ECONOMY & MARKETS

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: ValueClick, American Capital, Photronics, Fred's, Camtek, and Dell. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Warren Resources, Swisher Hygiene, Seahawk Drilling, PDL BioPharma, and LogMeIn.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Wednesday are: Family Dollar Stores, Dell, Comcast, Deere & Co, Teradyne, Advanced Micro Devices, Dean Foods, Airgas and FXCM.

The second largest U.S. bookstore chain Borders Group Inc. (NYSE: BGP) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as its book sales started sinking in 2008, 2009, and in each quarter of 2010 even after management changes, job cuts and debt restructuring.

U.S. home loan demand fell sharply in the week ended Feb. 11, recording a second consecutive weekly decline, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said on Wednesday.

The projection for four-quarter growth is weaker than in November for much of 2011, following the weak data around the turn of the year.

Barclays Capital said it continues to believe the new tablet category (led by Apple Inc.'s iPad) is poised for rapid growth over the coming years.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to higher opening on Wednesday ahead of wave of economic data including producer price index and building permits.

India and Japan, two of Asia's largest economies, signed the landmark free trade agreement (FTA) on Wednesday, paving way for the elimination of tariffs on more than 90 percent of goods traded between the two countries over the next decade.

A look at 5 key events that shaped the New York Stock Exchange from the 18th century till date

The top after-market NYSE gainers on Tuesday are: Verso Paper, Family Dollar, Aaron's, Dollar General and 99 Cents Only Stores. The top after-market NYSE losers are: Dice Holdings, Airgas, Dean Foods, Hanger Orthopedic Group and LSI Corp.

The top after-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: ValueClick, American Capital, PC Mall, Life Partners Holdings, Photronics, and Dell. The top after-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, ReachLocal, RC2, LogMeIn, and Rovi.

China will soon publish new regulations to increase supervision of the country's rare earth industry in a move that is likely to drastically change the landscape of the sector, the China Securities Journal informed on Wednesday.

French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis agreed to acquire U.S. biotechnology company Genzyme for $74.00 per share in cash or about $20.1 billion plus extra payments linked to experimental multiple sclerosis drug Lemtrada.

The BSE Sensex edged 0.2 percent higher early on Wednesday, with Tata Steel rebounding after falling initially.

U.S. stocks slipped as retail sales raised doubts about the economic recovery. Energy and basic materials equities led the way downward, albeit in moderate trading volume.

South Africa's rand softened against the dollar on Tuesday with the market showing little inclination to resist central bank moves since the start of the year to weaken the currency.

The NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) and Frankfurt’s Deutsche Boerse have entered into an agreement to merge in a $10-billion transaction that is expected to result in the world's biggest trading vehicle for stocks and derivatives.

U.S. stocks opened lower on Tuesday after the government report showed that retail sales rose less than forecast in January.

GM plans introduce more than 20 new and upgraded models over the next two years in China, saying the country plays an important role in the automaker's global strategy.

A gauge of manufacturing in New York State climbed in February to its highest level in eight months, helped by a rise in inventories, the New York Federal Reserve said in a report on Tuesday.

US retail sales rose less than expected in January, but recorded a gain for a seventh consecutive month.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Limelight Networks, Insight Enterprises, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, DG FastChannel, and Mercer International. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Microvision, Anika Therapeutics, Ultra Clean Holdings, Cynosure, and Sirius XM Radio.

Though the budget makes a start in the deficit reduction front, it avoids addressing some really big questions, according to Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight.

John Paulson, whose firm now oversees roughly $36 billion, again counted SPDR Gold Trust (GLD.P), AngloGold Ashanti (ANGJ.J), Citigroup (C.N) and Bank of America (BAC.N) as his top four holdings.

Gold was set for its largest one-day rise in a week, aided by a weaker dollar and Chinese inflation data that soothed some concern over the prospect of rapid rate rises in the world's second-largest bullion consumer.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Tuesday are: Marriott International, United States Steel, Analog Devices, Sprint Nextel, Nyse Euronext, Newmont Mining, Jds Uniphase and Netflix.

The bank of Japan (BoJ) upgraded its economic outlook, taking cues from a strong recovery in exports and industrial output, but refrained from making any change to the monetary policy.

Gross domestic product in the 16-member eurozone rose 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, the European Union's statistics office said on Tuesday.

Consumer prices in Britain rose in January, mainly led by an increase in value added tax (VAT) and rising crude oil prices.