arab East Jerusalem on Wednesday, a day after U.S. President Barack Obama called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to take measures to promote peacemaking.

AT&T Inc posted a smaller-than-expected drop in quarterly profit due to strong growth in its nascent video and high-speed Internet service, sending shares up 2 percent.

Iran's president accused Israel on Wednesday of brutal acts and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinians, two days after his denunciation of the Jewish state as racist prompted a walk-out from a U.N. meeting on race.

A Congressional panel is expected to approve legislation on Wednesday that would curb high credit card fees and penalties assessed by many banks that have benefited from the federal government's financial bailout program.

AT&T Inc posted a decline in quarterly profit on Wednesday but beat Wall Street estimates as growth in wireless and video services helped offset declines in its traditional telephone business.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wednesday as cautious investors awaited another round of earnings results and comments from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Cancer drug Avastin -- a key Genentech asset now wholly owned by Roche Holding AG -- has failed in a major study to prevent the recurrence of colon cancer in patients who have undergone surgery.

U.S. banks will be briefed by regulators as early as Friday on how they performed in government stress tests, before the results are made public later, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing government officials.