IBT Staff Reporter

As the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue talks are set to begin, it looks as if one issue has already been taken off the list of disagreements looming over this year's discussions.

China pushes ahead with efforts to create a regional and global alternative to GPS.

As U.S. and Chinese leaders are set to meet in Beijing on May 3-4, a year of troubles and differences will be prominent in their minds.

China's economic relationships with Eastern Europe are deepening. Although the Asian power's trade with the former Communist bloc often goes unnoticed in the Americas, it has increased significantly in recent years.

Stocks rose modestly on Friday, putting equities on track for a fourth day of gains as more strong earnings partially offset a weaker-than-expected reading on economic growth.

Stocks opened higher on Friday, putting Wall Street on track for a fourth day of gains as Amazon Inc. rallied after strong quarterly results.

Stocks were on track for a fourth day of gains on Friday, with Amazon the latest company to extend an earnings-driven rally that has erased most of April's losses and left investors eyeing a return to a new recovery high.

Stocks eyed a fourth day of gains on Friday, with Amazon the latest company to extend an earnings-driven rally that has wiped out much of the market's losses for April.

Asian shares rose on Friday, tracking U.S. stocks which jumped overnight on strong U.S. housing data and earnings, but concerns over the health of European banks weighed on investor risk appetite after Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's rating.

Stocks advanced in choppy trade on Thursday as another batch of positive earnings and a strong housing report put equities on track for a third straight day of gains.

As Chinese investigations into Bo Xilai, the disgraced former boss of Chongqing and Politburo member, continue, the rest of his family and their business dealings are under the spotlight.

Bank of China <601988.SS>, the country's No.3 lender by market value, posted on Thursday a near 10 percent rise in first-quarter net profit but the figure fell below expectations as flat net interest margins offset a rise in fee income.

East Asia is rife with new military activity as maritime disputes highlight persistent tensions between neighbors.

Demand for long-lasting manufactured goods tumbled by the most in three years in March and businesses cut back on spending plans, suggesting the economy slowed as the first quarter drew to a close.

Stocks rose on Wednesday after Apple's blowout quarter overshadowed a drop in durable goods and further lifted optimism in an earnings season that has far outstripped expectations.

Bradley Manning, the U.S. intelligence analyst charged with leaking thousands of classified U.S. government cables to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, will face a court martial on September 21, a military judge said on Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday offered a modestly brighter assessment of the economy's prospects and few clues on the path of monetary policy, as it reiterated that interest rates likely will not rise until at least late 2014.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday repeated its promise to leave interest rates on hold until at least late 2014 but offered few clues into whether it might offer additional stimulus later this year.

Royal Bank of Scotland is planning to spin off its mergers and acquisitions business to some of its top bankers, sources said, forming a new advisory boutique with anticipated investment from foreign banks without a big footprint in Europe.

Stocks clung to strong gains on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve repeated its promise to leave interest rates on hold until at least late 2014 while giving few clues into whether it might supply additional stimulus later this year.

Nearly 100 protesters affiliated with the 99 Percent populist movement disrupted General Electric Co's annual shareholders' meeting on Wednesday in an attack on the largest U.S. conglomerate's low tax rate.

Stocks advanced on Wednesday after a blowout quarter from Apple further lifted optimism in an earnings season that has far outstripped expectations.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Wednesday that it named a former attorney earlier this year to oversee global compliance with a bribery law, as it deals with the fallout over alleged bribes in Mexico that recently came to light.

Global food prices are rising again, pushed higher by costlier oil, strong demand from Asia and bad weather in parts of Europe, South America and the United States, the World Bank said on Wednesday.

Apple Inc's quarterly profit almost doubled after a jump in iPhone sales, particularly for the greater China region, blowing past Wall Street expectations and soothing fears the device was past its best days for sharp growth.

German sportscar maker Porsche is bracing for slower sales growth in China this year as the country's premium auto segment loses momentum amid a slowdown in economic growth.

Boeing Co turned in a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday, helped by increased commercial aircraft sales, while industry experts praised the company's effort to boost airplane production to meet rising demand.

Wall Street extended its love affair with Apple Inc as strong iPhone sales allayed concerns it was losing market share in the cut-throat smartphone market, with analysts again rushing to raise price targets on the shares of the world' most valuable company.

Wall Street jumped on Wednesday after forecast-beating results from Apple cleared away a weeks-old market overhang and lifted optimism in an earnings season already far outstripping expectations.