MARKETS / FINANCE

The S&P 500 index ended lower on Wednesday, with charts suggesting the index's five-month rally was growing long in the tooth.

Stocks stalled on Wednesday, a day after the Dow and the S&P 500 closed above important technical levels and at their highest in about 2-1/2 years.

Major automakers shut down plants in six Midwest states and Ontario on Wednesday, after a winter storm that swept through the region a day before cut off shipments of parts and raw materials.

U.S. private employers added more jobs than expected in January, the 12th consecutive month that companies took on staff, adding to hopes that the weak American labor market is slowly improving.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday after a report showed U.S. private sector added more jobs than expected in January.

Major automakers shut down plants in six Midwest states and Ontario on Wednesday after a winter storm that swept through the region a day before cut off shipments of parts and raw materials.

The number of planned layoffs at U.S. firms in January rose 20 percent from the previous month to 38,519, but the tally was still the lowest for a January since at least 1993, according to a report released on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks seesawed between modest gains and losses on Wednesday as indexes struggled to move higher a day after the Dow and S&P 500 closed at their highest in about 2-1/2 years.

Germany and France have reached a consensus on steps to boost economic coordination within the euro zone as part of a comprehensive anti-crisis package that will also see the scope of Europe's bailout fund bolstered.

South Africa's trade union Solidarity said on Wednesday workers at diversified miner Exxaro (EXXJ.J) could strike before mid-2011 over benefits and planned retrenchments.

Mattel Inc, the maker of Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars, posted quarterly results that breezed past market estimates, helped by strong demand across its brands.

Tackling Spain's dramatic unemployment rate is a priority for the country, said Spain's Secretary of State for the Economy at an investor presentation in London on Wednesday.

Hungary's government will work to boost employment levels from 55 percent quickly, including with unorthodox measures, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday. Orban told a news conference the changes are needed

Simon JohnsonIceland's central bank signaled on Wednesday that interest rates may have bottomed out as it cut borrowing costs by 25 basis points to support a slow recovery from a brutal downturn.

Chrysler Group LLC canceled first production shifts at several plants in eight locations on Wednesday due to a shortage of parts.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Wednesday as a strong reading on the labor market failed to extend gains a day after the Dow and S&P reached their highest close in about 2-1/2 years.

U.S. private employers added 187,000 jobs in January compared with a revised gain of 247,000 jobs in December, a report by payrolls processor ADP showed on Wednesday.

Toyota Motor Co (7203.T) said on Tuesday that it had offered buyout packages in a bid to reduce the management staff at its U.S. sales headquarters in Torrance, California.

U.S. private employers added more jobs than expected in January, underscoring views the employment picture is slowly improving. The private sector added 187,000 jobs in January compared with a downwardly revised

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower on Wednesday as a strong reading on the labor market failed to convince investors to add to gains a day after the Dow and S&P advanced to their highest close in about 2-1/2 years.

U.S. stock index futures dipped on Wednesday as a strong reading on the labor market failed to convince investors to add to gains a day after the Dow and S&P advanced to their highest close in about 2-1/2 years.

U.S. private employers added 187,000 jobs in January compared with a revised gain of 247,000 jobs in December, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

World stocks punched fresh 29-month highs on Wednesday, lifted by strong data pointing to sustained global economic recovery, continuing positive corporate earnings and easing concerns about Egypt.

Nomura Holdings <8604.T>, Japan's top brokerage, reported its biggest profit in three quarters after gains in Tokyo stocks gave a boost to revenues, but higher costs to expand overseas limited earnings growth.

Japan is unlikely to escape from deflation at least through the fiscal year ending in March 2013, prompting the Bank of Japan to stick to its ultra-loose policy, Kazumasa Iwata, former deputy governor of the central bank, said on Wednesday.

Japan is unlikely to escape from deflation at least through the fiscal year ending in March 2013, prompting the Bank of Japan to stick to its ultra-loose policy, Kazumasa Iwata, former deputy governor of the central bank, said on Wednesday.

World stocks punched fresh 29-month highs on Wednesday, lifted by strong data pointing to sustained global economic recovery, continuing positive corporate earnings and easing concerns about Egypt.

Japan's economy will emerge from a lull toward spring and is certain to pull out of deflation over time, a Bank of Japan policymaker said, offering an upbeat take on the outlook on budding signs of a recovery.

Moody's Investors Service said it will hold a briefing on its sovereign ratings including its rating for Japan in Tokyo on February 9, while giving no indication if it would take any action.